After Veronica abused me for the 98th time, all for Marcus, my spirit was utterly crushed. That’s when I finally gave in to Genevieve Thorne’s relentless pursuit. After a passionate night with Genevieve, she promised to help me fake my death, so I could start a new life with her, marry her abroad. I swallowed the faux-death drug she gave me, only to wake up too soon, trapped inside my own coffin. My body was paralyzed, but I could hear Genevieve talking to someone just outside. “Ms. Thorne, you had Veronica abuse Adrian, then pretended to be his savior. You’ve completely won his trust. Why arrange a fake death and burial now?” “Only then will the Sterlings believe he’s dead. Marcus’s position as heir will be secure, and no one will ever bring up him being illegitimate again.” The other person hesitated. “Won’t seven days be too long, waiting until your wedding with Marcus before digging him out?” “The faux-death drug lasts for five days. I’ve already had water, food, and an oxygen tank placed inside the coffin. He won’t die.”
Darkness suffocated me, and my heart clenched in agonizing spasms. So, it was Genevieve who made Veronica abuse me. Then she came to pursue me, making me believe that if I wanted to be with her, I had to fake my death and give up everything. This woman, who promised to marry me, was going to bury me alive and then marry Marcus. But I woke up early, and there was absolutely nothing in that coffin! No water, no food! The cramped, suffocating space stole my breath. Genevieve’s voice sounded muffled through the wooden planks, yet it pierced me like a sharp blade, pinning me irrevocably to the coffin floor. “Five years ago, when Marcus’s illegitimate status was exposed, his engagement to Veronica was broken off and passed to his brother, Adrian. Marcus lost his love, so I promised him I’d help him gain power and status. I vowed to be his unwavering support.” “As for Adrian, these past few years, to punish him, I had Veronica torment him physically. Now, letting him leave is a form of release. He loves me so much; he’ll be forever lost in the sweet delusion I’d spun for him.” The person beside her hesitated, a hint of pity in their voice. “But Adrian didn’t know he’d actually be buried alive. Burying someone alive for seven full days… it’s too risky. And Mr. Sterling is so afraid of the dark, he has claustrophobia. What if something goes wrong in the coffin…?” “Nothing will!” Genevieve’s words allowed no room for doubt. “The Sterlings are thorough; we have to make this charade absolutely convincing. It’s only seven days. In reality, he’ll only be conscious for two. What could go wrong? Besides, Veronica promised me she’d lock him in the closet every time she finished beating him. He should be used to it by now.” “Marcus waited five years for this opportunity. We must ensure everything is foolproof. Once the dust settles and Marcus and I are married, we’ll get a fake marriage certificate abroad to deceive Adrian. We’ll keep him well-fed and comfortable, making sure he can never return.” The footsteps faded. I tried with all my might but couldn’t make a sound. The faux-death drug kept my mind clear, but my body was unresponsive, unable to speak. My claustrophobia flared, a cold sweat drenching my back. I bit my tongue, forcing myself to calm down. The absolute pitch black reminded me of the five years I’d been married to Veronica. Every time she abused me, she’d lock me in a closet. The painful memories flooded me, a tide of torment, and my stomach churned. Two years ago, I was locked in that closet again. It was Genevieve who saved me. The moment she opened that closet door, she seemed like an angel, capable of dispelling all the darkness in my life. From then on, Genevieve relentlessly pursued me. She cared for my bruised body, comforted my broken heart, and urged me to bravely resist Veronica’s abuse. How foolish I was to believe I’d found my salvation. Little did I know that all the torment I endured was instigated by Genevieve herself! She orchestrated Veronica to hurt me, while she played the role of a good Samaritan, healing me. And all of it was for my brother, Marcus. I bit down hard on my lip, trying desperately to make my body move. Suddenly, I heard a door open outside. Marcus’s voice, accompanied by the sound of men’s dress shoes, drifted closer. “Genevieve, burying Adrian underground for seven days… will he truly be alright? The burial is today. He is my brother, after all. I still feel it’s too cruel.” I felt like I’d grasped a lifeline, screaming helplessly in my mind: *Save me!* *Please, just open the coffin and take a look. One glance is all it would take to see I’m awake.* *I don’t want to be buried alive, don’t want to experience the agony of suffocating in the dark!*
But no one could hear my silent plea. All that answered me was Genevieve’s cold voice. “Marcus, you’re still too soft-hearted. We’ve planned for so long, all for this very day. We can’t fall short now.” “Have you forgotten how Adrian snatched everything from you? If it weren’t for his mother, your illegitimate status wouldn’t have been exposed, your mother wouldn’t have died, you would have married the woman you loved, and you wouldn’t have been cast out of the Sterling family!” “Don’t worry. Once this is all over, I’ll compensate Adrian properly.” I trembled violently, my limbs numb and convulsing, as if a thousand needles were piercing my body. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, and I swallowed a mouthful of bitter, sweet liquid. Genevieve, I don’t want your compensation! Just let me out, and I’ll willingly give up my position as heir. I’ll go far away, never to disturb you again! Marcus seemed to be crying, his voice choked. “Genevieve, you’re so good to me. Every time I’m sad or upset, you deliberately provoke Veronica, making her abuse Adrian, and even having her send me photos and videos.” “Watching Adrian beaten and bruised, begging on his knees, or seeing him locked in that closet for three days and three nights, dehydrated from hunger… it always makes me feel so much better.” Genevieve pulled Marcus into a tight embrace, sighing. “As long as you’re happy, hurting Adrian a thousand, ten thousand times is worth it. He owes you this.” Inside the coffin, my tears streamed down, soaking the wood. My heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, collapsing inward. Genevieve, is this how you’ve always seen me? How could anyone be so monstrously cruel? Every instance of abuse, it turned out, had been orchestrated by you. You were so gentle with me, yet behind my back, you used videos and photos of my torment to please another man. I laughed silently, tears tracing paths down my face, dripping onto the coffin lid, instantly absorbed. Perhaps it was the sheer agony, but a surge of unprecedented strength coursed through my body. My fingers could move! No matter how much I hated these two vile people, all I wanted right now was to live! My fingernails scraped against the coffin lid beneath me, emitting a faint scratching sound. I desperately hoped they would hear the commotion from inside. The next second, my hope was shattered. The sound of passionate kissing erupted outside. I could feel a man being pressed against the coffin, his back pressed tightly against the wood. I hammered my fingers against the wood, desperately. But the two outside, lost in their passion, heard nothing. Their mingled gasps and moans, their bodies slamming against the coffin, made it creak incessantly. My desperate pleas for help were easily drowned out. The woman moved rhythmically, whispering her adoration. “Marcus, do you know how long I’ve waited for this day? To finally have you give up Veronica and agree to marry me.” “For you, I forced myself to stomach the disgust of seducing Adrian. That night with him, all I could think about was your face.” I closed my eyes, gritting my teeth, forcing myself not to listen to those nauseating sounds outside. I thought my will to survive outweighed my hatred for them. I was wrong. I hated them. So much. As much as I had loved Genevieve, I hated her now. And I hated myself even more, for falling in love with two women who both hurt me so wantonly. I don’t know how much time passed, but finally, it grew quiet outside. Just as I was despairing, waiting to die, the coffin suddenly opened a crack.
A blinding white light pierced through the darkness. What greeted my eyes was Marcus’s handsome yet somewhat sinister face. His cheeks were flushed, and his clothes disheveled, clearly having just engaged in *that*. My pleading gaze met his, hoping he would save me. But Marcus seemed utterly unsurprised that I had woken up. He merely appraised me with a look of disdain. “Tsk, tsk, how pathetic. You’re about to be buried alive. Genevieve’s gone to handle the funeral arrangements. Good brother, I’m here to keep you company.” “Five years ago, your mother uncovered my identity. To clear the path for you, she drove my mother to her death and had Father disinherit me from the Sterling family! Not only that, but you also stole my wedding. I was supposed to marry Veronica!” “Five years of marriage, five years of Veronica’s abuse. I didn’t think you had it in you to endure so much, simply refusing to divorce. I had no choice but to have Genevieve seduce you. You were so foolish, actually falling in love with her. Weren’t you dreaming of marrying Genevieve abroad? You stole my marriage, and now I’ll steal yours!” “Finally, your mother is dead, and I tampered with your faux-death drug. Once you’re buried, you’ll watch yourself die slowly. Your death date is the very day of my wedding to Genevieve.” Marcus spoke the most cruel words, one by one, and my heart chilled, little by little. The hope that had rekindled within me was extinguished once more. Marcus’s lips curved into a smile, his mood utterly joyful. He took out the water and food that had been prepared in the coffin, speaking carelessly. “You’re going to die anyway, so you won’t be needing these. I’ll leave the oxygen tank for you, though, just so you can live a few more days. Too bad you won’t get to see Genevieve’s and my wedding.” The coffin lid slammed shut again, and the last sliver of light vanished. My fingers dug deep into the wooden planks, my nails almost tearing off. My eyelids grew heavy. Exhausted, I slipped into unconsciousness. When I next awoke, I heard a clamor of voices outside. My funeral had begun. Guests chatted amongst themselves, laughter echoing. No one seemed saddened by my “death.” “The younger Sterling brother finally got tormented to death. Veronica beat him so badly he was unrecognizable, but for the sake of the family, he absolutely refused to divorce.” “Serves him right! Why did he have to steal his brother’s woman? His brother is handsomer and more capable. If he hadn’t been exposed as illegitimate, Adrian would never have risen to power.” “Exactly! To marry Veronica, he even drugged her, so shameless. Then, right after the wedding, Veronica miscarried, didn’t she? What a shocker. Now that he’s dead, Veronica won’t even attend his funeral.” “Marcus Sterling is so lucky. Although he suffered five years ago, now that his brother is dead, he’s the only Sterling heir. And in a week, he’s marrying the only daughter of the Thorne Group. Who would dare call him illegitimate now?”
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