**Chapter 5**
**Pe Mouchers**
Yvonne’s fists tightened into hard balls, her determination solidifying with each passing moment. She was resolute; she would leave Winthrop’s villa once and for all. But before she could take that crucial step, there was something she needed to reclaim—the marriage license. Without it, she would remain trapped in this web of deceit, unable to clear her name or finalize her divorce from Winthrop.
To her relief, Winthrop hadn’t completely imprisoned her within the villa’s confines. Instead, he had stationed a couple of bodyguards at the entrance, their presence a constant reminder of his control. With a deep breath and a racing heart, she slipped silently into his study, the shadows enveloping her like a comforting cloak.
As she approached the imposing safe, anxiety clawed at her insides. She began inputting codes, one after another—her birthday, his birthday, the day they first became a couple. Each attempt ended in failure, the cold click of the lock echoing her growing despair.
Desperation surged within her, and she pulled out her phone, fingers trembling as she searched for Chloe’s birthday. Time seemed to stretch as she waited, and then—a beep! The safe creaked open, revealing its secrets.
The sight of that cavernous space inside the safe felt like a dagger to her heart, and a bitter laugh escaped her lips, tinged with disbelief. “So you stopped loving me a long time ago,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “What a fool I’ve been.”
There it was—the marriage license, the very document that tied her to Winthrop in a way she could no longer bear. But as her fingers reached for it, an ear-splitting alarm erupted throughout the villa, shattering the silence. The lights flickered and died, plunging her into darkness.
Panic erupted outside her door, chaotic footsteps and frantic voices filling the air. “Someone broke into Mr. Mendoza’s study! Find them!” The urgency in their shouts sent a chill down her spine.
Unbeknownst to her, the security system had recognized her as an intruder, even though she had successfully opened the safe. Heart pounding, she stuffed the marriage license into her pocket and melted into the shadows, her mind racing with thoughts of escape.
She felt along the wall, her fingers brushing against the cool surface as she made her way toward the door. Just as she thought she might slip away, a heavy sack was thrown over her head, plunging her into darkness once more.
A brutal blow struck her skull, and everything faded to black.
When she regained consciousness, she was still ensnared inside the suffocating sack. The muffled voices around her began to clarify, and she caught snippets of conversation. One of Winthrop’s bodyguards was issuing orders, his tone cold and unforgiving. “Mr. Mendoza’s orders—break her wrists and ankles, then dump her at the police station.”
Yvonne’s heart plummeted, a wave of icy dread washing over her. “I’m Yvonne Welch,” she croaked, her voice barely a whisper. “Let me speak to Winthrop. I’m his wife.”
In an instant, the sack was yanked away, and she was met with the sneering face of a bodyguard she had never seen before. He looked down at her, his expression a mixture of mockery and disdain. “Mr. Mendoza’s wife? His wife is Ms. Norman. Who the hell are you?”
“You’ve got some nerve, stealing on the Mendoza Group’s CEO’s turf and claiming to be his wife,” he sneered, his words laced with contempt.
Yvonne felt a rush of confusion; this man was unfamiliar to her. He must have been a recent hire. The guards she was accustomed to had always worked closely with Winthrop, and it made sense that he wouldn’t recognize her.
With a surge of determination, she lifted her head despite the throbbing pain. “I’m not lying! I am Winthrop’s wife. If you don’t believe me, call him—”
Before she could finish her plea, he cut her off sharply, “Call him? Don’t you know he’s out with Ms. Norman at a concert tonight? He gave strict orders—no interruptions. Save your breath!”
He turned to his companions, a cruel smile spreading across his face. “Teach this bold thief a lesson.”
Without warning, a baseball bat struck her violently across the back. A cry of pain escaped her lips as she crumpled to the ground, the agony radiating through her body.
“Mr. Mendoza said to break her limbs—then beat her some more,” the lead bodyguard barked, his voice dripping with malice.
Another blow landed hard against her lower back, leaving her gasping for breath, utterly powerless to rise. The lead bodyguard stepped forward, his boot coming down mercilessly on her wrist.
“It hurts… I really am his wife. The marriage license is in my pocket—look at it, and you’ll believe me!” she pleaded, desperation flooding her voice.
Finally, the relentless assault paused. Several guards pinned her down, flipping open her blouse pocket. The marriage license tumbled onto the floor, its significance overshadowed by the looming threat of violence.
The lead bodyguard snatched it up, his expression shifting from confusion to fury as he glanced at the document. “What the hell is this?” he growled, slapping Yvonne hard across the face.
Blood trickled from her nose, the sharp sting a reminder of her reality. “Bitch! How dare you trick me?”
“Look for yourself—whose marriage license is this?” he demanded, gripping her hair and forcing her to look at the paper.
Yvonne’s blood ran cold, her heart stopping in her chest. It wasn’t her name on the certificate—it was Chloe’s.
“H-How can this be? Winthrop and I got married… This is impossible…” she stammered, disbelief flooding her senses.
“With the proof right in your face, you’re still lying? You’re delusional. Beat her—don’t hold back!” His command echoed in her ears, sealing her fate.
As the blows rained down upon her, Yvonne felt her last shred of resolve shatter. Her world crumbled around her, each strike driving her deeper into despair. She endured over a hundred merciless hits until blood filled her mouth, and her head slammed against the unforgiving floor, darkness closing in around her.
**Chapter 6**
