Forbidden Heat novel Chapter 163

I sucked in a breath and held it. I’ve moved past the point of getting angry at whatever she said about me or did to me but any reference to my mother still left me boiling with anger. My mother is dead. Why can’t they just leave her alone?

“Any guesses as to why you’ve been summoned here today?” Madame Francesca asked as she slowly and gracefully got to her feet. Slowly and very deliberately, she walked towards me until she was standing less than an arm’s length away from me.

“No, Madame Francesca,” I replied evenly as if reciting a poem.

“I see…” She said in a tight voice before turning with rapid speed to fetch a white envelop that was resting on the armchair.

Before I could react, the furious Madame Francesca had flung a pile of what I initially thought was paper at my face. The paper scattered in the air all around me and I felt a slight sting on my cheek. Reaching up, I realized that one of them must have left a slight cut on my face.

As the paper started falling to the ground, did I realize that they were not ordinary paper at all. They were photographs. All of them of Zak and me. Who took these? There were so many of them and it showed us throughout our relationship.

“No…” I said in shock as my eyes fell on photographs of us having sex.

“How can you live with all of your sins? You never focus on your studies because you spend all of your time at school seducing my son. What do you believe you will ever gain? He’s just using you for your body! You’ll never get to marry him! I will never allow it!” Madame Francesca started shrieking at the top of her lungs.

In the world that I currently live in, being born poor was a crime. Being poor and falling in love with the rich was the worst crime. In that respect, perhaps Madame Francesca was right. My mother and I, we both fell deeply in love with the rich Rosenhalls.

“So, how would you like to be punished this time? Tell me, what punishment would keep you away indefinitely from my son?” Madame Francesca asked as she gestured to the various equipment hanging on the wall. To be honest, I didn’t know how to use most of them, but I knew that they were all used to inflict pain and torture on their victims.

Madame Francesca is a very smart and calculating woman. In order to ensure that I never speak of what happened here or didn’t have proof of her torture and abuse, she never hurt me where it would be visible. Only places always covered by my clothes were fair game. Then when she knew that Zak and I had progressed our relationship to the point where he would probably see me naked, she changed her tactics once again. This time however…

“Since you’ve had sex with my dear Zak, there’s no need to hide it anymore, is there? I’ll scar your body so badly no man will ever want to bed you ever again!” Madame Francesca continued to shout at me. Her face red with anger.

I stood glued to the spot as I watched her grab a whip and pulling it from the wall. Who still whipped other people in this day and age? Apparently, Madame Francesca did. I wonder how much will it hurt?

“Turn around. Take off your panties and lift your skirt. Do as I say…and no one else gets hurt, ok?” Madame Francesca said mockingly.

I can do this…for Zak and Lucien. Zak should never find out about this. I can’t imagine how shock and hurt he would be if he found out what his mother has been doing to me all this time. At the same time, I couldn’t give Zak up. Lucien also must not find out about this and my relationship with Zak. If this was the price I had to pay to protect what was mine, then so be it. I bit my lower lip as I took in deep breaths to strengthen my resolve.

Slowly, as I was ordered, I slowly turned around and slipped off my panties until it fell to my ankle and lifted my skirt in my hands. If I closed my eyes and zoned out for a moment, this will be over very soon.

As I stood there with my eyes closed waiting for the first lash of the whip to hit my skin, there was a loud sound. I opened my eye in shock, the front door of the building had burst open and to our shock, Zak walked in.

“So, how many lashes from the whip does a girl get for seducing me?” Zak asked, amusement clear as day in his voice.

“Madame! Please forgive me…I tried to stop Master Zak…” the old maid cried out before she began sobbing.

Madame Francesca simply waved her hand to chase the maid away as she focused her shocked expression on her son. The maid left immediately with fear plain on her face.

“Zak…what are you doing here?” Madame Francesca whispered as an awkward smile placed itself on her lips.

“I couldn’t get in touch with Natalia, so I went over to her house. Obviously, she wasn’t there…” Zak replied casually.

“Well…” Madame Francesca began in a dry voice, but Zak didn’t let her finish.

“Answer me. How many lashes from the whip does a girl get for seducing me?” Zak repeated his question once more.

“You do understand that everything that I do is for your own good, don’t you? These gold diggers and their plans to get close to our family members must never be allowed to succeed. Just like I got rid of all your father’s mistresses, I will get rid of her!” Madame Francesca said with conviction.

“Indeed. Family members must be protected no matter what,” Zak replied calmly in agreement.

Zak…what are you saying?

“I am glad that you still have some senses left. You shouldn’t have to witness such terrible things, please leave. I will follow you after I’ve administered her punishment. Twenty…lashes of the whip,” Madame Francesca said as her gaze fell on me.

“Excellent,” Zak said with satisfaction as he walked even closer to where his mother and I were standing.

Without saying another word, Zak began stripping his clothes starting from his pants, his boxers and then his shirt, until he was fully naked. We both watched in shock as Zak hurriedly stripped himself.

“Zak…why did you take your clothes off? Put them back on right now!” Madame Francesca cried out in shock as she covered her eyes with her hand.

--To be continued…