Chained No More

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When I saw my fianc again, I was chained inside a pigsty, he had a wedding ring on the middle finger of his left hand, and he stared in stunned disbelief as a skinny, limping man groped me all over.

Maybe I stared at my fianc for too long, because the limping man suddenly flew into a rage, yanked hard on the heavy iron chain, and slapped me across the face.

Bitch! What are you staring at that boss from outside for?

The iron chain had been fastened to my body for quite some time.

They were afraid I would run, so they bound it very tightly, and the rusty thick iron cut into my flesh, and with one tug, blood seeped out and mixed with the filthy, murky stench of the pigsty, like a rough, violent hand churning hard inside my aching stomach.

The cripple got vomit all over his hand from me, and in a fury, he pressed my head down and slammed it into the wall again and again.

You filthy slut! Stop pretending to be fragile! I knew you were a restless little whore! I paid thirty thousand for a useless bitch who cant even lay an egg!

My head buzzed from the beating, and I vaguely felt blood sliding down my forehead.

The hatred I had suppressed for so long also broke through my heart, and my body, which had not eaten in two days, somehow exploded with strength I had never had before as I rammed my head into his bad leg.

He fell to the ground with a thud, but he was not hurt much, and instead, I triggered the beast inside him, so he grabbed the iron tongs from the slop bucket, the ones he had just used to scald pig hair, and branded them against my stomach.

Hh... hh... hh...

My flesh made a sizzling sound as it burned, and I was in so much pain that my heart felt torn apart, yet no sound came out of my throat.

Yesterday, two researchers from some biology institute had come to the village, and the cripple was afraid I would ask them for help, so he burned my throat with hot coals.

Stop... stop it! my fianc finally spoke.

The darkness in my heart scattered in an instant, and I even felt as though I had seen sunlight.

As long as I escaped this place, I would forgive him for abandoning me at the resort back then and causing me to be abducted.

The limping man finally stopped, glanced at me with a cold, venomous look like a snake, then turned to my fianc, Ethan Carter.

This crazy woman is out of line, and I was so angry I taught her a lesson. You heard your great-aunt mention it too, right? I married her two years ago, and there still hasnt been a single sign from her belly.

My mind exploded for a second, because what did he mean by great-aunt? Was Ethan Carter related to the trafficker who bought me?

Hh... hh... hh...

I opened my mouth and tried hard to make a sound, wanting to ask Ethan Carter for help and wanting to question him about why he had left me alone at the resort that day and whether it had been a scheme by his family, but I could not say one complete word.

If you dont want to eat pig shit, then behave yourself!

The limping man slapped me hard again, and I felt the teeth that had already been pried at once become even looser.

Uncle... I just heard you say thirty thousand. This woman was... was bought by you?

The limping man sized Ethan Carter up and did not tell the truth.

What I meant was that I spent thirty thousand treating her so she could get pregnant. Youve been in the village these past two days too, so youve seen how poor this place is. Thirty thousand is blood-and-sweat money that takes a whole family years to save, and I spent it all on her. Even if that money had been used to treat a female dog, the dog would have gotten pregnant. Tell me, how could I not be angry? Besides, she still doesnt behave and is always thinking about seducing people.

There was suspicion on Ethan Carters face, and I saw him glance at me several times, as if he was shocked and uncertain.

You know her?

Suddenly, the limping man blocked me without leaving a trace and asked the question.

My heart lightened, because it seemed Ethan Carter was not working with this trafficker, so now I wanted even more to know whether Ethan Carter had recognized me and whether he could use their relative connection to save me.

Ethan Carter hesitated and said, She looks a little like a... friend of mine.

Friend?

My heart suddenly went half cold, because Ethan Carter was the reason I had been abducted by traffickers, so did he not feel guilty saying that?

Really? Wheres that friend of yours from? How old is she?

Before Ethan Carter could speak, the sound of the gate outside opening rang out, and it had to be the limping mans father returning, the beast who had abducted me that night.

Ethan, what are you doing here?

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the tip of a knife dripping blood and a pair of filthy work shoes, and my body shuddered instinctively.

N-Nothing. This crazy woman looks a little like a friend of mine, but that friend is in Lake City, so I mistook her for someone else.

Why did you come to the upper yard?

I heard theres a mountain behind the upper yard, and there might be some creatures that arent common outside, so I came to take a look.

There are black bears in these mountains, so youd better not go, and you should also keep an eye on that girl who came with you. The old beasts words carried a deeper meaning.

...All right, then Ill head out first. If I have time tomorrow, Ill come visit you again.

That was the last thing I heard Ethan Carter say before he left.

At that moment, my heart was terribly cold, and my body was trembling, though I did not know if it was from pain or anger, and I knew even better what I was about to suffer next.

Then the limping mans tall, thin father walked into the pigsty and struck my kneecap again and again with a knife, using the back of the blade, so there was no blood, but I knew this leg of mine was going to be ruined.

He was an old hand at slaughtering pigs in the village, so of course he knew how to torture a living person who was treated as less than livestock.

Clear out the woodshed and lock her in there instead, so she doesnt cause trouble. Disable one leg for now and leave you a little fun in bed.

After he finished speaking, he looked at me, who was in so much pain that cold sweat poured from my body, and said without any expression, Dont try any tricks. Once you enter the Miller family, you belong to the Miller family. If you still cant get pregnant in the next two months, then you wont be Blakes wife anymore. Youll have to serve this old man in bed instead.

Hatred surged in my heart, and I passed out, and my last thought before sinking into darkness was that I had to get out of this place alive and make Ethan Carter give me an explanation.

Chapter Two

Lily, Lily...

When I heard my mothers familiar call, for one instant, I thought I had been rescued from this filthy village.

The moment I opened my eyes, a thick stench rushed into my nose, and the burning pain all over my body dragged me back to reality.

I was still bound with chains, and the iron chains fastened my limbs like they were tying up livestock, while the locked end was buckled to the door.

Sure enough, I had been locked in the woodshed, and that familiar window had already been sealed shut with wooden boards two years ago when I tried to escape, leaving only a narrow crack for air, and it looked like evening now.

Why are you here?!

At that moment, the old beasts voice suddenly sounded outside, and it was Blake Millers father.

After I was abducted into this mountain village, the man I was forced to marry was Blake Miller.

This whole family, and everyone in this village, were traffickers, beasts who deserved horrible deaths.

I... uh, its like this. Chloe said wed come to the village and still hadnt visited Great-Aunts family, so she insisted on coming over. We came over from Lake City and didnt bring much, but heres an unopened bottle of perfume for Great-Aunt...

My mind cleared instantly, because this was Ethan Carters voice.

Why had he come again? Was he here to save me?

The gift is simple, but its a small token from me, and I hope Great-Aunt wont mind.

A girls bright voice sounded, and the emotions surging in my heart also cooled abruptly at that moment.

This had to be Ethan Carters current fiance.

The woodshed was next to the main room, but judging from the volume of their voices, the Miller family probably had not let Ethan Carter and the girl inside.

Your great-aunt is a country woman, so what would she use perfume for? Take it back.

Hey, Dad, keep it. Its still a gift from the young couple.

Yes, yes, keep it, Great-Uncle. Otherwise we came to visit without bringing any gift, and that would be so embarrassing.

Both Blake Miller and Ethan Carter were persuading him, and I could easily guess what Blake Miller was thinking.

Although the signal in the village was extremely bad, occasionally there was enough reception to get online, so Blake Miller had probably recognized that bottle of perfume as a luxury brand.

I listened for a while longer, and when I saw that the Miller family still had no intention of letting Ethan Carter come inside, I started to feel anxious.

Should I make some noise and gamble on it, letting Ethan Carter and his fiance rescue me, but this would be a huge bet, betting that Ethan Carter knew nothing about my being trafficked by his relatives, betting that his fiance was kind, and betting that both of them had enough courage.

Our house is shabby, so we wont keep you city girl here for dinner. Ethan, take your girlfriend back. The village chiefs family is about to eat too, and I swallowed my pride to arrange for you to stay in the village chiefs new house, so you cant make them wait for dinner too...

Blake Millers father started sending them away.

My heart sank, and at the same time, I made my decision.

My throat could not make any effective sound, and just as I picked up a piece of firewood and planned to throw it out to make noise, Ethan Carters fiance cried out.

Ah! What is this? ...Underwear... cough, cough, sorry, I lost my composure.

Oh, Blakes wifes. Blake Millers fathers tone was flat.

I remembered then that my only piece of underwear had been taken out by Blake Miller to pleasure himself every few days after he locked me in the pigsty as punishment, and this morning, after his mother washed it, she hung it on the clothesline by the front door.

At that moment, my fianc Ethan Carter spoke in a panicked voice, and he was trying to persuade his fiance Chloe.

Lets go, Chloe. If we stay any longer, itll be late by the time we get back to the village chiefs house.

Why havent I seen Blakes wife? I want to meet her. She should be around my age...

Dont meet her. Whats there to meet? After Ethan Carter finished speaking, he apologized to the Miller family in a low, unsteady voice, and then there was the sound of hurried footsteps leaving.

Sweat broke out all over me, and my body collapsed weakly onto the pile of firewood, while my heart was ice-cold, yet I was also incredibly glad I had not made any sound just now.

Otherwise, what awaited me would have been endless hell.

There was no way Ethan Carter had failed to recognize that underwear as mine, because his mother worked at a lingerie store, and to support her sales performance, I had gone there many times, and Ethan Carter had even helped me choose that piece.

Sure enough, since he had stubbornly left me alone at that remote resort back then, he would not save me from the hands of his trafficker relatives now.

Creak...

The woodshed door opened.

Chapter Three

Well, well! Bitch, youre awake.

Blake Miller unbuckled his belt, took out that ugly thing, and aimed it at the chamber pot in the corner to relieve himself, while glancing at me with slanted eyes and an indescribably strange expression.

He was a lazy piece of trash spoiled rotten by the two Miller elders, and using his bad legs as an excuse, he almost never went to the outhouse, even though the outhouse was connected to this woodshed and could be reached by opening the back door and walking around.

After he finished, Blake Miller saw me lying on the ground and suddenly laughed, then pinched that thing and walked over, looking down at me before shaking it.

A few drops of rank liquid fell onto my face, and I did not make a sound, and after Blake Miller finished humiliating me, he finally pulled up his pants, but then kicked the stick of firewood beside me.

Bitch, were you planning to ask for help, or were you planning to beat me to death with this stick?

My heart jumped.

Come to think of it, you do have some backbone. Youve been sold to my family for two years, but youve never thought of killing yourself. Are you still thinking that fianc of yours will come save you?

I suddenly raised my head to look at him, and I saw the smile at the corners of Blake Millers mouth keep widening, filled with a crazed desire for revenge.

Ill tell you the truth. I knew you were Ethan Carters fiance, and thats why I had my father abduct you.

Wh... what?

The expression on my face pleased him, and he spilled everything in one breath.

It turned out that Blake Miller had gone to Lake City two years ago to find a job, but he looked down on many kinds of work.

His father thought of a very, very distant relative, Ethan Carters mother.

But when they asked Ethan Carters mother for help, not only did she refuse, she also showed off how promising her son, Ethan Carter, was.

He had been admitted to an elite university and had found a girlfriend with permanent residency in a big city like Lake City, and the only bad part was that the girls family was only comfortably middle-class and she had a younger brother still in high school, so if they wanted her to marry into the family, they would have to pay a bride price, and in the future, her family assets would definitely go to her younger brother.

That day, Ethan Carter happened to bring me to his home as a guest, and while I was still downstairs, Ethan Carters mother and the Miller father and son saw me from the window, so Blake Miller jokingly said, Since you look down on her, why not let her be my wife?

You? What kind of joke is that? That wont do. Ethan Carters mother refused and urged the Miller father and son to leave through the fire escape, afraid that her son and I would see her poor rural relatives.

When I heard the whole story, fury struck my brain, and it turned out that the life worse than an animal I had lived for the past two years had actually been indirectly caused by Ethan Carters mother.

But in the end, didnt that old woman still come to us to help get rid of you, this burden?

Blake Miller laughed.

Hh... hh... hh...

Panic rose in my heart, and I urgently wanted to ask clearly, but everything about that night became clearer and clearer in my mind, and I had already touched the threshold of some truths.

Chapter Four

That day, I had just received the notice that I had been accepted into graduate school without having to take the entrance exam, and Ethan Carters mother said it was a happy occasion and told Ethan Carter to take me to a resort for fun.

That resort had just been built, and the location was remote, with even surveillance and security facilities incomplete, and its slogan was close to nature, but in reality, it was just in an urban village beside a drainage canal.

I did not want to go at first, but Ethan Carters mother said she had grabbed tickets, and Ethan Carter also persuaded me by saying it was his mothers goodwill, so I went along with their wishes.

But something happened that very night.

Ethan Carters mother said a thief had broken into the house, and since Ethan Carters father was not home, even though she had called the police, she was still scared and wanted Ethan Carter to go back and stay with her. Ethan Carter was a filial son, so he immediately decided to return to the city.

Their family had come to Lake City from elsewhere to work, and they lived in a rented apartment more than twenty kilometers away from the resort.

I had originally wanted to leave with Ethan Carter, but it was hard to get a ride at the resort at night, and just then, a motorcycle drove over, and the rider said enforcement was strict now, so he could only take one person.

If I had not gotten a ride, then if Ethan Carter left on his own, he left, and I would not have blamed him so much for what happened to me later, but I had gotten a ride at that time.

The driver could arrive in half an hour, but Ethan Carter believed his mother needed him very much right then, and even though his mother was at the police station, he still insisted on leaving first.

I was left alone at the resort, and while waiting for the car, someone knocked me unconscious, and in my muddled state, I sensed that person carrying me on his shoulder and walking for a long time through the canal water that reached his knees, and after that, I lost consciousness.

When I woke again, I was on Blake Millers bed, and he said, No wonder youre a city girl. You sure look fresh and pretty.

Chapter Five

Tears slid from the corners of my eyes, and Blake Miller slapped me hard and said, Whats so great about Ethan Carter just because he read a few more books? Whats so great about that old mother of his just because she works in Lake City?

He vented his hatred for Ethan Carter and his mother, along with the humiliation Ethan Carters mother had once dealt him, all onto me.

My head buzzed from the slap, blood foam seeped from my mouth, and I could not even care about hatred anymore.

I heard him curse Ethan Carters mother for actually wanting that pretty-boy Ethan Carter to become a professors son-in-law.

This was something Ethan Carters mother had revealed when the Miller father and son went to the Carter home for help the second time.

The truth of the matter was now obvious: to make Ethan Carter get rid of me, Ethan Carters mother had joined forces with the Miller father and son to arrange a trafficking drama.

She had even given this family thirty thousand dollars to seal their mouths.

Then what role had Ethan Carter played in all this?

If he had known, he probably would not have dared to come to this village.

Besides, Ethan Carters mother knew all of Ethan Carters movements clearly, yet Ethan Carter had still come here, so the key reason had to be Chloe.

It was Chloe who insisted on coming here!

Blake, stop playing. Look at the sky. Its going to rain tomorrow, so hurry up and help bring in the corn were drying. I just came back after taking those two to the village chiefs house, and the village chief said there might be a mudslide. We live in the upper yard next to the mountain, so its not safe, and he told us to move to his house tomorrow.

Blake Millers fathers voice came from outside.

Blake Miller answered, glanced at me, and asked, Then what do we do with this bitch? When the time comes, everyone will be living at the village chiefs house. It doesnt matter much if Ethan Carter sees her, but that delicate professors daughter beside him might stir up trouble.

Theyre leaving tomorrow morning.

Blake Miller let out a breath of relief.

Thats good.

He turned his head, kicked me, and treated me like a motionless animal.

When we go to the village chiefs house, youll be locked in the pigsty too. Behave, and youll get food...

My throat itched uncontrollably, and I coughed a few times, and it was not serious at first, but I forced myself to cough as if my heart and lungs were being torn apart, and I even spat out a mouthful of bloody water.

Sure enough, this caused Blake Millers fathers displeasure.

Tell your mother to wash her clean and change her into clean clothes, so people wont laugh at us.

I lowered my eyes, hid the look in them, and watched the ants scrambling frantically across the ground.

The weather was about to change, and I had waited a long time for this rain, and I had also had enough of this hell.

Chapter Six

Blake Millers mother really did help me take a bath and changed me into a set of barely clean clothes, and I also had shoes.

However, after the bath, I was locked back in the woodshed.

When Blake Miller came in to bring me food, I lowered my head, and my washed hair smelled of cheap shampoo, but it was not unpleasant.

I calculated the best angle to raise my head, let my hair cover a small part of my swollen cheek, and looked at Blake Miller with a pair of watery, desperate, helpless eyes.

He froze for a moment.

I knew he was thinking of the night he had raped me for the first time.

Before today, that had been the only time I had ever shown him a similar fragile expression.

Water...

I opened my mouth.

When Blake Millers mother pressed my head into the basin to wash my hair, I took the chance while choking on water to swallow several mouthfuls, and the burning in my throat finally eased a little, but that was not enough.

Blake Miller looked at me suspiciously.

After I had been cleaned up, I was attractive to him after all, because in the end, he was only a beast ruled by the lower half of his body.

So just as I expected, he really went to bring me clean water.

It was sweet well water, and it eased the discomfort in my throat.

I then coaxed him and said I wanted to look at that bottle of perfume.

Blake Miller showed an expression as if he finally understood.

So you wanted the perfume. I was wondering why you were taking the initiative to seduce me. He smiled and undid his pants. You know what to do, right?

Facing the humiliation, my heart was calm, as if it were the brief stillness before a storm.

Blake Millers father passed by the door, and when he saw his sons exposed lower body, he did not avoid it, but only stared at me coldly and said, If you still cant get pregnant, Ill find a male dog to try on you.

My stomach churned, but I reached out and grabbed Blake Millers pant leg, looking at him with pleading eyes.

Blake Miller hurriedly turned his head and said, Dad, close the door for me. Ill play first, and well talk after.

The old beast closed the door, and Blake Miller moved his hips, rubbing that thing toward my mouth.

I dodged, and before he could get angry, I whispered, Can you let me spray some perfume? It smells too bad in here, and I want to feel like a normal girl too.

Blake Miller stopped, and he must have thought of Ethan Carters fiance, Chloe, because he said in an unclear tone, You really should be like a normal woman.

Most likely, he was unwilling to accept that after stealing Ethan Carters woman, the new woman Ethan Carter found was still someone far out of his reach.

Although I had once been bright and beautiful too, with a promising future, I was now penned up like livestock by them, so it was different after all.

Blake Miller left the room and soon returned with a bottle of perfume in his hand, spraying it hard on me twice.

I choked and coughed hard, and I also recognized that this brand of perfume had sold for around five thousand dollars two years ago, and this bottle was a classic version.

Hey, it really is expensive stuff. Smells good.

Blake Miller carefully placed the perfume on the woodpile beside him, then held me and leaned in close to my neck, taking two deep breaths.

Hiss!

I sucked in a cold breath, because Blake Miller had pressed down on my injured leg.

In the next instant, he maliciously pinched my bruised, blood-seeping knee, and after hearing me scream, he laughed like a pervert.

Wife, what do you say we film a dirty video?

Ever since my last failed escape, when they beat me half to death, I had been locked in the pigsty, and they wanted to use that to wear down my dignity as a person and make me submit to their control like livestock.

From that time on, my body had always stunk.

And I had not heard this disgusting form of address again.

Blake Miller even took out his phone, turned on video recording right in front of me, propped it up, and then tore open my clothes.