The night was deep and dark.

The sky, faintly lit by moonlight, was gradually covered by dark clouds

Raindrops began to fall, eventually turning into a torrential downpour.

The rain streaked down the windows, creating a chaotic pattern of lines that cast a fragmented, shadowy light into the room.

Aveline bit down hard on Lucas' shoulder, her eyes filled with hatred as she trembled and cried uncontrollably, Lucas' shoulder muscles tensed like stone, veins bulging at his temples, and his eyes were filled with cold, piercing fury.

"I hate you, Lucas, I hate you!" Aveline sobbed, hitting him with her fists, struggling and gasping for breath, refusing to give in.

Lucas, however, was overwhelmingly forceful, as if he wanted to devour her whole. His aggression was relentless.

She eventually ran out of strength, left helplessly crying.

Why was he treating her this way?

He was already slept with Sophia, so why did he still need to take out his frustrations on her? Why not just divorce her? Why humiliate her like this?

Everything calmed down, but the storm outside continued to rage.

Lucas looked at her bruised and battered body, his eyes dark with unreadable emotions.

Grabbing her chin, he said coldly, "Did you think you'd be free if you believed something happened between me and Sophia? Dream on. I won't allow it. You'll remain tied to me for the rest of your life!" With that, he turned and went into the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the room ás Aveline felt a chill to her bones.

She curled up, but any movement brought pain to her waist and legs. Tears streamed down her face, and she wiped them away with trembling hands. She couldn't stay here any longer! Gritting her teeth, Aveline got up and put on her torn clothes, enough to cover herself.

The mansion was eerily quiet.

Aveline left immediately, the heavy rain washing away any trace of her departure and masking the sound of her steps.: owner of this content.

As she plunged into the downpour, she was instantly soaked to the skin.

Pain radiated through her entire body, and the cold seeped deeper with every step she took along the roadside.

It hurt... It hurt so much.

Why did he have to treat her this way?

What had she done wrong?

She asked herself repeatedly, knowing she had never wronged him. Yet, why was he doing this to her?

Aveline couldn't understand.

She only wanted to escape.

As long as she was far away from him, she wouldn't be sad or in pain anymore.

She didn't know how long she had walked, but her hands and feet had gone numb from the cold.

Everything around her began to spin, and she sat down on a bench by the roadside.

The rain continued to fall, her long hair clinging to her face, rainwater streaming down her cheeks. She tried to hold on, but darkness enveloped her, and she fainted. Lucas emerged from the bathroom to find the bed empty, Aveline gone.

His face darkened, and he quickly dressed to go look for her. The butler and the staff searched the entire mansion but found no trace of Aveline.

Finally, Lucas checked the security footage and saw her slender figure braving the storm as she left.

"Heh!" Lucas sneered at the sight on the monitor

She dared to run! Did she think she could escape?

He pulled out his phone and dialed Brian's number. "Where is she?"