Saving The Man She Tortured Daily

For three years, the personalized license plate frame on my SUV that read Mr. Bellweather's Spot was a permanent fixture.

It was a small, silly symbol of my marriage to Isabelle, but it meant something.

That's why finding a pair of men's athletic boxer briefs, definitely not mine, shoved under the passenger seat, felt like a physical punch.

When I demanded an explanation, IsabelleIzzywas unnervingly calm.

An early birthday gift for you, Cal. Dont overthink it.

It happened again at a high-stakes business dinner. My CEO wife, Izzy, picked up a slice of scallop from her own plate and, with a casual intimacy that made my stomach churn, fed it directly to her male assistant, Dustin Keller. The whole room paused.

Her defense, delivered without bothering to meet my eyes: Just showing concern for a hardworking subordinate. If you dont like it, fire him.

But the next time I saw Dustin, he was holding Izzys prenatal sonogram photo, a smug, sickening smirk plastered on his face.

I snapped. I lunged across the table and landed a punch square on his jaw.

Izzy didn't say a word. She just went back to normal. She clung to me, smothering me with affection, and in bed, she was more intense, more possessive than ever, driving us both to exhaustion until the early hours.

A few weeks later, the kidnappings started. Seven times in one month. Each time, the tormentors were new, but the goal was the same: to inflict pain that bordered on the medieval. I endured non-human levels of physical and psychological torture.

Then, my father died saving me. He was stripped of all dignity and brutally murdered right in front of me.

My mother, unable to bear the trauma, retreated into herself and became catatonic.

When I finally staggered back to my own home, bloody and barely conscious, I found Izzys inner circle playing a high-stakes game in our living room.

Ill put five million down, one of them drawled, that Cal Mercer is so far gone hell forgive Sera even after he finds out everything.

Two million says he not only forgives her, another countered, counting out chips. Sera schedules a kidnapping every seven days, and hell still crawl back begging for her attention.

I bit down hard, a cry catching in my throat. Tears, mixed with the grime and blood on my face, began to fall.

It was always for him. Izzy had been getting revenge for the single punch I landed on Dusty.

If I could just get away from her, seven days was all I needed.

I stood in my foyer, soaked in my own blood, watching Izzy carefully help Dustin Keller up the grand staircase.

Sera is so good to Dusty, her friend marveled. Dusty just coughed, and Seras hands were shaking. Now, just a little dizziness, and shes already heartbroken!

Seriously. Remember the last time she was pregnant with Cals baby? Dusty just frowned, and she terminated the pregnancy that same day.

And after Cal hit him? Sera had people trash Cals parents house and told the men who kidnapped Cal to go hard. Hes paying a hundred times over.

Izzy descended the stairs a few minutes later, a fresh, fiery red mark visible high on her neck. Her friends started to tease, but she cut them off sharply.

Quiet down. Dustys asleep. Did you take care of my instructions?

Consider it done. The new company is incorporated, and the hundred-million-dollar project is secured.

Izzy nodded, her expression cold. From now on, you call him Mr. Keller. Im transferring the new company to him next week.

The friend hesitated. Sera, what about Cal?

Izzys voice was lethal. The second his fist made contact with Dustys face, he signed his death warrant. He will suffer a hundred times the pain Dustin felt.

I swallowed the metallic taste of blood pooling in my throat.

The deadline is approaching, someone else asked. When are we bringing him back? If hes gone too long, he might get suspicious.

Izzy let out a cold laugh.

Suspicious? Hes in a cage, praying every hour for me to save him. When I show up, hell be so grateful hell worship the ground I walk on.

I clenched my jaw until it ached, the tears washing paths down my filthy cheeks.

I should have known. The Mercer estate had state-of-the-art security and multiple bodyguards. Yet, the night I was taken, the house was empty. Izzy had eyes everywhere, but my parents were able to pinpoint my location?

It was all a gift from their loving daughter-in-law.

A sudden, sharp scream from upstairs ripped through the silence.

Izzys face twisted with a genuine, raw panic Id never seen before. She flew up the stairs.

My chest seized.

A swarm of private doctors rushed in on her heels. I learned the truth: Dusty had simply had a nightmare.

Izzys enraged roar echoed through the massive villa.

A long while later, she finally instructed the team.

Tell the next crew. Move the kidnapping up. The psychological damage Cal inflicted on Dusty? He has to suffer a hundred times that pain!

I froze, struggling to hold myself upright. My eyes landed on the raw, purple bruises visible on my arms.

Izzy was the woman who once frowned if a mosquito bit me.

Now, daily beatings and torment were her form of discipline. The author of my never-ending horror show was the same woman who promised to cherish me forever.

I panicked, scrambling for an exit, but my legs gave out. I collapsed onto the concrete, shards of decorative gravel embedding themselves in my open wounds. The pain was searing.

Izzy heard the commotion. She spotted me and froze for a brief, bewildering moment. Then, she rushed over and pulled me into a tight embrace.

Cal, youre finally home! Ive been searching for you day and night! Tell me who did this to you, and I swear, Ill make them pay!

Her tears splashed onto my face, but I felt nothing.

How had I been fooled by this performance for so many years?

I choked back a sob, my body trembling.

She helped me back to our bedroom. My gaze immediately fixed on the tightly closed door of the room opposite ours.

Izzys composure flickered with a millisecond of fear.

Thats thats the nursery I was planning for our baby, she said quickly. I locked it up. Didnt want you to be reminded, you know.

My body tensed, and a bitter laugh caught in my throat. Another lie.

Looking at her perfect, beautiful face, the bloody vision of my parents final moments flashed across my mind. I couldnt hold it back any longer. I doubled over and vomited a black, tarry substance onto the expensive rug.

Before I lost consciousness, I heard her cold, detached voice.

Take him out. Hit him hard. Not to kill, just to send a message.

This time, Izzy, perhaps fearing discovery, only allowed them to torment me for a day.

She held my filthy, blood-soaked body against her chest, her expression a mask of anguish.

Im so sorry. You were snatched while I was taking you to the clinic. Cal, who are you messing with? Tell me, Ill help you get revenge!

I looked at the woman radiating righteous fury and let out a cynical, internal laugh.

Its true, I thought. A person really will do anything for the one they love.

She didn't keep me around because she loved me. She kept me around to savor my thousand-fold suffering.

The doctor will be here any minute. Just hold on.

I nodded listlessly.

But the footsteps I heard in the hall didn't stop. They all went past our room, into Dustys room.

Blood saturated my clothing, sticking the fabric to my wounds, and the pain made me dizzy. She wouldn't even spare me a single doctor.

A wrenching bitterness tightened around my heart. I passed out several times from the pain.

When I finally woke up, I slipped downstairs. A man was sitting on the sofa. The second he saw me, he started shaking with fear.

Before I could react, Izzy rushed over and shielded him.

Cal, stop. Dusty is just staying here for a while. He wont bother you.

I managed a weak pull at the corner of my lips, ignoring them both, and walked straight out the door. I drove to the funeral home.

When I went to collect my fathers ashes, the attendant handed me a small, sealed vial of liquid.

My eyes widened in disbelief. What is this?

A gentleman specifically ordered it, the attendant explained. He said the deceased had a lingering, vengeful spirit that needed to be neutralized. Said you needed to use this solvent to dissolve the remains. A woman came by with him, too.

My blood ran cold. I gripped the nearest wall, barely keeping myself from falling.

Tears blurred my vision.

I fumbled for my phone and dialed Izzy.

The first sound I heard was the low, intimate moans of two people on the other end.

I ignored the sudden wave of nausea and choked out a sob. Izzy, where are my parents ashes? Why would you do this?

Dusty was being tormented in his nightmares by your fathers spirit, she said, her voice breathy, unhurried. The medium said the bones had a curse, so I had people neutralize them. Dont worry, it was for your dads own good.

I hung up, my fist slamming into the wall.

Back at the house, I went straight for Dusty. I grabbed his collar, but Izzy moved faster. She slammed her foot into my ribs.

Calvin Mercer, what the hell is wrong with you! Its just a dead mans ashes! Does it matter that much?

The pain was suffocating.

Suddenly, Dusty dropped to his knees in front of me, feigning repentance.

Cal, its my fault. Dont blame Sera. Just kill me!

My father's bloody, bruised body flashed in my memory. This man was the cause of it all.

Blood rushed to my head. I reached for the heavy crystal ashtray on the side table.

Clang!

Izzy snatched the ashtray first and smashed it onto my forehead. You dare try to hurt Dusty in front of me? Who knows what you do when Im not here!

She pulled Dusty into her arms, soothing him.

She didnt spare a glance for the blood streaming down my face, soaking my shirt, or the unbearable agony in my heart.

I found the first aid kit myself and started to clean the wound, fighting back the tears.

My phone vibrated. I saw the caller ID and finally let the tears flow.

Sylvie, I couldnt even protect Dads ashes. Mom is gone. Im done with Izzy

The woman on the other end, my adopted sister, suppressed her fury. Her voice, however, was impossibly gentle.

Cal, Ive booked you a flight for tomorrow night. Come to me. The Bellweather house is about to change hands.

Suddenly, a pair of soft, boneless arms wrapped around me from behind. I froze.

Izzy frowned. Who are you talking to?

No one.

Honey, Im sorry about what happened earlier. Please dont misunderstand. I have always loved you. But since you inflicted a trauma on Dusty, its my duty to care for him and atone for your sin.

I swallowed the nausea and nodded listlessly. Atonement? Right.

She held me close while ordering clothes on her phone. She bought dozens of pieces of high-end designer wear, but the shipping name wasn't mine. Only then did she select a few ordinary coats for me.

Noticing my gaze, Izzy spoke awkwardly.

Dusty always felt unloved growing up. He needs the best of everything.

I looked away, my chest throbbing with sharp, familiar pain.

My thoughts were interrupted by a terrified scream.

Izzy bolted out of the room.

I stared, stunned. A black viper was coiled in front of Dusty, its tongue flicking.

Izzy, quick as lightning, slammed her high heel down onto the snakes neck, snapping it in two.

Dusty saw me and scrambled back, crawling on his knees, his body shaking.

Cal, I know you resent me for taking Sera, but we really haven't done anything. Why would you sprinkle snake powder under my bed and lure a viper to harm me?

My pupils constricted. Before I could utter a defense, Izzys hand whipped out and struck my face. Hard. She grabbed Dustys hand and spun around.

She looked at me like a stranger.

My heart shattered into a million pieces.

I don't know how long I sat there. Finally, two figures grabbed me and dragged me to the backyard. I started to shake uncontrollably when I saw it.

It was the snake pit Izzy had maintained for years.

Before I could react, they threw me into the inky blackness.

Hiss.

I slammed against the door, my hands raw and bleeding.

Snakes coiled around my legs, the slimy coldness making me pull at my own hair, desperate for comfort.

Then, the monitor clicked on.

Cal, this is for your own good. You need to temper your temper. Attacking Dusty repeatedly wont be tolerated. This is a warning.

I laughed, the sound tasting like blood.

Izzy, you are pure cruelty. I was a fool to trust her.

The emotional torture was worse than the physical. The monitor suddenly filled with the graphic, intimate sounds of Izzy and Dusty locked in a desperate embrace. Izzy was giving Dusty all the tenderness and passion she had never once given me.

A huge python slid toward me. I closed my eyes in despair. When I opened them again, the world was completely dark. I fumbled for a light switch and fell out of bed.

I realized Id been blinded by a venomous bite.

I sat on the floor, my eyes vacant. A familiar scent washed over me.

Cal, why are you so stubborn? Just apologize and beg for forgiveness. Dusty is a saint. Hell forgive you.

Izzy looked at me, a flicker of genuine pity in her eyes.

I ripped my arm away from her touch.

Sensing my hostility, she fought to maintain her calm. The venom wasnt lethal; your sight will return in a couple of days. The snakes in the pit are normally harmless. Ive already punished the person who introduced the venomous ones.

I already knew who it was, and I laughed bitterly.

Oh? How did you punish him?

I forbade him from watching TV, using his phone, or racing his car for a week

My cynical laughter made Izzys face turn crimson.

Calvin Mercer, dont push me! Dusty didnt mean to! He accepted his punishment; what more do you want?

She stormed out.

My eyes burned, and my body shook violently.

The day I was discharged, my vision still blurry, I felt my way home, determined to find my fathers dissolved "ashes."

As I stepped inside, Dusty was waiting, a knife in his hand.

With Izzy gone, the facade dropped. He lunged, gripping my hair and twisting my head. His face was a mask of malicious joy.

She did all that to you, and youre still back here? Why dont you just drop dead like your old man?

I shoved him away and snatched up the few items I could manage. I went to the clinic, retrieved my comatose mother, and headed for the airport.

Dusty watched my retreating back with pure venom. Then, he plunged the knife into his own thigh.

Blood immediately saturated his pants.

When Izzy returned, the sight terrified her. She drove to the hospital like a maniac.

Dusty cried in her arms, feigning weakness. Sera, dont blame Cal

At the airport, my mother and I were dragged out of the car and into a dark alley.

Calvin Mercer, right? Your mother is a lucky woman today. Someone paid us handsomely to make sure she never walks again, or worse!

My mind exploded. I desperately dialed Izzy.

Izzy, dont hurt my mother!

Dusty just got out of critical condition after you attacked him again. And you have the nerve to play the victim?

Before I could speak, the line went dead. The men behind me tore the phone from my hand and smashed it.

They bound me tightly, loosened their belts, and advanced, grinning, on my unresponsive mother in the wheelchair.

My eyes bulged. I let out a desperate, guttural howl.

Isabelle Bellweather, you will regret this!