Chapter 46: The First Time Seeing His Anger

Ursula felt demeaned, not some commodity to be bartered, she was a person, not property.

"I'm not for sale, Matthew. Please, just let me go," she implored.

The room fell into silence; Matthew's lustful gaze shifted to something colder as he processed her words. A tearing sound sent a shiver down Ursula's spine; she realized what Matthew had done and began to panic. "Matthew, stop this right now!"

But Matthew seemed deaf to her cries, his voice a deep, seductive rumble, "Ursula, you chose this path, remember?"

Tears welled in Ursula's eyes, her heart sinking as she lay silent.

Her foot ached from her struggles, almost numb now. If escape was impossible, she thought, why resist? But her heart felt tight, suffocating.

Suddenly, Matthew's weight lifted. He stood by the bed, icy as he spoke, "I have no use for an act."

Clutching the blanket, Ursula retreated, wincing from the pain in her ankle. She had barely looked at it, but it felt swollen.

Sweat beaded on her forehead from the pain, her lips bloodied from biting them. Yet, she hid her pain from Matthew.

In the dark, Matthew's senses were heightened, he heard her sharp intake of breath. He tried to ignore it, but recalling how she groaned when he'd tossed her onto the bed, he suspected she might be hurt.

With a click, the light flicked on. Ursula squinted against the brightness.

"Dammit!" Matthew cursed, startling her. She tried to hide her foot.

"Don't move," he ordered, his voice laced with anger.

He saw the blood on the sheets leading to her swollen foot, and without a word, he carried her out the door, his face a mask of suppressed emotion.

For the first time, Ursula saw true fury on Matthew's face, so fierce, she was afraid to speak.

The car ride was silent, the tension palpable. Ursula couldn't understand why Matthew, usually so composed, was now seething with anger.

When they arrived at the hospital, Matthew's complex behavior continued to baffle her.

Then, he draped his jacket over her. "Wear this."

"I'm not cold..." she began, but one look from Matthew had her quickly wrapping herself in the coat, instantly feeling warmer.

As he carried her into the hospital, Ursula realized she was still in her torn evening dress. His actions left her confused.

In the emergency room, Ursula was still trying to decipher Matthew's motives when the doctor interrupted.

"We need to drain the blood from the swelling." the doctor said.

"I'd prefer a conservative treatment!" Ursula blurted out, avoiding Matthew's gaze, her fear of being cut stemming from past trauma.

The doctor reassured her, "No need for anesthesia. It's a small thing."

Ursula wanted to protest that Matthew wasn't her boyfriend, but she couldn't find her voice.

"Why didn't you go straight to the hospital instead of having someone take you?" the doctor mused.

"What did you say?" Ursula glanced at Matthew, but he was silent. Was she imagining things, or had Matthew not spoken at all?