The sound of their son's footsteps faded as he eagerly ran off to explore the stables. His excited chatter still echoed in the air, leaving behind a brief sense of peace. But that tranquility was short-lived. The moment their boy was out of sight, the atmosphere in the room shifted.
Valérien turned to his wife, his expression hardening into something predatory. The softness that had been there moments ago, the tenderness he had shown his son, evaporated like a wisp of smoke. Her heart began to race, a familiar fear tightening in her chest as she saw the change in him.
Without warning, Valérien closed the distance between them, his tall frame looming over her. Before she could react, he had her pinned against the wall, his hands gripping her wrists with a force that made her wince.
She gasped, her breath catching in her throat as the cold surface of wall pressed against her back, trapping her in place.
"Valérien... please..." she whispered, her voice trembling as she searched his eyes for any trace of the man who had just been so gentle with their son. But all she found was a chilling intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.
He said nothing, his gaze locked onto hers with a hunger that made her feel exposed, vulnerable. Slowly, he bent his head down to her neck, his breath hot against her skin.
She tried to turn her head away, but he was relentless, his mouth finding the sensitive spot just below her ear. Without hesitation, he bit down hard, his teeth sinking into her flesh with a painful force that made her cry out.
"Valérien!" she whimpered, her voice cracking as the pain radiated through her neck. She struggled in his grip, but he held her fast, his body pressing her harder against the wall.
His free hand moved to her chest, roughly squeezing her breast through the fabric of her dress. The pressure was brutal, almost cruel, as he kneaded her flesh with a possessiveness that bordered on madness. She could feel his breath quicken against her neck, his grip tightening as he took sadistic pleasure in her discomfort.
"You think one child is enough?" Valérien's voice was low, his fingers digging into her soft flesh. "I want more. You will give me more."
"The doctor said—"
"The doctor be damned," he cut her off, his voice cold and unyielding.
He leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "Your body belongs to me. And I will have what I want."
Her breath hitched as she realized there was no reasoning with him. The man who stood before her was not the loving father she had seen moments ago. He was a man consumed by his own desires, his need for control overpowering any sense of compassion.
She felt his hand move lower, slipping beneath the fabric of her dress as he traced the curve of her waist, his fingers cruel and insistent.
He pulled back slightly, just enough to look into her eyes, his expression one of cold determination.
"You will bear me another heir," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I will not settle for just one."
She nodded.
She was nothing more than a vessel to him. The life she carried within her, the child she had brought into the world, was nothing more than a tool for his legacy.
Valérien's lips crashed against hers in a forceful, bruising kiss. His tongue invaded her mouth, taking control with a ferocity that left her breathless. She could taste the coppery tang of her own blood as his teeth grazed her lip, biting down just hard enough to draw more pain.
When he finally broke the kiss, she was left gasping for air, her vision blurred by tears. Valérien's eyes burned with a dark satisfaction as he looked down at her, his fingers still digging into her flesh.
"You will give me what I want," he repeated, his voice a menacing whisper that echoed in her ears. "And you will do it willingly. Do you understand?"
She could only nod.
When he finally released her and stepped back, a look of triumph gleamed in his eyes.
Valérien turned away, his demeanor calm and composed, as if nothing had happened. Without a backward glance, he left the room, leaving her to gather herself in the suffocating silence.
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