Malignant Love#

: A Life Worse Than Death

In the fifth year of our marriage, I did something foolish.

I drove Julian Valerius's most beloved golden canary out of the country, hoping he would have a change of heart.

But when he found out, he said nothing.

He simply bankrupted my family in an instant, forced my father to his knees, and caused my mother's hair to turn white overnight.

Now, his face dark, he stands before me, ready to strike.

"Elara Thorne, I suppose I was too good to you. It made you forget your place."

"Now, it's your turn to taste a fate worse than death."

...

When Julian Valerius spoke those words, I finally looked up at him.

Four years of courtship, five years of marriage.

We had spent the best years of our youth together.

'I never thought it would come to this between us.'

My hand drifted to my stomach. I was nearly three months pregnant.

But it was as if Julian Valerius didn't see. His voice was dark as he demanded:

"I'll give you one last chance. Where did she go?"

'I wanted to let out a cold laugh.'

But my one moment of defiance had already cost my family everything.

"Let my parents go, and I'll tell you."

Julian Valerius nodded.

He walked over slowly and, catching me off guard, clamped a hand around my throat, forcing me to tilt my head back to look at him.

"Elara Thorne, don't push your luck."

"It's only a matter of time before I find out where Mia is. What makes you think you're in any position to bargain with me?"

The intense suffocation made me gag instinctively. My face flushed crimson, and the veins on my neck bulged.

I gritted my teeth. A sudden terror and despair washed over me, chilling me to the bone. Even so, I managed to rasp out with all my strength:

"Does that give you the right—to make Mr. Thorne kneel to you?!"

"That's my father!"

Julian Valerius simply kept his grip on me, his face a blank mask, his strength terrifyingly immense.

Tears were forced from my eyes, but I stared fixedly into Julian Valerius's own.

Dark and filled with madness.

'I had no doubt he would kill me for another woman.'

Just as I was about to pass out, Julian Valerius let go.

I gasped for breath, my body trembling with lingering fear as I curled up on the sofa.

In that moment, everything we had been through flashed through my mind.

I suddenly burst into uncontrollable sobs.

For the past I could never get back, for this hopeless marriage.

And most of all, for the pitiful person I had become.

Julian Valerius just stood there, watching me with cold indifference, completely unmoved.

He didn't even give me a moment to catch my breath. He seized my chin again, his voice terrifyingly grim.

"I'll ask you one last time. Where did you send my Mia?"

Julian Valerius left.

Once he had the information he wanted, he rushed out of the room without hesitation.

In that instant, I clearly saw the look of joyful relief on his face.

'My husband has gone completely mad over another woman.'

I wiped my tears and immediately contacted my parents, preparing to move out that very night.

I thought my father would scold me, but he only comforted me, his weary voice choked with emotion:

"Elara, my poor girl, you've suffered. I don't blame you. We'll just leave, that's all."

After I hung up, I was completely overwhelmed by self-loathing and despair.

Julian Valerius and I fell in love in college and married right after graduation.

The Valerius family was wealthy and influential. For my father, me marrying into their family was something he had never dared to dream of.

He'd had his reservations, too, afraid I would be mistreated.

My own family had no status, and there would be no one to stand up for me.

Back then, I had sworn to my father that Julian Valerius loved me so much he would never let me be wronged.