Mated to the Mad Lord-Chapter 54: Whipped!

Her mind was sailing to different places as she turned the contents of the letter over in her thoughts.

Writing the report was easy since nothing particularly significant had happened that she knew of, but the harder part was becoming a worker.

As far as she understood from the conversations she had eavesdropped on, becoming a worker involved a whole host of things, and most importantly, it required significant time spent in the mansion.

"I’d have better luck getting bitten by a cobra and surviving!" she thought to herself, frowning deeply as she entered the library.

Her thoughts wandered to her family, hoping her siblings had taken her advice and distanced themselves from Rexter like she’d asked.

"If I can save enough money, maybe we can all run away together," she mused, the notion growing in appeal. If they could get far enough, Rexter wouldn’t be able to find them.

She was still lost in her thoughts when a voice startled her from behind, accompanied by a hand on her shoulder, pulling her closer in a friendly, familiar manner.

"What are you thinking about so deeply that you didn’t even hear me call your name?" Nathan asked, a soft smile lighting his face, making his boyish features seem even more innocent.

"Na-Nathan!" Violet stammered, jerking back as though burned, pushing his arm off her shoulder. Her gaze darted around the room, fearful, as though she were checking to ensure Cain wasn’t nearby.

"What’s going on?" Nathan asked, his cheerful demeanor dimming as he noticed her odd reaction.

"Did I do something wrong?" he continued, concern flickering in his eyes as Violet hastily shook her head, making sure to put at least two feet between them before speaking.

"Nothing! I just think it’s best for us not to be overly close," she blurted, her tone firm. The last thing she needed was for Cain to see them together; she was sure Cain wouldn’t hesitate to crush Nathan’s fingers just for touching her.

"Why?" Nathan asked, his brows furrowing as he stepped closer. Violet immediately took a step back. She couldn’t possibly explain that the lord used her as a pillow every night and didn’t want anyone else near her.

"People already call me his pet! I can’t tell you the truth!" she thought, shaking her head as she answered.

"Because I need some space!" she snapped bluntly, a fierce expression on her face. It was for his own good, after all. They had only known each other for a week, so the friendship wasn’t that deep.

"We can talk sometimes, but I’d rather not have any friends here. I just want to do my work!" she declared, turning to leave the library, aware her voice had risen. Nathan’s voice followed, tinged with frustration.

"Violet! You can’t be serious!" he barked, his temper fraying.

The lengths he had gone to just to befriend her, the trouble he’d endured, only for her to discard him? The idea made his blood boil. Nathan had no intention of letting her off so easily.

A sly thought crept into his mind, one he immediately latched onto.

"I could insinuate that Viole is gay and bullying me once we’re near Ravon’s office. Ravon despises such things. He executes servants like that on the spot," Nathan schemed, already plotting how to guide Violet through the exact corridors he needed her to take.

Feigning sincerity, Nathan stepped closer, his eyes misting over as he grabbed Violet’s hand.

"Violet, I told you how shy I am, and now you’re just going to abandon me?" he whispered, his voice trembling with fabricated emotion, tears spilling down his cheeks.

Theatrics in full swing, he began pulling on Violet’s hand, steering her toward the path he wanted, or flinging himself onto her dramatically, drawing the attention of nearby servants.

"We’re friends! I can make up for whatever I did wrong!" he wailed, his voice rising with every step toward Ravon’s office.

"If I get him killed, I could become Cain’s personal servant!" he thought gleefully, determination lighting a wicked spark in his eyes.

Finally, as they neared Ravon’s office, Nathan let out a loud cry.

"...Do you want something more? Is that why you’re acting like this?" he sobbed, his tears streaming, his voice cracking.

Violet froze, utterly shocked.

"I didn’t know men could cry like this," she thought, guilt creeping in as she watched him cling to her shoulder. She kept trying to push him off, but he clung tighter.

"Nathan! We can’t be friends! I don’t know how many more times I have to explain this to you!" she said, irritation beginning to seep into her voice as she noticed the curious stares they were attracting.

To her growing horror, they were now directly outside Ravon’s office.

"Viole! Please! Plea-please!" Nathan begged, his voice breaking.

Violet was just about to angrily shove him off when Ravon’s door suddenly swung open. freewēbnoveℓ.com

Ravon stepped out, his eyes blazing with fury, immediately locking onto the scene. His gaze swept over them, judgment clear in his expression.

"You’re one of those servants who can’t keep their filth in their pants! Going around bullying others!" Ravon barked, storming toward Violet even as he fished out a small whip from out of his pocket. Thin yet viscious looking.

Violet blinked, utterly confused. What does he mean, bullying? Fear coiled in her stomach as her heart began to race.

"Answer me!" Ravon demanded, his voice thunderous.

"I didn’t do anything! I just told him I didn’t want to be friends—"

"—He doesn’t want me as a friend!" Nathan interrupted, sniffling loudly. "I don’t know what I did to deserve this!" he cried, tears streaming anew.

Ravon’s gaze darkened further.

Panic surged through Violet as she dropped to her knees, clutching Nathan’s hands in desperation.

"You know what? I take it back! We can—"

The sharp crack of a whip cut through the air, freezing her words. The first lash struck her back with such force it stole her breath away. Pain, searing and immediate, spread through her body, igniting every nerve as she let out a strangled scream.

Violet’s hands flew instinctively to her back, her mind reeling, unable to process the agony fast enough. She didn’t have time to think before the whip struck again, slicing across her shoulder blades. Her knees buckled further, her body pitching forward as her palms hit the cold stone floor.

"Ple-please!" she cried, her voice raw with panic and pain. Tears blurred her vision, spilling freely as her mind screamed for the blows to stop. The lashes came faster now, unrelenting, each one finding its mark with cruel precision. Her skin felt like it was being flayed, the pain so intense it blurred into a single, consuming agony.