Chapter 165 - Twenty Nine Years Ago 5
Three Days Later
Claire lay on the cold floor of the abandoned house, her body weak and trembling.
Three days had passed since Mathew had taken her here, and each passing hour felt like an eternity.
Her wrists and ankles were raw from the ropes, and her stomach growled with hunger. Mathew brought food daily, but she hadn't touched it. Fear and despair had stripped her of her appetite, leaving her too weak to move.
Mathew stood over her now, his eyes dark and clouded with frustration. "Why are you making this so difficult, Claire?" he asked, his voice tinged with both anger and desperation. "We could be happy. We could have fun together. But you're making it so hard for both of us. Why?"
Claire's heart thumped weakly in her chest as she tried to speak, but the gag prevented her from making any coherent sound. She hated the feeling of helplessness. The tears that had dried on her face from hours of crying began to well up again.
Mathew knelt down and removed the gag, his fingers brushing against her skin. The moment it was off, Claire let out a piercing scream, just as she had done every time he had removed it before.
Though she didn't have the strength but she needed to scream. She needed help. She needed to get it any way she could.
Mathew sighed heavily. "Are you not tired of doing that? I told you already—no one can hear you. We're all alone, Claire. No one's coming. Stop wasting your breath and what little strength you have left," he said, looking slightly irritated.
Claire's voice broke into a desperate sob. "Please, Mathew... let me go. Please. I'll do anything. I'll do whatever you want but please, let me go. I'm tired. I want to be free."
This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.
"I can't." His voice softened, but it didn't bring any comfort. "I love you, Claire. I've loved you for years. I just want you to love me back. Why can't you? Am I that bad? You were willing to date me if you hadn't discovered I scared those guys away. Shouldn't that make you love me more? Why then, do you hate me? It's your love I need, Claire. Please."
Her mind raced as she listened to him. From the events of the past days, she could tell Mathew was unstable, and before he did anything to her, she needed to think of a way to outsmart him.
The only chance she had was to manipulate him. But how? She thought as she swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she said, "I love you, Mathew."
Mathew's eyes lit up with excitement when he heard her. But then, he needed to be sure he had heard her properly. "What did you say? Say it again."
"I love you," Claire repeated, forcing herself to meet his gaze. She prayed this would be enough to make him let her go. Wasn't it her love he wanted? Well, now she was giving it to him. She hoped it would be enough she thought but instead of loosening her restraints, Mathew's face broke into a wide smile, making her frown in confusion.
"If you love me, then it's time to take things to the next level. It's what lovers do. Isn't it?"
Claire's stomach churned as she heard the words. She stared at him, uncomprehending at first. Then her eyes widened in horror as Mathew began to unbutton his shirt.
"No," she whispered. Her heart pounded against her ribs as panic surged through her. "No, Mathew. I don't want this. Please. Not now, not here, please."
Mathew shook his head, as if her protests were irrelevant. "It's the only way I'll know you really love me. You have no idea how long I've been dreaming about this moment."
He continued undressing, and when he reached for her, Claire's sobs intensified. She shook her head violently, pleading with him. "Mathew, please. Don't do this. You don't have to do this."
He ignored her. His hands moved to the hem of her dress, pulling it over her head. Claire felt exposed, vulnerable, and violated. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to kick him, but her weakened body didn't have the strength.
Mathew's eyes roamed over her with a disturbing hunger. "You're perfect and beautiful," he said softly. "Just as I imagined."
Claire's mind was a whirlwind of terror and determination. She couldn't let this happen. Think, Claire. Think! She urged herself. And then, an idea struck her.
"I need to use the bathroom," she blurted out, her voice trembling.
Mathew froze, narrowing his eyes. "Why? Why now? You can do that after we're done."
"No, please. I... I want to clean up for you," she said quickly, forcing herself to sound compliant. "I'll be better for you if I'm clean."
He hesitated. His paranoia flared, but Claire could see a flicker of trust. After a long moment, he loosened the ropes around her ankles but left her hands tied.
"Fine," he said. "But no funny business."
Claire nodded, forcing herself to stay calm as he led her to the small bathroom. The cold tile under her feet made her shiver, but she didn't care. The moment they were inside, she scanned the tiny space. There—a small window near the ceiling. It wasn't much, but it was her only hope.
Mathew hovered near the door, watching her closely. Claire took a deep breath, steadying her shaking knees. She needed to move fast.
Gathering all her remaining strength, she broke her index finger and because she was weak, she didn't scream. She quickly loosened the rope on her hand and darted toward the window.
She didn't care that she was naked—escape was her only thought. She scrambled onto the toilet, trying to squeeze her body through the narrow frame.
"Claire!" Mathew's furious voice roared behind her.
Before she could push herself any further, he grabbed her waist and yanked her back down. Claire hit the floor hard, the air knocked out of her lungs.
"You tried to leave me," Mathew growled, his face contorted with rage. "You lied to me."
Claire gasped for air, tears blurring her vision. "Please, Mathew... please don't do this."
But his grip only tightened. "You'll never leave me, Claire. Never."