*Trigger warning ⚠️ *
Vincent tossed the towel aside and strode to his closet, his nakedness unashamed. He pulled out a pair of casual pants.
She looked away in embarrassment.
Her gaze remained downcast, her breathing shallow and rapid.
Vincent's hand emerged from the shadows of the closet, clutching a baseball bat, that fit his rage perfectly.
The sight of it sent a bolt of terror through her, her body tensing like a coiled spring.
With a flick of his wrist, he sent the bat spinning through the air, the sound of wood slicing through the silence like a sword.
He caught it with ease, the muscles in his arm flexing. "Look at me," he ordered, his voice deep.
Evangeline's eyes met his, filled with terror. She had seen the coldness in his gaze before, but never this raw, unbridled anger.
His eyes were a tempest of rage, his grip on the baseball bat so tight his knuckles had turned white.
With a snarl, Vincente brought the bat down on her left leg, the impact resonating through the room like a gunshot.
The pain was immediate and searing, stealing the breath from her lungs.
She screamed, a raw, primal sound that seemed to echo through the mansion's corridors.
Vincent's expression was one of dark satisfaction as he raised the bat again, his eyes never leaving hers. "You want to leave?" he sneered, bringing it down with another brutal thwack on her other leg. "This is what happens to those legs tries to escape."
Evangeline's screams filled the room. Her legs were already a mass of bruises, the skin beginning to swell and redden with each new blow.
Her body convulsed with pain, every nerve ending screaming for mercy "no!!!!....please.. please...stop!!"
She could hear the bones in her legs cracking with each swing of the bat.
The pain was a living, breathing entity, consuming her until she was nothing but a vessel for her suffering.
His eyes gleamed with a sadistic pleasure.
She pleaded to stop. She couldn't feel her sore voice, her eyes hurting from crying.
But the sound of the bat's impact, the thwack against flesh, was all too real. Each hit brought a new wave of agony that washed over her, leaving her gasping for breath.
"You will learn your place," he grunted, raising the bat for another strike. "You will never leave me."
Her screams grew weaker, her body limp from the agony.
With a final, brutal swing, the baseball bat connected with her leg.
Evangeline's eyes rolled back in her head, and she passed out, her body finally giving in to the pain.
Vincent watched her pass out in bed from pain.
He tossed the bat aside, the weapon of his fury landing with a clatter on the marble tiles.
Her legs lay bent at unnatural angles.
Vincent stared at her crumpled form, his breaths coming in heavy, ragged pulls.
His chest heaved with the effort to contain the fury that had driven him to such a monstrous act.
With a jerk of his head, he called out, "Carla!" His voice was cold.
The head maid and another maid appeared almost immediately, their expressions a mix of fear and pity as they took in Evangeline's broken form.
"Clean her up," he ordered, his tone devoid of any emotion. "And call the doctor. I don't want her looking like that."
The maids rushed to the bedside, their eyes filled with pity as they looked at Evangeline's bruised and broken body.
"Quickly," Vincente barked, his voice echoing in the quiet room. Then he left the bedroom.
Evangeline's eyes fluttered open the next morning to the sight of Clara, the head maid, standing over her, a look of concern etched on her face.
The room spun, and she felt as though she were adrift in a sea of pain, her body a shipwreck of bruises and aches.
Her legs were swollen and throbbing, the agony of the night before a stark reality that refused to be forgotten.
"Good morning, Miss," Clara said softly, her gentle reprieve with concern.
She had a way of speaking that was both formal and comforting.
She couldn't speak her mouth being dried and throat ached from screaming last night.
Clara's gentle hands touched her forehead, checking for fever, her eyes filled with a motherly concern "You need to eat," Clara murmured, her voice a balm to Evangeline's raw nerves.
She offered a tray of food grabbing it from the side table, the smell of which made Evangeline's stomach turn.
"The doctor came last night," Clara said softly, her gaze flicking to the bandages that swathed Evangeline's legs. "He said the breaks are severe. You'll need to rest and let them heal."
Evangeline bit her lip to stifle a whimper,sterile smell of the antiseptic washing over her.
Clara's expression grew solemn. "The doctor reset your bones as best as he could," she said, her voice low and gentle. "He gave you something for the pain, but you'll need to be careful with legs."
Evangeline nodded, the movement sending a fresh wave of agony through her.
She could feel the painkillers coursing through her veins, a dull throb that threatened to swell into a crescendo of agony with every heartbeat.
"Let me help you," Clara said, her voice filled with a gentle warmth reminding of her mother.
She moved to help Evangeline sit up, sliding a pillow behind her back with care.
"Thank you," she whispered hoarsely, her voice a mere echo of its former self.
Clara offered a small, sad smile. "You're welcome, Miss. Now, you must eat. The doctor said it's important for your recovery."
With trembling hands, Evangeline took a piece of toast from the tray, her stomach lurching at the thought of food. She nibbled at it, each bite feeling pain in her sore throat. Clara watched her with a careful eye, making sure she didn't choke on the dry bread.
"Thank you," Evangeline murmured again, her eyes dropping to the fresh dress.
She swallowed the bile rising in her throat, the question burning in her eyes wondering if Vincente changed them.
Clara squeezed her hand gently. "Don't worry, Miss," she assured her, reading the unspoken fear. "Mr. Castellanos didn't...change your undergarments while you were unconscious. I took care of it."
Evangeline felt a wave of relief wash over her, her eyes brimming with tears of gratitude. "Thank you, Clara," she whispered, her voice shaky.
"You're welcome, Miss," Clara replied, her eyes never leaving hers.