After My Fiancé Let Thugs Brand Me, I Vanished

My fiancé's childhood friend's cat shredded the journal my mother left me before she passed away. In a burst of anger, I gave the cat a gentle swat on its backside. The next day, I was horrified to find that someone had carved deeply humiliating words into my skin. When the ambulance arrived, I lay exposed on the snowy ground.

Ryland Palmer, my fiancé, held me close, tending to my wounds with care. While I was recovering in the hospital, a mysterious package arrived for me, containing a recording device.

"Ryland, you're quite something. Just to amuse your childhood friend, you let your fiancée become a target for thugs. We've known each other for over a decade; wouldn’t it make more sense to involve me?"

"Get lost. You think she wouldn’t recognize your voice?"

"But I have a video of her being branded. Imagine showing that to everyone—wouldn't it be a spectacle?"

"A ruined journal, and now her cat can't move. If we don't teach her a proper lesson, she'll keep getting her way."

Feeling utterly desolate, I contacted a secret organization. "I want to come back. Can you send someone to get me?"

The recording played, my painful struggles evident, while the voices of those encouraging them became louder. My body trembled uncontrollably. "Get this video out there as widely as possible," someone said. Hearing the hospital room door open, I quickly turned off the recording and hid it under my pillow.

"Are you still in pain?" Ryland asked as he entered the room. "Lilly went abroad just to find a special cream for your scars—it’s supposed to be very effective. Let me apply it for you."

As he reached to pull down my blanket, I stopped his hand. With great effort, I whispered, "No, I don't want to be touched right now."

"Come on, it'll be over soon," he insisted, prying the blanket away and smirking as if he were proud of a trophy.

I bit my lip hard, tears of humiliation welling up in my eyes. I clenched my fists, forcing the tears back.

Just two mornings ago, Ryland had come in holding a little cat, with Lilly trailing behind him. I was puzzled to see them together when Lilly spoke softly, "My allergies are really acting up. Could you keep the cat for me, Penelope?"

Before I could reply, Ryland placed the cat in my arms, saying, "Haven't you always wanted a cat? Here she is!"

I was upset, but I didn’t want adult issues to affect an innocent cat, so I went to the pet store for supplies. When I returned, I found the cat tearing up the journal my mother had left me. Seeing the tattered pages felt like my heart was being ripped apart. In a moment of weakness, I tapped the cat's backside.

When Lilly saw me do it, she immediately scooped the cat up, tears streaming down her face, "I know you don’t like me or my cat. I’ll leave now."

My journal had been locked in the bottom drawer of my nightstand. No mere cat could have gotten to it. Inspecting the cabinet, I saw signs of forced entry on three locks. I demanded an explanation from Lilly.

Sniffling, Lilly turned to Ryland, "Didn't you say that everything here was mine too?"

Ryland sharply reprimanded Lilly, demanding she apologize, but then assured me he’d find an expert to restore the journal.

I thought that was the end of it. Little did I know that because of this incident, he handed me over to those thugs and let the video of their assault spread repeatedly.

"All done. Just leave it uncovered for a bit," Ryland instructed.

I threw the blanket over myself anyway, but within minutes, an unbearable itch spread over my wounds. As I scratched helplessly, Ryland claimed it was the medicine working and told me to endure it.

"I'm off to get some food; stay here and rest," he said, turning to leave.

Watching him go, I dialed Lucas, my brother, and broke down in tears. Lucas was an undercover cop, and due to the nature of his work, we rarely had contact. But surprisingly, he answered on the first ring.

He had already heard about my ordeal and was about to call to check on me. "Penelope, you shouldn’t stay there. Leave Ryland behind and come find me. If you’re willing to return to the organization, the government will arrange for your extraction."

I once worked undercover like my brother, but Ryland didn't want the danger and distance between us, so I gave it all up to be by his side. But all my sacrifices were repaid with betrayal.

It seems I really should leave.

"Lucas, I agree."