Chapter 7 The Plunderer
Zoey jerked her head away from his breath, mustering all her strength to shout, "Andrew, you maniac! You're hurting me!"
Her voice was choked with tears, but she still gritted her teeth, refusing to show weakness.
Andrew's movements halted.
Moonlight seeped through the gap in the curtains, illuminating Zoey's face, a mix of anger and despair.
Andrew suddenly let out a low chuckle.
"Is that really how you see me?"
"What else?"
Zoey's teeth were chattering.
"You threw me on the bed, tore my dress, what do you think you're doing?"
Andrew looked at Zoey. Even in anger, she had a captivating presence. He bent down to pick up the shattered frame pieces, oblivious to the glass cutting his fingertips. The photo showed them laughing on the beach, her head resting on his shoulder, the wind warm and gentle back then. But the broken glass now separated them, just like the rift in their relationship, irreparable once cracked.
Zoey took the chance to sit up, desperately trying to cover her exposed thighs with the torn dress, but as she covered one side, the other was revealed. Seeing Zoey's somewhat innocent struggle, Andrew's lips curled into a smile.
He suddenly smashed the frame against the wall, the glass shattering instantly, and the photo fell out.
"If that's what you think, I'll oblige."
As Zoey opened her mouth to retort, Andrew suddenly leaned in, gripping her chin, forcing her to look up. His scorching lips pressed down hard.
This wasn't a kiss; there was no affection. It was Andrew's demand and possession, a violent plunder. His teeth clashed against her lips, the sharp pain leaving Zoey nowhere to hide. She clenched her fists, pushing against Andrew's chest, but the more she resisted, the more violent his kiss became.
Andrew's hand slid under Zoey's dress, slowly moving upward until it reached her underwear.
"Wet?"
Andrew paused his kiss, whispering in her ear.
"Still saying you don't like it? Women like you are no different from that idiot on the balcony. Instead of resisting, why not fulfill your wifely duties from the past three years?"
Andrew's gaze fell on her exposed skin, freeing one hand to unbutton his shirt. The shirt then fell onto Zoey's face, completely blocking Andrew's face, who was pressing down on her.
The tearing pain in her lower body made Zoey feel hopeless. In the past, Andrew had been gentle, always considerate during their intimate moments, but now, what was this? Tears silently streamed from Zoey's eyes, soaking Andrew's white shirt.
The night was too quiet, even Pixel on the balcony had gone silent. Zoey could only hear Andrew's heavy breathing and the sound of their bodies colliding. She closed her eyes, pretending none of this was happening. But the pain was undeniable. How could she igonre it?
After what felt like an eternity, a warm rush filled Zoey's body, followed by Andrew's relaxed breathing. Zoey finally managed to push Andrew off her, trying to stand, but her legs trembled, unable to support her slender frame, leaving her slumped at the edge of the bed.
"Three years, and you're still the same."
Andrew lay back on the bed, laughing.
"Still as tight as ever."
He propped himself up on his elbow, leaning closer to Zoey:
"You enjoyed it, didn't you? Why didn't you scream?"
"Get out!"
Andrew's words were a humiliation, making Zoey scream with all her remaining strength, leaving her trembling.
Andrew's smile froze. He picked up Zoey's lace panties from the floor, gently wiping the semen from her vaginal area, then casually tossed them into her lap.
"Three years ago, you didn't say that."
Andrew's voice grew colder.
"You said you'd never push me away."
"That was because I was blind!"
Zoey, furious, grabbed the semen-stained panties and threw them at Andrew's face. She expected him to be angry, but he wasn't. He simply tossed her panties into the trash by the door and walked into the bathroom.
The sound of running water came from the bathroom. Zoey slumped by the bed, the sticky feeling and the tearing pain between her legs still burning, but it was nothing compared to the humiliation in her heart.
Their clothes, the knocked-over flower stand, and the frame Andrew had thrown against the wall were in disarray. She saw the corner of the photo trapped under the glass shards. Zoey trembled as she picked up the photo, the glass cutting her fingers, but she didn't let go. She slumped to the floor, gently stroking Andrew's face in the photo.
Sharp blood droplets spread across the photo paper, landing on Andrew's smiling eyes, like a drop of solidified blood tear.
"Liar."
She whispered to the person in the photo, her voice so soft only she could hear.
The water stopped. Zoey snapped back to reality, hurriedly trying to hide the photo, but the glass shards cut her fingers again. Blood droplets fell on her own image, spreading a small dark red stain on her bright smile.
Zoey pressed the photo tightly to her chest, the broken glass digging into her ribs, making it hard to breathe. Tears finally broke free, not in loud sobs, but silently falling onto the photo, mixing with the blood to blur the image.
The bathroom door opened, and Andrew came out, wrapped in a towel, water dripping down his muscular frame. Zoey hurriedly tried to hide the photo under the pillow.
"What are you hiding?"
Zoey's fingers had just touched the pillowcase when her wrist was grabbed with a strong grip.
Andrew's palm was still warm from the shower, but the force on her slender wrist was unyielding.
"Weren't you fierce just now?"
His voice was low, his other hand already reaching under the pillow.
Zoey struggled to press down the pillow, but all her strength had been drained by her earlier screams and despair. She could only watch as he pulled out the blood-stained photo.
The corners of the photo were crumpled, the blue ocean background marred by dark red streaks. Andrew's fingers paused, his Adam's apple moving in his throat, his eyes dark and unreadable.
"This is what you were hiding?"
The anger, humiliation, and pain that had been building inside Zoey exploded at that moment. She didn't know where the strength came from, but she broke free from Andrew's grip, lunging madly to snatch the photo.
"Give it back!"