Page 60 of The Caged Girl

“Some come here in hopes that their husbands will heal and change. That they won’t bring home their fantasies. They believe Mr. Ivory will make their husband’s fantasies come true here so they can act normally in their real life.” Kandi squeezed some cream out of a tube.

I looked at the tube, seeing no label on it. “What is that?”

“Alister— I mean, Mr. Ivory asked for me to start using this skin-tightening cream on your face.”

Looking at the tube, I saw it had a small list of ingredients, and written in small gold font, “La Gabbia Skin-Tightening Serum.”

Squinting, I looked at the list.

Ivory seminal fluid. Organic peony. Rose water.

“Seminal fluid?” I looked up at Kandi, whose cheeks flushed red.

“It’s Mr. Ivory’s…”

“His semen? He wants me to put this on my face?” I threw the tube at the vanity. “He’s making others use this?”

Kandi nodded and looked down at her feet.

I wanted to tell them we had to put an end to La Gabbia—it was the last known Ivory business. But then I remembered, I couldn’t. That vigilante part of me had gotten me nowhere. I looked around at the gold-encrusted, but otherwise, all-black room and remembered how incredible it felt to be up on stage as everyone respected my husband and me.

Did I want to go back to the cage? Did I want to become my sister?

My sister.My heart ached at the evil I saw oozing out of her.

“That’s fine. Please apply it.” I closed my eyes and let Kandi rub the ‘serum’ all over my face.

After the ladies helped me prepare for bed, I slid into the tight black lingerie Alister had selected for me.

My body ached in every sense possible, but tonight I knew he’d want us to consummate our marriage.

I knew I had to succumb to him and every desire, no matter what or who he brought to our bed.

This was my life.

I was Mrs. Alister Ivory. It was my entire identity and the only identity I could uphold that would protect me from becoming one of the other girls here. The ones that could be recycled and reused.

Kandi and Taylor left, and I tugged the thin robe open, letting the lingerie be on full display.

“Alister.” I brushed my freshly painted black nails down my cleavage.

He turned away from the ocean-front balcony and looked at me.

His jaw clenched as I let the robe slide down my body.

“Demi,” he breathed out as the sea air blew the curtains. I stared into his dark eyes as I began unbuttoning his dress shirt.

“You did incredibly well with your speech, and the film was one of the best I’d ever seen.” I licked my lips as I peeled his clothing off.

His head tilted as he watched me unzip his pants. “You enjoyed the film? Even though…”

I looked at him as he stepped out of his pants and gripped my arms.

“Even though, what?”

“Your sister…” he asked curiously.

“I don’t have a sister. Raven, as you call her—which I do not approve of you calling her that since you call me the same name—is nothing more than an employee. Our employee. Am I right, my husband?” I asked as I leaned in closer with my lips brushing against his.

---