I Paid My Husband's Ransom, but He Left Me for His First Love

I watched as the two bodyguards shut the door behind them. Once I was sure they were gone, I quietly took out my phone and called my boss.

"Sir… they won’t even give me food."

I swallowed my pride and added softly, "Sabrina… she made me eat dog food."

Over the years, I had followed this man with unwavering loyalty and in return, he gave me unimaginable wealth. Not only had I lived a life of dignity, I even had the tastiest food, the finest clothes and the most comfortable house and transportation.

I had not felt this humiliated in years.

From the other end of the line, his voice came through coldly, "After tonight, I’ll be there. You’ll see me with your own eyes."

I could hear the anger boiling beneath his words.

After hanging up, I quickly hid my phone. That device was the last thread keeping me connected to hope.

I did not call the police. I knew it would be useless. Even if I did, Gideon would find a way to trap me here.

He could easily claim I was mentally unstable after the trauma abroad.

And once the police were gone, the consequences for me would be far worse.

So I endured the hunger in silence… and eventually drifted into a deep sleep.

By early morning, I saw Gideon again.

The moment he stepped into the room, he slapped me across the face.

"Celine, you vicious woman!" he roared.

"How dare you lay a hand on my son?"

"So what if I didn’t rescue you? That doesn’t give you the right to hurt a child!"

His expression grew darker as he spoke and a harder slap landed again.

After that slap, my cheek swelled instantly. When I tried to open my mouth, it was filled with the metallic taste of blood.

I knew that my lips were bleeding from the force of his hit.

But even after seeing me like this, Gideon did not stop. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and kicked me hard.

The blow landed on my stomach and pain twisted my face as I let out a cry.

Gideon’s kick landed hard and I crumpled to the floor with a sharp scream.

Even seeing me curled up in pain, he showed no mercy. Instead, he continued to punch and kick me without restraint.

His son stood at the doorway, clapping and cheering excitedly.

"Yes! That’s right! This bitch needs to know how strong I am!"

"Dad, you are amazing! You made her cry!"

The boy kept applauding, his face lit up with twisted delight.

Then Gideon grabbed a fistful of my hair and growled viciously, "Celine, listen carefully. If you ever touch my son again, I’ll kill you!"

I looked up at him, fear clouding my eyes.

He was completely insane.

"Dad, let me hit her next! Beat her to death, now!" the boy shouted, pointing at me with cruel enthusiasm.

Hearing his son's words, Gideon turned to him with a smile and nodded. "Of course, my good boy. Don’t worry, Daddy will make sure this woman learns her place today."

Then he glared back at me, raising his hand to strike again.

At that moment, all I could feel was raw terror.

Even when I had been kidnapped, the abductors had not been this brutal.

I truly believed I might die here, beaten to death by the man I once trusted. Just then, Sabrina's scream pierced the air from outside the room.

"Who are you? How dare you break into my house?"

And in that instant, I knew that my boss had arrived.