No More Forgiveness Tokens

Dave gently ruffled Maggie's hair, looking at her like she hung the moon.

And somehow, I laughed.

My dignity had already been ground into the floor, and these people still treated me like entertainment.

Dave, how could you still ask me to humiliate myself again for her?

Then again, I almost forgot.

Maggie was the girl he'd wanted for years but could never keep. He chased her forever, then their families tore them apart, and she disappeared overseas overnight.

Now that he finally had her back, of course he treated her like something priceless.

So how was I ever supposed to compete with that?

Swallowing the bitterness clawing at my chest, I forced the words out.

"Does this count as another forgiveness token?"

"Forgiveness token?"

The whole room laughed at the weird phrase, but Dave slowly lowered his hand from Maggie's hair and looked at me.

He knew exactly what I meant.

After a long silence, he nodded.

"It counts."

I gave a small, bitter smile.

"Okay. Then I'll do it."

Eight years ago, I'd just started modeling when some powerful old creep took an interest in me and locked me away on a private island.

A few other girls and I were treated like party favors for rich men during their business trips.

I got lucky.

Dave was the first man I met there, and apparently, it was love at first sight for him.

For me, he crushed those men's companies, sent them to prison, and pulled me out alive.

Later, I found out it was because I looked so much like Maggie. Funny how that worked out.

The night he saved me, I asked him how I could ever repay him.

He looked at me so seriously it almost felt real.

"Then be mine."

I pinched him lightly. "I'm serious."

His breathing turned uneven as he pulled me closer.

"Then... give me 290 forgiveness tokens."

"Forgiveness tokens?" I wrapped my arms around him, confused.

He laughed softly.

"Silly girl. If I ever hurt you 290 times, I'll use those tokens to ask for forgiveness 290 times. Once they're gone, we won't owe each other anything anymore."

For the next five years, he poured money, connections, and resources into me until I became an international supermodel.

Back then, he treated me like something priceless.

Then Maggie came back two months ago, and suddenly everything went to hell.

This was the 288th time.

Just two more, and I'd finally repay what I owed him.

The second Dave agreed, Jared dragged me toward his private suite.

The room was dim, silk curtains hanging everywhere like some wannabe luxury dungeon.

The table was piled with boiled eggs, and a few half-dressed women were collapsed on the floor nearby. The stench was bad enough to make my stomach turn.

A chill shot down my spine.

So this was the "egg challenge."

Before I could fully process it, Dave's expression suddenly changed. He shot Maggie a sharp look.

"Wasn't this supposed to be some dumb egg-eating game? What the hell is this?"

Maggie ignored him completely and shoved me forward instead.

"Jared, Bianca used to study dance. She's super flexible. Don't you wanna see for yourself? Push her a little."

The second those words left her mouth, panic crashed through me.

I started shaking uncontrollably and looked at Dave for help.

At the end of the day, I was still his wife.

He had loved me once. And no matter how many times he chose Maggie over me, surely he wouldn't hand me off to some sick creep.

But the next second, Dave walked over to the liquor table, poured a glass of wine, and shoved it into my hand.

"Why don't you give Jared a drink first? Loosen things up a little. Set the mood."

Set the mood.

That was what he wanted from me?

He... seriously agreed to this?