Chapter 38: Off Limits

My terrified screech echoed through the conservatory, and when it stopped the sound of steady rain filled the silence. The strap of the dress fell open, having been easily sheared. Yujin trailed the pruning shears over my exposed shoulder. “Did you really think it would work?” Their words were low and demanding, and the hand they had on my hip wandered down toward my inner thigh. “Parading around in this ridiculous dress, throwing yourself at me, did you think I wouldn’t notice you hiding something from me?”

I squeezed my eyes closed, worried that I might start crying. I shook my head no, but kept my mouth shut. I felt the shears trail across the back of my neck, causing me to let out a tiny whimper. I kept telling myself that they were only trying to scare me, certainly they wouldn’t actually hurt me. Regardless of what my mind did, my body was clearly terrified. I couldn’t stop shaking, and my body was covered in a thin layer of sweat.