Prologue 1 How does it feel when the person you love leaves you alone with kidnappers? I loved Matthew Harrington for seven long years. As the heir of the Harrington Group, he was wealthy and powerful. Yet, he didn’t want to pay any ransom when I was kidnapped. Even his attractive secretary suggested that it could be a chance for me to learn my lesson. He agreed with her. And just as he wanted, after I managed to escape from hell, I finally learned my lesson and became obedient enough to never dare to love him again. But out of the blue, he started crying and begging me to treat him like before… *** The day I walked into the city barefoot, it made headlines. I’m Skylar Brown, the adopted daughter of the Harrington family, and I got kidnapped a few months back. I was a mess, wearing torn clothes, covered in dirt and stink, with my feet all scarred up. I ran back in shame. The reporters were all up in my face, snapping pics like there’s no tomorrow. I stayed cool though, not letting them rattle me. Skylar Brown was gone, just like that. That glamorous, simple-minded, and proud girl was gone. Those kidnappers and Matthew Harrington destroyed her. Soon, a group of bodyguards in black suits led me through the packed crowd. The captain was named Noah Smith. I knew him. During the seven years when I pestered Matthew, he often showed me to the doors of Matthew’s office and apartment. To be exact, he dragged me out those places because I kept pestering and annoying Matthew. “Miss Brown, Mr. Harrington’s waiting for you in the car. Please come with me,” Noah said. When Noah saw me, he was shocked. He never expected to see me looking so messed up. I nodded and lifted my messed up foot, leaving bloody footprints on the road. Pain? Nah, didn’t feel a thing. This little journey was a cake walk compared to my escape route. Noah trailed behind me and couldn’t help blurting out, “Miss Brown…” I didn’t even bother responding. Did he feel sorry for me? He must be grateful ’cause I learned my lesson. No more pestering Matthew or causing him any trouble. As I hopped into the car, I caught sight of Matthew rest in the seat, eyes shut tight. Hair all neat and sharp features on point, dude looked like a model. When I vanished, he must’ve been feeling all peaceful and zen, like never before. He was in tip-top shape. Hearing the commotion, Matthew slowly popped open his eyes. He near didn’t recognize me. “Skylar?” I nodded, all obedient-like. I learned to play nice. I used to think I was the Harrington family’s golden girl, acting all proud and bossy as if I was their real flesh and blood. But after that kidnapping ordeal, I realized my life was in their hands. If Matthew didn’t cough up the ransom, I could’ve been dead any second. Matthew frowned with displeasure. “Why did you make yourself like this?” Like this? Like what? A lunatic? Or a beggar? I ran for miles, stayed awake day and night, and had to be on guard not just against kidnappers, but also against wild animals in the suburban mountains. When I was thirsty, I drank rainwater. And when I was hungry, I scavenged food from highway trash bins. It’s enough to drive anyone insane. I knew Matthew blamed me for causing trouble for his family’s company, specifically because I appeared in front of the media in this state. “Sorry for that…” For grossing out you, bastard. Matthew was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. “She was right. You’ve learned some manners.” I didn’t understand what Matthew meant. The door closed and the car started. Suddenly, Matthew reached out his hand towards me. I instinctively recoiled into the corner. He stopped abruptly and said with disdain, “Skylar, you smell.” Maybe it was because the car had no fresh air. Matthew finally noticed the awful odor coming from my body. It was a mix of blood, sweat, and garbage. Hearing his words, I subconsciously moved away from the seat, but the car was unstable, so I ended up kneeling down. “S…Sorry… I won’t dirty the seat. I’ll just…” Kneel here. My knees were in pain from the bloody wounds inflicted by the kidnappers’ thin steel needles. They blamed me. I wasn’t important enough to Matthew, so he didn’t pay the ransom. They thought it was a waste of time, so they took their anger out on me. I couldn’t stand up, so I knelt in that cramped space. Matthew was furious. “What are you doing? Go back to your seat!”
He ordered me, but he thought I was dirty and didn’t offer any help. I had to obey his command. It took a lot of effort to prop my body up and sit back down. Due to the pain and low blood sugar I had been experiencing, I couldn’t help but burst into tears. Matthew always ignored my tears. They annoyed him. But for the first time, he threw his handkerchief, which he had used to wipe his hands, at me. I clutched the clean, white handkerchief tightly. In the past, I would have been overjoyed, but now, it only reminded me of how dirty and destitute I was. Noah glanced at me through the rear-view mirror. I lowered my head. Perhaps he had never seen this humiliating and pitiful side of me. Back at the Harrington Manor, Matthew told the maids to take me to the bathroom to freshen up. I declined their help and only allowed them to pick out a dress from my old wardrobe. They searched for a while and eventually found a simple, long-sleeved dress that resembled a school uniform among all the fashionable clothes. There was no set definition for a student’s dress style, but as I looked at myself in the mirror, I realized that I looked more like a student now than I did in the past when I dressed more flamboyantly. Before being kidnapped, I had received an acceptance letter from a top design school abroad. It had been three months since the registration deadline had passed. “Thanks.” The maids were surprised. They didn’t expect me to thank them. After everything I had been through, I understood that I was no different from them. They were maids hired by the Harrington family, and I was a daughter they had brought in. When I pushed the door open, I saw Matthew waiting for me on the stairs. He was leaning against the railing, lazily eyeing me up and down, and sneering, “Skylar, what are you doing? Why are you dressed like that?” Was the dress unfashionable? Matthew believed that I was trying to get attention with this childish behavior, but in reality, I just wanted to cover up the scars on my body. I followed Matthew into the quiet dining room. He motioned for me to walk ahead, and then I saw his parents, Yannick Harrington and Danielle Harrington, sitting at the dining table with worried expressions. As soon as Danielle saw me, she got up and hurried over. She walked unsteadily and leaned on another woman for support. “Mrs. Danielle Harrington, don’t worry. Miss Brown has come back safe and sound. Miss Brown, Mrs. Danielle Harrington has been so worried about you that her hair has turned gray.” I recognized the woman. She was Matthew’s secretary, Alyssa Davis. Alyssa had silky hair and was dressed in a simple turtleneck sweater and jeans. She wore a beautiful rose gold necklace around her neck. I was safe and sound while Danielle’s hair turned gray. I was the victim, but Alyssa seemed to imply that I was an ungrateful daughter of the Harrington family. Danielle cried as she held my hands, and Alyssa tried to comfort her. But I couldn’t cry. I looked at Matthew, and his expression seemed to suggest that I was heartless. Finally, Yannick interjected seriously, “Stop crying. Let’s sit down for dinner with Skylar.” Danielle wiped her tears. “It’s my fault. I’m sorry for putting you through this, Skylar. You must not have eaten well these past few days. Come on, I made your favorite clam chowder.” She pulled me to sit between Yannick and herself. Matthew sat across from me, and Alyssa sat next to him. We looked like a “family”. I looked at the food with a good color and a sweet smell. I almost forgot what normal food looked like. I wanted to throw away the fork, grab the food with my hands, and stuff it into my mouth. The closer to the urban area, the stricter the sanitation management was. Gradually, I couldn’t find any garbage or food, so I was hungry for almost three days. I had to allay my hunger with leaves. Under all eyes, I restrained myself and shoveled the food into my mouth with the fork. But I saw Alyssa’s mocking eyes. She took small bites elegantly. Seeing this scene, Matthew disliked me more. However, under Danielle’s instructions, he had to put some meat on my plate. I thought I could gulp down the most unpalatable food, but looking at the tempting meat that Matthew placed on my plate, I felt sick. “Skylar, help yourself. Matthew knew you liked it and asked me to make it for you.” No, it was not true. Matthew didn’t know what I liked at all, but I knew his preferences. For example, he liked rose gold best. Seeing me hesitate, Yannick asked with concern, “What’s the matter, Skylar? Did you quarrel with Matthew on the way back? Do not worry. I will punish him after dinner.” “Dad!” Matthew shouted. Maybe it was because he felt embarrassed in front of Alyssa. I didn’t speak and shook my head. I held back the feeling of nausea, took the meat with my fork, and put it in my mouth. But the moment I swallowed, I spat it out.
Matthew was astonished. I immediately stood up from the chair, buried my head in my hands, and hid in a corner. “Sorry. Sorry… I will eat it. Don’t beat me!” Everyone was shocked. Danielle cried again. She walked over and hugged me. “Did those people abuse you? Skylar, tell me.” With a worried face, Yannick brought Matthew over. Matthew frowned without saying a word. His face was gloomy. What happened? The kidnappers threatened the Harrington family that if the ransom was not paid, they would abuse me. Why did Danielle ask me whether I was abused? They should all know that! Eating rotten food wasn’t abuse for me, cuz I had to eat garbage just to stay alive days ago. But what really scared the living daylights out of me was that my destiny was in the hands of Matthew. The bad guys were negotiating with him, but he coldly abandoned me. He held nothing but disdain for me. Maybe that’s why I felt sick to my stomach. After dinner, Yannick called me into his study. Yannick, who usually had a serious demeanor at work, asked me softly, “Skylar, you’ve had a crush on Matthew since you were kids. Do you still like him now?” I vigorously shook my head, wincing as the wound on my face throbbed. I had been infatuated with Matthew for seven years, always putting myself down, but I never learned my lesson. That’s why I ended up suffering through hellish revenge and torture. I couldn’t dare to like Matthew anymore. After I gave my answer, Yannick pondered for a moment. He said with pity, “Ah well, forget it. Even if you can’t be our daughter-in-law, you’ll always be our daughter. You’re a kind and beautiful girl. Matthew isn’t good enough for you.” He took out a bank card from the drawer. “This is what your parents left for you. There are four million dollars in it. They wanted me to keep it safe for you and give it to you as a wedding gift when you grow up.” The ransom was also four million dollars. During my days of being kidnapped, I had complained about my parents for leaving me alone in the world and allowing me to endure such torture. But it turned out they left me with a fortune that would let me live comfortably. They loved me so much. I bit my thumb and chewed on it to hold back my tears. “Thank you, Yannick.” It was already eight o’clock in the evening when I left the study. On my way to my room, I bumped into Matthew. He knew I was going back to my room, and his tone was incredibly gentle. “Alyssa will be staying in your room tonight. You can take the room next to mine.” So it turned out he came for Alyssa. I nodded and went in the opposite direction. When I first moved in with the Harrington family, Matthew despised me and moved to the room farthest from mine. But my room was decorated by a top luxury designer hired by the Harringtons, and it was much nicer than the guest room. I couldn’t refuse Matthew. After all, it was the Harringtons’ house. After taking a few steps, Matthew stopped me. “Skylar, why are you suddenly so obedient?” I turned around and saw a mocking expression on his face, mixed with a hint of concern. “I… I’m sorry…” I stammered. Besides apologizing profusely, I didn’t know what else to say to Matthew. “This is the third time you’ve apologized to me today. You’re acting really strange.” Matthew approached me, leaning over to touch my forehead. I quickly dodged his hand as if I had been shocked. My legs went weak, and I barely managed to hold onto the railing in the corridor. Matthew looked at me as if I were crazy, growing impatient. I struggled to keep my voice calm and said, “I… I’m going to move out tomorrow. I already told Yannick.” I thought Matthew would be happy and let me go when he heard the news, but he unexpectedly became furious. “Move out? Why? I just let Alyssa stay in your room for one night. She’s a guest. What’s the big deal?” I frantically shook my head. “No, you’ve misunderstood.” Matthew walked towards me with a scowl, grabbing my wrist and dragging me towards the room at the far end of the hall. “Come with me. We need to talk.” A wave of fear washed over me. I cried and pulled out the bank card that Yannick had just given me in the study. “I’m sorry, I have money. Please don’t hurt me.” “I have money. Don’t hurt me.” Matthew turned around in astonishment. I had collapsed on the ground, with my wrist still held high by him. “Skylar, what are you saying?” I had bitten my lips until they turned blue. As Matthew approached me, memories of what the kidnappers said started flooding back. They called me a clingy dog of the Harrington family. “Matthew, no. Mr. Harrington, I won’t bother you anymore. I promise, I won’t.” Finally, Matthew realized something was off with me, and his movements became gentler. He held onto my waist and lifted me up from the ground. The sensation of being weightless made me instinctively wrap my arms around Matthew’s neck. His serious expression softened a little. “Skylar, I never said you were bothering me. I just…”
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “397451”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #BillionaireRomance #B×G #Bully #Empath #sad #protective #ForcedLove #LoveAfterLoss
Leave a Reply