Love Unspoken

By Alexander's side, she had been nothing more than a caged dog. He would stroke her gently when he was in a good mood, and cast her aside when he wasn't, forbidding her from seeking affection elsewhere. She had no dignity. To everyone around her, she was a laughingstock.

How could she possibly put Abigail at risk for the sake of her insignificant shred of dignity?

Walter watched her intently, the smile in his eyes fading slightly, replaced by a glint of something unreadable. Her disheveled hair truly did make her resemble a small, pitiful dog.

Quinn finished the last of the food, biting her lip as she looked up at Walter, a hidden light flickering in her eyes. Despite believing that she had no dignity left, the humiliation still rushed back to her in waves, leaving her feeling trapped and cornered.

implication all too well. She looked away in shame, unable to respond. Without warning, Walter reached out and gently untied the rope binding her wrists. The moment he did, Quinn felt a weight lift from her body. She slid from the chair, landing lightly on the floor like a feather. Walter grabbed her by her clothes, hoisting her up and dragging her outside. Quinn was too weak to resist. The collar around her neck tightened, choking her until she was on the verge of suffocation. Walter hauled her into the bathroom, tossed her onto the floor, and turned on the shower, dousing her with cold water. The icy spray chilled Quinn to the bone, causing her to

as much anymore. Walter's voice echoed over the sound of the water. "If you wait for me to do it, I might

face a mix of shame, anger, and fear. She was overwhelmed with emotions, yet

a man with humiliation in her eyes could stir a man's desire for conquest and dominance, especially if she was beautiful. Walter stared back at

shirt, her mind racing. Walter lost his patience and dropped the showerhead.

instinctively wrapped her arms around herself, shaking her head