Chapter 9

Eleanor POV:

The chill of the water prison seeped into my bones, a constant, biting reminder of my captivity. Days bled into nights, marked only by the meager rations of stale bread and murky water pushed through a slot in the door. My body was a tapestry of aches and pains, but my mind, strangely, grew sharper, colder. This isolation was a crucible, forging a new resolve within me.

The heavy steel door creaked open, shattering the oppressive silence. Joshua stood there, his silhouette framed by the dim light of the corridor. His face was unreadable, a mask of cold indifference.

"Have you learned your lesson, Eleanor?" His voice echoed in the damp cell, devoid of any warmth.

I looked up at him, my eyes empty. "What lesson, Joshua? That I'm a disposable tool? That my children are mere commodities? That my love was a weakness to be exploited?" My voice was calm, almost detached. My heart, once a chaotic drum, was now a silent, immovable stone.

He frowned, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He had expected tears, pleas. Not this cold, quiet defiance. "Don't play games with me, Eleanor. You attacked Harlow. You tried to harm my unborn child. That is unacceptable."

"And your betrayal? Your orchestrated miscarriages? Your theft of my future? Is that acceptable, Joshua?" I met his gaze, my eyes holding no fear, only a chilling emptiness.

He recoiled slightly, a fleeting moment of discomfort. Then, he regained his composure. "Those are baseless accusations. You're unhinged, Eleanor. But I'm willing to overlook it, for now." He paused, his gaze sweeping over my emaciated form. "You still have a purpose. Benjamin is asking questions. Your disappearance is... inconvenient. And I need a wife who can present a united front for the public. For appearances."

"So, I'm to be your trophy wife again? Your public facade?" I asked, a faint, bitter smile touching my lips. "Even after you've taken everything from me?"

"It's the only way you survive, Eleanor. You agree to my terms, you play your part, and you will be released. You will have a comfortable life. A life without... complications." He gestured vaguely to my empty abdomen. "But you will never cross me again. Do you understand?"

I looked at him, truly looked at him. The man I had loved, the man who had effortlessly destroyed me. He was truly a monster, devoid of conscience. But I was no longer the naive girl who had fallen for his charm. I was a survivor. And a predator.

"I understand, Joshua," I said, my voice soft, compliant. "I will do whatever you ask. I will be the perfect wife. The perfect accessory." The perfect weapon.

A flicker of triumph crossed his face. He actually believed me. His arrogance was breathtaking. "Good. You'll join me at the annual Hunt family charity gala this weekend. Benjamin will be there. We need to show a united front."

"As you wish." My voice was a silken trap.

He took a step closer, a predatory glint in his eyes. He reached out, his hand brushing my cheek. I flinched, but he didn't seem to notice. He was already lost in his own twisted sense of victory. He leaned in, his lips brushing against mine.

I froze, pure revulsion coursing through me. But I didn't pull away. I endured it, every second a fresh scar on my soul.

His phone buzzed, a sharp, insistent ring. He pulled away, annoyance clouding his features. It was Harlow. His expression softened instantly. "My love? Is everything alright?" He listened for a moment, his voice softening further. "Of course, darling. I'll be right there. Don't worry. I'll handle everything." He glanced at me, a dismissive flick of his eyes. "Be ready by Friday, Eleanor. Don't disappoint me."

He turned and left, the heavy door clanging shut behind him, plunging me back into darkness.

But this time, the darkness was not despair. It was a canvas. A canvas for my revenge.

The moment his footsteps faded, the docile mask fell away. My eyes, once dull and lifeless, now burned with a cold, terrifying fire. The "compliant" Eleanor was gone. Replaced by something far more dangerous.

I was free. Not physically, not yet. But spiritually. Mentally. I was untethered from the chains of love and hope. Only hatred remained. And purpose.

Benjamin's network was already in place. My disappearance had been orchestrated, a calculated move to buy me time, to let me heal, and to plan my next steps. The water prison was a temporary stop, part of the larger ruse. His people would retrieve me tonight.

I looked down at my hands, my fingers flexing. There was no going back. No more Eleanor Wheeler, the loving wife, the grieving mother. That woman was dead. Buried with her children.

I would burn all bridges. Erase all traces of my old self. Let them think I was broken, compliant. Let them think they had won.

I would make them regret the day they ever crossed me.

Hours later, as the first sliver of moonlight pierced the tiny window, the heavy door to my cell creaked open again. But this time, it wasn't Joshua. It was Benjamin's men. Silent. Efficient. They handed me a packed bag, fresh clothes, and a burner phone.

"Everything has been prepared, Miss Wheeler," one of them said, his voice curt. "Your new identity. Your new life. You will be taken to a secure location where you can continue your recovery and plan your next move. No one will find you."

I nodded, my gaze hard and unwavering. My past, my name, my love – all were incinerated. I was a phoenix rising from the ashes, a creature of vengeance. For my children. For my stolen future.

I walked out of the water prison, leaving behind the ghost of Eleanor Wheeler, a woman broken and betrayed. The cold night air invigorated me, a promise of a new dawn.

The next morning, Joshua's driver, a nervous young man, arrived at the desolate Hunt Corp water prison, as instructed, to collect me. He was surprised to find me waiting, neatly dressed, a chillingly calm expression on my face.

"Mrs. Hunt! Mr. Hunt sent me to pick you up. He's very eager to see you. He'll be meeting us at the gala," he stammered, clearly unsettled by my composure.

"Indeed," I replied, my voice steady. "He'll be thrilled." I climbed into the back seat, my gaze fixed on the passing scenery.

As we drove, my new burner phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number. I opened it. It was Harlow. A photo. She was in Joshua's arms, her head nestled against his chest, both smiling smugly. The caption read: He's all mine now. You really are replaceable, aren't you?

A cold, mirthless laugh escaped my lips. I typed out a quick reply: Enjoy him while he lasts. He'll be all yours for a very short time. Then, with a decisive flick of my wrist, I pulled out the SIM card and tossed the phone out the window. My past. My tormentors. My prison. All gone.

"Driver," I said, my voice firm. "Before we go to the gala, I have a special delivery. A gift for Joshua. It must be delivered to the main stage, for all to see. And it must be opened by him, in front of everyone."

The driver looked hesitant. "But, Mrs. Hunt, Mr. Hunt said to take you directly..."

"Do as I say," I interrupted, my voice tinged with steel. "Or you'll lose more than your job."

He gulped, nodding quickly. "Yes, Mrs. Hunt. Immediately."

I leaned back in the seat, a predatory smile slowly spreading across my face. The gala. The perfect stage. The perfect audience. Joshua, my former husband, had no idea what was coming. But he would soon. He would soon understand the true meaning of losing everything.

The curtain was about to rise.