Chapter 322
Hamilton sighed in relief. “I’ll take him to the police station p>
Theodore grunted in acknowledgment and walked back to Penelope. She was still standing where he had left her, wrapped in his overcoat, her body trembling uncontrollably. He pulled her into his arms.
“He admitted he was lying Penelope’s voice was shaky.
“Yes,” Theodore murmured.
“Do you believe me p>
Theodore pulled the coat open and ducked inside with her. It was dark, and he couldn’t see her face, but he could feel her breath on his skin. He leaned in, gently kissing the tears from her eyes.
“I believe you p>
A sob escaped her lips, and she began to cry in earnest. Theodore smiled softly and held her tighter.
Penelope didn’t know how long she cried, hidden away under the coat, but when she finally emerged, a layer of frost had settled on the ground. She looked up at the sky and saw a bright, clear moon. They were alone now. The abandoned buildings no longer seemed like man-eating beasts chasing her, their gaping mouths ready to devour her.
Everything was quiet and peaceful.
“I have to go save her,” Penelope said, her gaze fixed on something in the distance. Theodore didn’t understand what she meant, but he squeezed her hand reassuringly. “Okay p>
They returned to the building, to that same room. The beam of her phone’s flashlight cut through the darkness, illuminating the small space. The chalk drawing of the little girl was still there, huddled against the wall, terrified and desperately pleading for help that never came. The monster had trapped her here with fear, tormenting her for years.
“This room… it used to be the laundry room,” Penelope explained. “Later, Lucien put a bed in here. It became my punishment room. Whenever I made a mistake-no, whenever I displeased him he would lock me in here. He would hit me, scream at me, and even She trailed off for a moment. “He even tried to make me use my body to pay off his gambling debts p>
Theodore’s heart seized, not with anger, but with a profound ache for his wife. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
“I didn’t let him succeed,” she continued. “I bit a chunk of flesh out of that man’s arm. He was too scared to touch me after that. He and
went out and beat up Luce,
Lucien never tried anything like that
again p>
“If only I had been there with you,” Theodore whispered. The ‘if’ was an impossibility,
but he was filled with a deep, irrational sense of regret and self-blame.
Penelope shook her head. “Those were dark times, but I never gave up. I was always looking for a way to escape p>
She had finally escaped, but she had left her younger self behind.
She walked to the wall and gazed at the drawing of the little girl, her heart aching After a long moment, she began to wipe away the chart fines with her sleeve, bit by bit.
When the last line was gone and the little girl had vanished from the wall, she was finally free.
Penelope felt a wave of relief wash over her. She turned to Theodore and smiled. “Let’s go home p>
The moment they were through the door, Penelope wrapped herself around Theodore, their kisses
leading them to the bedroom. Honet
laid her on the large bed, his lips descending on hers in a fiery kiss. She responded with equal passion, her hands clutching at his clothes.
But then, he pulled away and stood up.
“Where are you going?” she asked, grabbing his arm.
Theodore looked back and saw a flicker of fear in her eyes. He leaned down and kissed her again. “You have some bruises. I’m going to get some ointment for them p>
Penelope shook her head and pressed herself against him again.
“Unless… you’re disgusted by me p>