Total pages in book: 331
Estimated words: 315585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1578(@200wpm)___ 1262(@250wpm)___ 1052(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 315585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1578(@200wpm)___ 1262(@250wpm)___ 1052(@300wpm)
“This is not healthy,” the woman states.
“Are you telling me how to raise my kid?” He arches a brow.
I want to laugh at that. This has been my life, and even I know that this isn’t how you should treat your child.
“You asked me to help. This is me giving my help.”
He crosses his arms over his chest, staring her down.
She’s unfazed, which makes my curiosity pique. Who is she and why is she so important? What kind of help could she possibly give? “A woman is like a garden.”
He laughs at that, and I find it odd. I’ve never heard him laugh before.
“I’m serious. You want to grow a garden; it takes time and care. It needs water and sunlight.”
“What are you suggesting?” he asks, but his tone suggests he doesn’t care. “Put her outside under a sprinkler?”
“Look at her.” She turns to me. “Hair thinning, cheeks sunken in, skin splotchy. She’s too young to look this…frail. She needs to be well fed and taking vitamins.” The woman turns back to him. “She’s young and fertile, but there are still factors you must take into consideration.”
I shove myself into the headboard at the mention of fertile and bring my legs to my chest. I struggle in the restraints, wishing I could wrap my arms around them, but I can’t. The straitjacket has them secured to my chest.
They both look at me when they hear movement.
“It’s okay.” She gives me a toothy smile. There’s nothing comforting about it. “I’m here to help you.”
I shake my head and glare at my father. “I will not—”
“You’ll do whatever I fucking tell you to do,” he barks, stepping closer to my bed.
The woman reaches out, placing her hand on his upper arm, and he stops to look at her. She quickly scribbles something down on a piece of paper and holds it out to him. “A list of things she needs. You should get her started on them as soon as possible. It will help you get the results you want,” she assures him.
He reads over the list and nods his head a few times. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Fuck you,” I scream. I’m so tired of no one being on my side. No one caring about me. Tears sting my eyes, and I sink into the bed, trying to look smaller, wishing it would swallow me up.
“Watch your tone, or I’ll gag you,” my father growls.
“Leave me with her,” the woman suggests softly.
My father looks her up and down, and I know he’s fucking her. Not a doubt in my mind that he uses her. “She remains in her restraints.”
“Of course.” She nods. The thought of releasing me never even entered her mind.
Satisfied, he turns and walks out of my room, slamming the door behind him with the list in his hand.
“I fear we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot.” The woman’s smile is still in place.
“Don’t pretend you’re here for me.” I drop my head on my knees and mumble. “You’re here for them.”
“I am here for you, Everett.” She sighs and walks over to where she sits on the side of the bed. “That’s a pretty name.” Reaching out, she grabs a piece of my hair and runs her fingers through it, sighing. “You’re beautiful, Eve.”
Fresh tears sting my eyes.
“You look just like your mother.”
Hope fills my chest, and my wide eyes find hers. My mom is never mentioned. My father didn’t even know her. He was just the highest bidder, and I was the result. “You knew my mother?”
“I did.” She smiles. “And she wouldn’t want to see you hurting yourself like this.”
My stomach drops. She’s trying to manipulate me. Make me think my mother would want me to be a whore. “My father raped my mother, and then she was forced to have me. I should not exist.”
She chooses to ignore that. “I have a daughter. Around your age. And—”
“And you’d let men rape her?” I interrupt.
She drops her eyes to my bed and sighs heavily. “Women have a purpose, Eve. And if you’re no longer able to fulfill that purpose, you are no longer useful to a Lord. Your mom is a testament to that.”
I flinch at the way she speaks of my mother. Like she’s trash, thrown away when she could no longer serve what this woman calls a purpose. No. I refuse to believe anything she says. “I don’t want to be useful,” I whisper.
She gently grabs my chin and lifts my head so I have to meet her stare. “I’m trying to help you.” Her eyes search my watery ones. “I suggest you let me.”
I jerk my face from her hold and narrow my eyes on hers. “I’d rather you fucking kill me.” This woman is delusional. If my father is fucking her, then so are his friends. I’m sure they pass her around. Take their turns. Just like they do with me. I’m nothing special. The only difference is I’m currently restrained and she’s not. She’s given into her fate. Accepted it. That’s why she’s not tied up or gagged right now. But I bet she is when they use her.