Chapter 71: Chapter 71

Courtney could envision her younger self, slightly pale and with unhealthy skin in tattered dress and scars all over her body.

She used to be a street crackhead with no home or someone she could call family. She'd lost her parents to a terrible accident when she was only 14, and she had nowhere else to go as her relatives were unknown to her.

The orphanage wasn't a place for her to stay so she left for the streets ending up a victim of Madam J.

She became her personal play toy, and the Madam who ran a cartel and pimped out young girls, would use her anyway she liked. It was days of hell and nights of pain and torture for Courtney.

She could still remember being tied down on a table, with marks of whip lashes all over her body as the cops came in to free her. The relief in her heart when she saw the Madam being arrested and taken away resurfaced in her mind.

Not until that faithful day when the police raided the clubhouse and arrested Madam J.

Finally being free, Courtney became a young girl with no life of her own.

She would find all means to survive. Abused, and selling her body for food and a place to stay. She had no choice but to return to that life.

Courtney could remember how she'd first met with Bob's old friend. Courtney had gotten used to going from club to club to earn a living, being a street girl and a prostitute.

In one of the clubs that she visited to find clients, Courtney met this man. He was of tall build, clear blue eyes and short brown hair. He had striking features that was had to forget.

He'd introduced himself as Luca Harper. To Courtney, he was but a rich guy whom she saw an opportunity in. Courtney had managed to develop into a gorgeous lady, and even with her background, a lot of men desires her.

Luca had taken her away to have fun on multiple occasions. And he'd spent a good amount on Courtney. In essence, he wanted Courtney's body for himself and Courtney wanted his money. Thus, leading to what felt quite like an open relationship between them.

Until someday, Luca suddenly requested that they come in terms to negotiate a business. At first, Courtney was sceptical, knowing Luca was quite dangerous and not trustworthy, however, she still decided to listen.

Luca said he had a rich friend who would generally be interested in her. And that he wanted her to try and get with him, and squeeze out a huge sum of money which they could both share.

" A sum of a million dollars or so..." He had said.

Courtney of course having not heard such huge amount of money her whole life, was surely interested. With such money, Courtney believed she could finally be free of all debts and be liberated. She yearned for a decent life too.

Luca bought her dresses and cleaned her up for a planned out night when she would meet his said friend. He'd pretended to hang out with his friend at the same club Courtney had met Luca in, with the plan that Courtney would also there looking all sexy and attractive.

Of course, Courtney had readily agreed to do this. After all, she was interested in the money.

Truly, that night, Luca had invited her to their table and she was able to speak with Luca's friend. It turned out to be Bob Richardson, a young rich millionaire at the time.

Luca got Bob drunk and the plan to get Bob to bed with Courtney was successful. Bob under the influence of alcohol, took Courtney to a room and had sex with her. And yes, he did it raw just as Luca and Courtney had wanted.

The plan was to lie that she was pregnant and then get Bob to sign her off with a million dollars to shut her up.

However, what Courtney didn't expect was for Bob to fall in love with her and start taking her out...

Bob was nice and sweet. He was an angel of light in Courtney's life of misery and darkness. Soon, she became engrossed and attracted to the life of normalcy and decency that Bob gave her.

Her conscience overruled her plans, and she just couldn't betray such a person who'd stood different to her in her entire life of living. In an instant, Courtney fell in love with Bob.

She didn't know if it was exactly love that he had for Bob, but she knew she wanted to be with him.

Bob was the same, and he proved so very soon after by proposing to her!

What was she to do that lovely night? When he proposed?

It was all so fast from when they met. They had only became intimate once, and started going out together and dating. But here was Bob already proposing to her!

The rush of the relationship couldn't be betrayed for anything else. Moreso, Courtney wanted to be with Bob as well. He made her feel complete and whole again.

In the end, she ditched the plan with the aim to convince Luca later that she had no more interest in the deal.

She didn't have to live a life of dirt and shame as he took care of her financial needs. She was finally happy, and she wanted to be with this man.

So, she said yes!

They were to get married. However, first she confronted Luca and told him she couldn't put up with the plans anymore.

Quite surprisingly, Luca smiled and said nothing, and had even supported her.

At this moment, Courtney couldn't be more thankful for life. Finally, she got the happiness she deserved in life...

" I now pronounce you, husband and wife!" The words resurfaced in Courtney's mind.

She woke from her thoughtful stupor and looked around the desolate interrogation room where she sat before an officer whose words only echoed through to her hearing. Courtney's cognition had grown distant as she relived her past memories, each phase after another. Her eyes had become swollen from all the tears she'd shed since the day before. Her long hair had become a curly mess from her pulling, grabbing and scratching. She was losing her mind!

The sweet feeling from that day when she got married to Bob resurfaced in her heart. She yearned for that day once again, wishing she could turn back the hands of time. However, she knew it was all gone. It could never be again! never!

' I want it back! I deserve to be happy! ... I deserve...'

" Ek ek!" she teared even more remembering the things that happened next after her marriage. How her life had took the worst turn of events after another.

She had been happily married for few months. Life had never been better with Bob. He spoiled her and treated her like a queen that she was born as. She couldn't have been in any better place in life. Until that person came again, ruining everything.

" A million. Or your 'Husband' knows everything we've been up to, as well as your true identity!" He had threatened. The devil from her past began to haunt her, reminding her in a threat that she wasn't meant to be happy. She was meant to be sad, and meant to live in dejection all her life.

Courtney had panicked and had promised she'd do what he wanted. She could remember the evil grin on his face. Courtney was never one to believe in God, she would call at him when he needed Him the most, and sometimes he would answer. Other times he won't. So Courtney didn't bother him anymore.

However, She had realized at that moment that the devil surely must have existed in Luca at that time.

She'd never been blackmailed before! Didn't he happily assent to her marriage with Bob?

Courtney never wanted to leave Bob! She loved Bob, alot! He gave her a meaningful life! She never wanted that life to crumble!

She knew if Bob ever got to know of her past, he would never see her the same as he did...

Bob showed her she was a queen, she never wanted to remember ever being treated like a dirt and a tramp! Courtney avoided her past, judging it with her present...

So she did what she had to do. She approached Luca and bought herself more time with her body. That was the only leverage that fate had given her against difficulties in life. No man could resist her, not even the devil himself. That was the only solution she knew to every thing.

And with Luca, she did a lot just to keep him quiet.

He would do things to her that she didn't want anyone to do to her, not again. He would even make her do evil things that he felt amusing, make her betray Bob in all ways possible.

He treated her like a slutty hot wife, and her poor Bob had no knowledge of this. He degraded Courtney for his own fun, breaking her more and more and more... Courtney finally couldn't tell the difference between her past and present anymore. The sweetness was replaced with bitterness, shrouded and stuck between darkness and light. It all became regular and normal again, she realized nothing had changed. She was still the same tramp and whore she had been her whole life. She'd only gotten closer to the better side of life.

And so she developed PTSD.

But Courtney bared with it. She had no choice but to look at a better life right before her while suffering in the darkness.

Weeks passed, Months also...

" So, when are you bringing my money. You sure wouldn't want Bob knowing about your past, he'd definitely hate you for it you know..." He'd asked again, with his trademark grin that reminded Courtney that the devil truly exists.

What was it with this man? Couldn't he see what she was going through? Why must her life be so intricate with entanglements and suffering? Why?

Then something snapped in Courtney. She fell out of love and all compassion for anyone. Everybody could die for all she cared.

Seeing the bright side of life before her, she decided to grab it. Blood and sweat, live or die... She decided to put a solution to everything. She would by her own hands create the life she wanted.

One final act, she called Luca that she had the money he requested and that they meet up at his place. Of course, the greedy bastard readily agreed.

With an empty suitcase, Courtney arrived at his place in all might and allure. She was nervous, yet determined.

Courtney acted as though she'd been broken by Luca, wanting him to torture and use her once again. Luca's pride didn't let him resist, how could he push away such a beautiful married slut yearning and begging to be used by him.

He gloated giddily and bedded her, setting aside the money for the time being.