Awakened Behind Bars: The Golden Finger

Chapter 5: Scars for a lifetime

“I'll marry her!” Desmond’s voice trembled.

Shambu paused. His hand hovered inches above the steaming pot, the heat burning his skin without even touching it. Damien’s whole body shook, not just from pain now, but from intense fear.

“I’ll get married to her,” he repeated, voice breaking. “I swear it. Just… please.”

For a moment, the room went eerily quiet.

Then Victor laughed loudly. “You see?” he said, turning to the room as if addressing an audience. “Reason always works in the end.”

He waved his hand lazily. “Pull him away from the water.”

The man withdrew his hand, and Damien collapsed fully to the floor, gasping. His fingers curled into the floor, his back burning.

Mr. Victor crouched in front of him, close enough that Damien could smell his expensive cologne. “Remember this moment,” Victor said softly. “Remember how easily your pride broke. Because marriage or not, your life belongs to us now.”

Damien swallowed, tears mixing with blood as they rolled down his face. He nodded weakly. What else could he do?

Cherry finally stepped forward, looking at him like he was dirt. “Pathetic,” she muttered. “I hope you understand something, Damien. This marriage won’t save you. It’ll only make your suffering longer.”

She turned away without another glance.

Mr. Victor stood. “Take him to the guest quarters,” he ordered. “Have a doctor treat him just enough that he doesn’t die. We need him alive for the wedding.”

The men pulled Damien up again. His legs barely worked, his vision blurry, and every movement sent fresh agony through his back. As they dragged him out of the grand room.

***

Desmond hissed as the doctor finished up cleaning his wounds. The doctor sighed and then got up, packing away his kit. He looked at Desmond with a grim expression. “Those wounds are going to leave scars for a lifetime,” he said.

“I’ve cleaned them, stitched them, and applied antiseptic. Now, just try to lie still. Don’t try to get up or move your arms and back unnecessarily for at least 48 hours. No heavy lifting or bending as every movement stretches the wounds and could tear the stitches.”

The doctor lifted his kit, glancing back one last time. “If you notice swelling or a foul smell, call me immediately. Those are signs of infection. And please… try your best not to get on Mr. Victor’s nerves. This is only a tip of what he’s capable of. You seem like a nice young man.”

With that, he left, leaving Desmond groaning in pain. Every inch of his back ached, and even the slightest movement made him wince. He carefully laid down on his stomach, afraid to shift even an inch.

Hours passed slowly. Hunger crawled through his stomach. He hadn’t eaten in more than a day. It felt like the universe was against him. His thoughts drifted to his little sister, Vivi and his heart ached as he remembered her name. His mother and sister had died in the car crash the previous day.

He had promised his mother he would be responsible, that he would make her proud, and now it seemed like the universe had thrown him into the jaws of a lion with no one to save him.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door, and someone stepped inside. Desmond’s heart raced, bracing himself for Mr. Victor or another of his men. But it was neither.

It was Zoe, the maid who had brought the boiling water earlier. She walked to him carefully, holding a tray of food. “Um… how are you feeling?” she asked softly.

Desmond looked at her, unsure of what to say. He was in agony, barely able to move.

“I… I’m really sorry about what happened,”

she said gently, placing the tray in front of him. “That’s just how Mr. Victor is. The doctor gave you medication, so you have to eat… it’ll help your body heal.”

Desmond’s hands trembled as he looked at the food. He wanted to eat desperately, yet he feared the food was poisoned. But then, they had already sent a doctor to treat him. If they wanted him alive to marry Cherry, they wouldn’t kill him.

He tried to move, but pain spread through every fibre of his body. Zoe panicked slightly, setting the tray down and rushing to help him. “Careful… slowly… don’t hurt yourself,” she urged.

Gingerly, Desmond managed to sit up with her help. His body screamed in pain, but his stomach roared louder. He had been over 24 hours without food, and now he had no choice at this moment

***

One week passed after the incident.

Desmond’s back was still sore, every movement reminding him of the whip marks engraved on his skin. The doctor had warned that he was still too weak to move around, that too much strain could reopen his wounds. But Victor wasn’t having any of it.

Victor ordered two of his men to escort Desmond to the mall to prepare for the wedding scheduled for the following week.

As Desmond sat at the back of the car, pain radiated across his back with every bump on the road. He felt less like a groom and more like a servant being dragged along.

No matter how expensive the suit they planned to put on him would be, it wouldn’t change the way he was treated.

When the car stopped, he stepped out slowly, suppressing a wince. The men glanced at him with disdain.

Go in there and pick what you need,” one of them said coldly. “Don’t get carried away. People like you see diamonds and suddenly want everything.”

They walked into the mall.

Desmond barely paid attention to anything around him. He wasn’t excited. He was trapped, and his mind was focused only on how to survive this.

As they moved through the mall, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

He hesitated before reaching for it. Even lifting his arm sent a sharp sting across his back.

Slowly, he brought the phone to his ear.

“Hello?” he said.

“Am I speaking with Desmond Knight?” a calm female voice asked.

“Yes,” he answered cautiously.

“This is Nurse Liliana calling from St. Mary’s General Hospital,” the voice continued. “I’m calling regarding your younger sister, Vivian Knight.”

Desmond stopped walking.

“Yes…?”

“There was a mix-up during the emergency response last week,” the nurse explained. “Your sister was unresponsive at the scene, and she was presumed deceased. However, after she was brought in, her heart activity returned following emergency treatment.”

Desmond stood there, completely still as the nurse continued.

“She is currently stable,” the nurse said. “She’s weak, but alive. We’ve been trying to reach you.”