The black jeep continued moving forward, leaving behind the paved road and entering a narrow winding path through the forest. Towering trees stood like eerie statues on both sides, their dark silhouettes swallowing the fading light. Inside the vehicle, Dr. Malihah's body shook violently with every bump on the rough road. Cold beads of sweat slid down the side of her forehead.
Curled up tightly in the passenger seat, she tried her best to hide herself, fear written all over her pale face. She had just completed her MBBS internship from Dhaka Medical College and recently joined Lab Aid Hospital as a doctor. But before she could even settle into her new life, Lucas had forcefully taken her away.
He had stopped the car in the middle of the road and pointed a gun at her head, dragging her into this nightmare with the weight of power. It felt like a new method of "patient transfer" for the powerful—but certainly not for ordinary people.
This was not a world of normal human beings.
This was the cursed kingdom of hidden sinners, disguised behind the mask of civilized society. A world where darkness had replaced morality, and where emotions had drowned deep inside frozen caverns of guilt and cruelty. Perhaps no one would ever come to thaw that frozen heart buried beneath endless ice.
The black jeep finally stopped in front of a massive mansion gate.
Only Richard's car was allowed inside. Lucas parked the jeep near the lawn. A guard in black uniform rushed forward and opened the door.
Dr. Malihah stepped out trembling, immediately taken in by Lucas. Without hesitation, he lifted her onto his shoulder.
Her fragile body collided with his hard frame, causing her to flinch in pain. Fear had sealed her throat shut—she couldn't even scream.
They entered the mansion.
Inside, Elizabeth had once suffered terribly.
Her feet had been brutally injured by broken glass scattered across the floor. Some shards had pierced deep into the bone. Richard had carried her to the room but never treated her immediately. Instead, he had ordered the maids in a harsh voice to fix her condition before he returned at night.
Terrified, the maids removed every piece of glass from her wounds after he left. Elizabeth's feet were left mutilated and bleeding.
They cried seeing her condition.
Among them was Reshma, who had studied two years at a nursing institute before leaving due to financial struggles after her parents' death. Still, she had learned basic dressing skills. Lucas secretly brought medical supplies, and she carefully dressed Elizabeth's wounds while she remained unconscious.
Later, Reshma prepared vegetable soup for her. She needed protein and vitamins due to excessive blood loss. The girl was already too weak.
In just two days, Elizabeth's innocent, beautiful face had already captured Reshma's maternal affection. Seeing her silent tears made Reshma's heart ache deeply.
Soon after the maids left, Elizabeth regained consciousness.
Due to the injection, she couldn't feel the pain in her feet—but the mental agony was unbearable.
Her breath felt like molten lava trapped inside her chest. Suddenly, she smiled strangely while tears rolled down her eyes. Like a madwoman, she began laughing uncontrollably.
Her laughter didn't escape the soundproof room.
Smiling lips… crying eyes.
Then suddenly, she sat up and pulled her hair in desperation, breaking into violent sobs. Her cries only grew louder, like a storm tearing through the sky.
Her delicate face was marked with bruises and handprints. She began biting her own hand until blood oozed out, but she didn't stop. She struck herself repeatedly in madness.
Only a giant dragon painting on the wall silently witnessed her destruction.
Exhausted, she finally collapsed.
Life felt unbearable.
Her dignity had been shattered. Her soul was being devoured by suffering. She could no longer accept this existence.
Her eyes searched the room desperately.
Then she saw it.
A syringe on the bedside table.
Her eyes lit up.
The syringe lay there like a twisted hope.
Reshma had used it earlier for pain relief, but it had been left behind while cleaning the room.
Elizabeth picked it up slowly.
Her expression turned hollow. No pain. No emotion. Only emptiness.
She closed her eyes for a final moment, remembering her parents.
With a trembling voice, she whispered—
"I'm coming, Mom… Dad…"
Then she injected the syringe into the soft skin of her wrist.
Once… twice… three… four times.
Blood began to spill freely, splashing across her face. Yet she smiled faintly through the pain.
Her body grew weaker, vision blurring.
A broken whisper escaped her lips—
"Life… I am tired of you…"
At that moment, Reshma entered the room with soup—and froze.
Her scream brought everyone rushing in.
Lucas stood still.
Richard arrived soon after.
But his expression did not change.
No sympathy. No shock.
Only cold silence.
His eyes burned with restrained rage.
"Is she okay?" Richard asked.
Lucas signaled Dr. Malihah, who checked her condition with trembling hands.
"She is out of danger now," she said softly. "But please take care of her. She is very weak."
Then Richard spoke coldly—
"She is not my wife. She is my kept woman."
The room froze.
Dr. Malihah trembled and quickly left with Nasso and Lucas.
Reshma also stepped out under Richard's order.
Richard walked slowly toward Elizabeth.
He sat beside her motionless body.
His hand suddenly grabbed her bandaged wrist—and pressed hard.
Elizabeth winced slightly even in unconsciousness.
Elsewhere, Lucas and Nasso were talking.
"That doctor is quite beautiful," Nasso said casually.
"Yes… but she doesn't match your type," Lucas replied.
Morning arrived.
Sunlight slipped through the dense forest trees and entered the terrace.
Elizabeth slowly opened her eyes.
But before she could fully wake—
A sudden grip tightened around her throat.
Richard.
His eyes burned red with fury.
Elizabeth gasped.
"Why… didn't you let me die?" she choked. "Let me go… I don't want this hell…"
Richard's grip tightened further.
His voice turned deadly cold—
"You want to die? You think it's that easy? You will rot slowly… but you will stay mine. You don't have the right to leave."
Elizabeth struggled for breath.
Then suddenly—
He released her and walked away in rage.
Elizabeth coughed violently, gasping for air, while tears finally broke free.