I Trusted Him, But He Only Used Me

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On the night of my fathers funeral, while I was keeping vigil, I was kidnapped.

A group of men stormed the funeral hall, shattering the solemnity. They desecrated my father's urn and threatened me into cooperating with three strangers to film an eight-hour indecent video.

By the next day, the footage had been burned onto DVDs and circulated through every corner of the town.

My fianc broke off our engagement without hesitation.

The all-girls school that once required my daily attendance never reached out again.

Under the weight of scandal and sorrow, my frail mother passed awayclutching what remained of my fathers ashes.

In the midst of despair, Sean Noblemy ex-fiancs uncleknelt before me and proposed.

It felt like a drifting boat finally finding a harbor.

I agreed.

Six months into our marriage, I went to the city to pick up a drunken Sean from a private room. Just as I approached, I heard voiceshis and another mans.

Sean, werent you too ruthless back then? A marriage and a jobthats all it took? Christys family is well-off. Why ruin Sheri completely? Her father fought tooth and nail for that job. Look at her nowbroken, empty

I had no choice, Sean replied coldly. If her chastity wasn't destroyed, the girls' school wouldnt reject her. Jason wouldnt call off the engagement. I can't protect Christy forever. All I could do was remove the obstacles.

I had my men gather those DVDs from around town. But its been months. Do you see how the men look at Sheri now? Like shes something to devour

Dont collect them anymore.

There was a beat of silence. Then came a hoarse, grief-stricken scream:

Sean, are you even human?! Have you watched the CD?! My wifetortured for eight hours by three monsters. In the end, blood streamed from her eyes. Was it worth itfor a woman like Christy?

Enough! Sean snapped. I know shes hurting. Just waitonce Christy gives birth to the Noble Familys child and things stabilize, this will pass. Words hurt less than wounds. I wont say more. Sheri said she was coming to pick me up. If she hears this

His voice, eerie and soulless, chilled me to the bone. I covered my mouth, heart pounding, and stumbled away from the room.

But outside the hotel, it got worse.

A group of drunken men recognized me.

Hey, isnt this the girl from the CD? Harrys daughter? Always looked so properwho knew she was so wild behind the scenes?

One of them grabbed me by the waist, his hand already tugging at my clothes.

Cmon, have some fun with the boys. Name your price.

I struggled, but I was no match for a mob.

My coat was torn. Laughter rang around mevile, mocking.

The horror I thought I had left behind came rushing back.

And then

You bastards dare touch my woman? You have a death wish?!

Seans voice cut through the chaos like a blade.

Thugs surged forward behind him, beating the drunkards to the ground until their screams echoed through the street.

I curled up in a corner, trembling.

He had saved me again.

But this time, I felt no gratitude.

Only fear.

Sean spotted me curled up in the corner. His brows tightened with visible anguish as he took off his coat and gently draped it over me.

"I'm sorry, Sheri I shouldn't have asked you to come pick me up this late. It's my fault." His voice trembled with guilt. "Believe me, time will ease everything. People will forget about the CD eventually. Until then, Ill stay by your sidealways."

On the way home, he held my hand firmly, refusing to let go.

After a long silence, assuming I had fallen asleep, Gregorywho was drivingsighed heavily.

Brother, he said, his voice laced with frustration, let someone else handle this kind of thing next time. I really cant take it. Didnt you see how those scumbags looked at her? If you had been two minutes later they wouldve stripped her in public!

Gregory's next words hit me like thunder.

Her father had just been rehabilitated. Their family was finally catching a break and because of Christys one sentence, everything fell apart. And you, the person closest to her, are still thinking about how to keep her from rising again? Do you want to destroy her completely?

My heart froze.

The drunkards outside the hotel they were arranged by Sean.

I bit down hard on my tongue, tasting blood, forcing myself to stay silent.

Sean gently shifted me to the side. Then suddenly lunged and gripped Gregory by the throat, his voice low and hoarse with rage.

Youve had enough of the Noble Familys food, havent you?! You want to bring this up now? If Sheri hears any of this your wife and children will pay the price! Do you think this is yours to decide?

There was the sound of choking and struggle. The car swerved wildly.

Just when it felt like we were about to crash, he finally let go.

Gregory coughed violently, gasping apologies in the silence.

Sean pulled me close again, his arms tightening around me. He pressed a kiss on my forehead and murmured to himself:

Just hold on a little longer, Sheri even if it's for me. Ill spend the rest of my life making it up to you.

But this wasnt love. It was cruelty dressed in concern. And I couldnt take it anymore.

That night, when he finally fell asleep, I quietly snuck into the study. My hands trembled as I wrote a letter to my aunt, who worked at the National Conservatory of Music and Drama.

Sealing the envelope, I feltfor the first time in a long whilea sense of hope.

I couldnt stay in this hell any longer.

The next morning, I had barely opened my eyes when I heard Sean speaking to Gregory outside the bedroom.

Today is the opening ceremony at the girls school. When she wakes up, find a way to convince her to go.

But sir she cant even go out to buy groceries without being stared at. At an event like thisso many people

Think about your wife and kids, Sean said coldly.

Gregory went silent.

Moments later, the bedroom door creaked open. I felt a familiar hand gently ruffling my hair.

Sheri, Sean said softly, its the opening ceremony today. Our family sponsored a lot of studentsI have to go. Therell be a crowd. You dont need to come. Just rest.

I forced a smile. Alright.

Once he left, Gregory lingered, nervously watching me eat. Finally, he spoke, hesitating.

My son said when you substituted at their school, the kids really liked you. Todays the opening ceremony I think theyd love to see you again.

I looked up, eyes calm. Ill go. Pack the car.

But as soon as I arrived at the venue, I saw Christys smirking face in the crowd.

And I realized

Sean didnt want to protect me.

He wanted me humiliated again.

When it was time for the new teacher representative to speak,

Christy stepped forward, holding the microphone, her gaze sharp and piercing as it landed on me like the tip of a blade.

Today, she said with a smile that didnt reach her eyes, my speech is about self-respect and self-love. And now, Id like to share a short promotional video.

The moment her words fell, my scream tore through the campus.

On the three-story-high LED screenjust recently donated by Sean to the girls' schoolthe video began to play.

It was that video - the one that should never have seen the light of day.

My naked body lay on a mottled bed, writhing under the lash of three long whips.

Welts and bite marks littered my skin.

Blood seeped into the once-pristine white sheets, turning them into a sickening shade of red.

Pain surged again, not from my bodybut from my soul, as if a thousand insects crawled beneath my skin, gnawing away.

Before I could even react, a harsh slap struck my cheek.

A mother beside me pointed at my face, shrieking, How dare a woman like you step foot in a girls' school? You shameless whore! Its revolting!

Another hand yanked my hair, dragging me from my seat and throwing me to the ground.

Voices thundered above me, raining down curses like stones.

Your father gave up the government job he fought so hard to get for youbecause of this filth! Your mother died holding his ashes! And you? You still have the audacity to live? You shouldve been buried with them!

You slut! A disgrace to this entire town! You deserved every second of that torture!

I curled up, numb, as fists and feet landed again and again.

Compared to the night of the video this was nothing.

Then Christy stumbled forward, her voice trembling with false concern.

Sheri, I Im sorry. I dont know how this happened. Someone mustve switched the video

She reached to shield me from the beating, muttering apology after apology.

But in her tear-glossed eyes, pride sparkled like glass shards.

She wasnt sorry.

She was victorious.

As the daughter of the influential Thornton Family, no one would question her. No one would dare.

A commotion behind me

Sean rushed through the crowd, panic written on his face as he pulled me into his arms.

Sheri! Why are you here? Didnt I tell you to wait at home? Its okay now, Im here

His performance was perfect.

If I hadnt heard everything with my own ears,

I mightve believed him again.

Mightve melted into that familiar, deceiving embrace.

But the humiliation at school shattered me all over again.

My mind broke. I screamed at the sight of any man who came near. I thrashed, cried, cowered from invisible terrors.

Sean held me tightly, tears streaking his face, his voice raw with heartbreak.

But even his sorrow felt like a lie.

Eventually, I was sedated and carried away in an ambulance.

When I opened my eyes, everything was dark. The bitter smell of antiseptic stung my nose.

I realized I was still in the hospital, my wrists and ankles restrained tightly to the bed. Outside the ward, muffled voices floated in.

Seans voice.

Christy, are you satisfied now that Sheris like this?

Another voice, low and sweetChristy.

Of course. Jason dated her for eight years. I had to be sure there were no lingering feelings between them. If I hadnt done this, who knows what mightve happened?

She sighed.

Its hard for you, too, having to live with a woman like her. I feel bad every time I think about it. But because of our families, we cant be together in this life. In the next life, Ill repay youno matter what. Even if I have to be your horse or ox.

Through the glass door, fogged with condensation, I watched them laugh and lean into each other.

I saw Sean pulling Christy into his arms.

His hoarse voice trembled with the bitterness of unrequited love.

No Christy, you dont owe me anything. I did all this willingly. Now that youre carrying my child thats the greatest blessing I could ever ask for. Besides, Sheris always been kind to me you dont need to feel guilty.

Outside the ward, the man and woman embraced, kissing with abandon.

His voice, thick with sobs, revealed everythinghe truly loved her.

They were going to have a child. The pain tore through me like an old wound ripping open all over again.

Tears spilled silently down my cheeks.

So, I was nothing more than the extra the unnecessary one from beginning to end.

I tried to shut out their voices, to silence the intimate sounds coming through the door.

But they wrapped around me like a curse, refusing to let go. I buried my face in the quilt, biting it until my gums bled. I didnt know how long I lay there like that

Until the door creaked open, and the soft scent of powder drifted in.

Before I could react, a pair of slender hands gripped my chin.

Dont be scared, Sheri, came the voice. Its me. Christy

Hearing her name made me flinch and thrash wildly in the dark.

She let out a soft laugh and calmly began untying my restraints.

Sheri, the proud girl everyone admired, reduced to thiswhat a joke. The men of the Noble Family either of them would choose me over you in a heartbeat. Especially Sean. He gave up everything for me

Her voice turned cold, laced with pride.

Hes such a noble man, isnt he? But for my sake, he forced his own mentor to death, just to get me a job at a girls school and fulfill my marriage. What kind of love do you think that is?

I stared at her, stunned.

After your father died, you begged Sean to look after you. Your pathetic mother probably thought he was your familys savior. So pitiful. But it was Sean who scattered your fathers ashes with his own hands!

Her words struck me like lightning.

I had always believed my father died by suicide from depression.

But noSean, the man my father mentored, the one he treated like a son, had driven him to death.

Fury exploded in me. I shot up and wrapped my hands around Christys throat.

But before I could squeeze, the door slammed open.

Seeing Sean, Christy immediately threw herself into his arms, sobbing.

Sean! I only wanted to help Sheri. I felt sorry for her, so I untied her restraints but she said I stole everything from her and tried to strangle me!

I opened my mouth to explain

But the slap came before I could utter a word.

Sheri! Seans eyes blazed. People are trying to help you and this is how you repay them?! Why blame Christy for everything? Youve completely lost your mind!

He didnt give me a chance to speak.

He just left me there, trembling on the cold floor, while he wrapped his arms protectively around her.

As the door shut, Christy looked back at me with a slow, mocking smile.

She had every reason to laugh.

I was a failure. A discarded thing.

But what they didnt knowEven a cornered rabbit bites.

After they left, I forced myself to stand.

I discharged myself from the hospital.

And once I got home, I followed the instructions from my aunts letter.

With everything in place, I left... Without looking back.

When I stepped outside, I ran into Gregory.

Sheri, he called out, Sean said he was impulsive about what happened in the hospital today. He told me to ask you not to blame him Hell come home later to apologize.

I smiled faintly at him.

Tell Sean its okay. And remind him to come home early tonight I have a surprise waiting for him.

Then I turned and walked away, ignoring the confusion that flashed across Gregorys face.

As I passed by the girls school, I saw Sean onstage, holding Christy by the waist as if she were the most precious treasure in the world. The crowd around me buzzed with conversation.

Did you hear? Mr. Noble and the new teacher Christy just launched a 'Self-Love' scholarship. Its meant to reward girls who know how to respect themselves.

Isnt that ironic? After what happened with his wife I bet hes traumatized.

Of course he is. Who wouldnt be, after being with a woman like that?

I looked up at the banner hanging above the stage: Mo Die Scholarship.

How touching. I hope this so-called affection survives the night.

---

Later, as the event ended, Gregory approached Sean and relayed my message.

She said its okay, Gregory told him. And to come home earlyshe has a surprise for you.

Hearing that, Sean exhaled in relief, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

He was confident in his hold on me. After all, I had nowhere else to go. He believed that even if he overstepped, I wouldnt dare to leave.

Still he admitted to himself that hed been a little too harsh. I was his wife.

Tonight, he decided, he would make it up to me.

After spending the night wrapped in Christys arms, he reluctantly began dressing, gently pulling away from her clingy hands.

Be good, Christy. Ill see you tomorrow

Before he could finish, the doorbell rangloud and frantic, cutting through the night like a blade.

Sean frowned and walked toward the front door with a scowl. The moment he opened it, Gregory burst in, face pale, chest heaving.

He glanced behind him to confirm Christy hadnt followed, then turned to Sean.

Sean something happened

Seans expression shifted instantly.

The ones who hurt Sheri before they came back. They broke into the house tortured her and set it on fire. Shes gone.

Gregorys voice cracked as he forced the words out. The neighbors said the men were shouting about how Christy sent them And whats worseSheri she was pregnant. Sean Two lives