Chapter 3

Lucas' hand trembled slightly as he signed the agreement, the ink smudging next to the terms of servitude.

My fingertips grazed over his tense back, where there remained red marks of belt whipping.

"Good boy," I whispered softly, though my eyes were devoid of any warmth.

HIs compliance was merely a facade born out of fear. I needed a more secure bond.

That evening, the bedroom lights were turned to a warm yellow, yet it couldn't warm the chilling air in the room.

I untied the velvet rope beside the curtains, which were softer than handcuffs, but just as binding.

As I wound them around his wrists, I could feel his fingers curl.

"Don't move," I commanded, holding down his arm as he tried to lift it. The velvet rope formed a tight knot on the bedpost.

The remaining length allowed him to barely prop himself up. But escaping from this small bed was impossible for him.

He could only kneel on the sheets, and I unbuttoned his shirt one by one.

His exposed skin still bore faint red marks, glaring under the warm light.

I took out the silver collar I had prepared and fastened it around his neck.

Coldness of the metal made him shiver.

The collar had a small tag engraved with "Victoria's Pet", which was swaying gently with his breath.

"Look up," I ordered, lifting his chin with my fingers while picking up the camera from the bedside with the other hand and focusing it on his reddened eyes.

He dared not look directly at the camera but couldn't avoid my gaze either.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and even his breathing was slightly trembling.

Later, I had him lie on the edge of the bed, and tied the velvet rope on his ankles from his wrists.

As my fingers traced the red marks on his back, I watched his body tense due to itch and shame, and listened to the muffled groans stifled in his throat.

The camera shutter clicked softly, capturing him with his head bowed and his hair obscuring half of his face, him forced to raise his neck where the collar leaving faint red marks, and him doing postures filled with humiliation he would never do of his own accord yet now all performed under my instructions.

Each detail captured by the camera had shattered my illusions over the past three years.

Watching his eyes filled with shame in the pictures temporarily smoothed the wrinkles of betrayal in my heart.

The next morning, the doorbell rang on time.

I touched Lucas' ankle bound under the bed to confirm that the cold chain was still holding him in place.

I leisurely went to open the door.

As expected, it was Liam, holding the breakfast I loved, wearing his usual gentle smile. "Sweetheart, did you sleep well last night?"

I deliberately glanced behind him, then faked a fleeting look of panic.

I asked with a perfectly fabricated confusion in my voice, "Who are you? You..."

Before I could finish, Liam had already stepped inside. "What are you talking about? Liam, your boyfriend..."

He halted his words abruptly when his gaze swept across the living room as he now saw Lucas emerging from the bedroom, with the chain still wrapping around his wrists and red marks beneath his collar.

Liam's smile froze and his pupils contract. "Lucas? What are you doing here?"

He stepped forward and grabbed Lucas' collar.

He said with a low voice betraying his disbelief and anger.

"What are you doing? Didn't I ask you to play along until the wedding? How could you let it come to this?"

Lucas sighed deeply, closing his eyes tightly.

He seemed to want to say something but remained silent under my gaze.

Liam's face turned pale as he looked back at me, trying to defend himself.

Just then, heavy footsteps came from outside the door.

Several police officers burst in, their expressions stern. "Someone reported unauthorized entry into this residence. Who is it?"

Liam immediately released his grip and hastily explained, "Officer, I'm her boyfriend. This is my girlfriend's house. I didn't break in!"

I hid behind Lucas and said with a tearful voice, "I don't know him! He suddenly barged into my house today!"

I pulled Liam's ID from my purse. "He even claimed to be my boyfriend! But this is my partner. Take a look. This is his ID card."

The police looked at Liam rattled, then at the ID in my hand, their faces growing darker. "Please come with us for further investigation."

Two officers stepped forward to restrain Liam, who still wanted to argue.

He struggled to look at me, his eyes full of anger and confusion, but could only be taken away by the police.

As the door closed, my feigned innocence melted into a cold, triumphant smirk.

Lucas stood by, clenching his fists.

I approached him, gently pinching his cheek. "Liam never imagined that the ID he gave you to deceive me would become the evidence sending him to jail, did he?"