My Stepfather’s Prey - Chapter 9: Chapter 9
You are reading My Stepfather’s Prey, Chapter 9: Chapter 9. Read more chapters of My Stepfather’s Prey.
When I finally pried my eyes open, morning light was already streaming through the windows. The night's torment had left me hollowed out, my empty stomach twisting in painful knots.
With nothing left to lose, I pushed open the bathroom door.
Vincent Lowell sprawled across the couch like he owned the place, one leg casually crossed over the other, a cigarette dangling between his fingers. His smirk deepened when he saw me - a broken mess staggering into the living room. He held up his phone, and my blood ran cold at the vile video playing on screen.
I started shaking uncontrollably. "What will it take for you to delete that?"
Vincent yanked me onto his lap, gripping my chin with bruising force. "Don't play dumb, sweetheart. You know exactly what I want."
A spark of defiance flared inside me. "You're a monster!" I spat.
His face darkened instantly. He waved the phone again, thumb hovering over the screen. My stomach dropped when I saw he'd pulled up my mother's contact. One tap and that video would destroy her.
"Please," I begged, clutching his sleeve, "anyone but her! She's all I have left!"
Vincent just laughed - that high-pitched, nails-on-chalkboard sound that made my skin crawl. I tried another angle: "That's revenge porn. It's illegal."
"Who do you think the cops will believe?" he sneered. "Me - with your mother as my character witness? Or some hysterical girl?"
The icy realization hit me like a punch to the gut. When he shoved me onto the couch, I didn't even fight back. His hands roamed over my body as I stared blankly at the ceiling.
Is this really how my life turned out?
The pillow was wet before I even realized I was crying.
When Vincent leaned in with those thin, puckered lips, disgust finally overrode my fear. I shoved him away and bolted to the bedroom, half-expecting him to drag me back.
My phone buzzed: "You can run, Evelyn, but you can't hide. The video stays for now. You'll come crawling back."
The bastard. The absolute pig.
Rage burned through me so intensely I nearly blacked out. But the crushing truth remained - I was trapped.
For days, Vincent kept his distance, probably avoiding evidence. But the harassment never stopped.
First came the unsolicited dick pics. Then demands for humiliating nudes. Only when I complied would he slide food under my door - just enough to keep me alive. I'd force it down between sobs, clinging to one desperate hope:
The lockdown will end. This nightmare will be over.
But my aching heart knew better.
Each day chipped away at my sanity. My hatred for Vincent grew white-hot until a dark thought took root:
I'd walk naked through Times Square if it meant watching Vincent die.
But with my phone confiscated, I was powerless.
Then came the knock at the door.
"Where's Evelyn?" Margaret's voice carried through the apartment.
"Asleep," Vincent lied smoothly. "Don't disturb her."
Something inside me snapped. I burst out screaming, "Margaret, help—!"
Vincent's hand clamped over my mouth as he dragged me back, his face twisted in rage. "You stupid bitch! You want to die?"
I met his glare with equal fury. "Do it then! Kill me or I'll tell her everything!"
Something in my eyes must have scared him. His tone shifted instantly. "Fine, you win." He pulled out his phone and deleted the video right in front of me. "Look - it's gone. We'll pretend this never happened."
When I hesitated, he played his trump card: "Your mother needs me. What happens to her if I disappear?"
The words hit like a gut punch. Mom - the woman who raised me, who was so easily manipulated by this monster. I'd been waiting for the right moment to reconcile with her. How could I destroy her now?
Vincent saw me waver and pressed his advantage. "I love your mother. For her sake, just think of me as the villain. I'll stay out of your life. Hell, I'll even pay you - compensation for your... suffering."
Like I wanted his blood money.
All I cared about was that video being gone and Mom being safe. But after everything...
"How do I know you'll keep your word?" My voice sounded hollow even to my own ears.
With nothing left to lose, I pushed open the bathroom door.
Vincent Lowell sprawled across the couch like he owned the place, one leg casually crossed over the other, a cigarette dangling between his fingers. His smirk deepened when he saw me - a broken mess staggering into the living room. He held up his phone, and my blood ran cold at the vile video playing on screen.
I started shaking uncontrollably. "What will it take for you to delete that?"
Vincent yanked me onto his lap, gripping my chin with bruising force. "Don't play dumb, sweetheart. You know exactly what I want."
A spark of defiance flared inside me. "You're a monster!" I spat.
His face darkened instantly. He waved the phone again, thumb hovering over the screen. My stomach dropped when I saw he'd pulled up my mother's contact. One tap and that video would destroy her.
"Please," I begged, clutching his sleeve, "anyone but her! She's all I have left!"
Vincent just laughed - that high-pitched, nails-on-chalkboard sound that made my skin crawl. I tried another angle: "That's revenge porn. It's illegal."
"Who do you think the cops will believe?" he sneered. "Me - with your mother as my character witness? Or some hysterical girl?"
The icy realization hit me like a punch to the gut. When he shoved me onto the couch, I didn't even fight back. His hands roamed over my body as I stared blankly at the ceiling.
Is this really how my life turned out?
The pillow was wet before I even realized I was crying.
When Vincent leaned in with those thin, puckered lips, disgust finally overrode my fear. I shoved him away and bolted to the bedroom, half-expecting him to drag me back.
My phone buzzed: "You can run, Evelyn, but you can't hide. The video stays for now. You'll come crawling back."
The bastard. The absolute pig.
Rage burned through me so intensely I nearly blacked out. But the crushing truth remained - I was trapped.
For days, Vincent kept his distance, probably avoiding evidence. But the harassment never stopped.
First came the unsolicited dick pics. Then demands for humiliating nudes. Only when I complied would he slide food under my door - just enough to keep me alive. I'd force it down between sobs, clinging to one desperate hope:
The lockdown will end. This nightmare will be over.
But my aching heart knew better.
Each day chipped away at my sanity. My hatred for Vincent grew white-hot until a dark thought took root:
I'd walk naked through Times Square if it meant watching Vincent die.
But with my phone confiscated, I was powerless.
Then came the knock at the door.
"Where's Evelyn?" Margaret's voice carried through the apartment.
"Asleep," Vincent lied smoothly. "Don't disturb her."
Something inside me snapped. I burst out screaming, "Margaret, help—!"
Vincent's hand clamped over my mouth as he dragged me back, his face twisted in rage. "You stupid bitch! You want to die?"
I met his glare with equal fury. "Do it then! Kill me or I'll tell her everything!"
Something in my eyes must have scared him. His tone shifted instantly. "Fine, you win." He pulled out his phone and deleted the video right in front of me. "Look - it's gone. We'll pretend this never happened."
When I hesitated, he played his trump card: "Your mother needs me. What happens to her if I disappear?"
The words hit like a gut punch. Mom - the woman who raised me, who was so easily manipulated by this monster. I'd been waiting for the right moment to reconcile with her. How could I destroy her now?
Vincent saw me waver and pressed his advantage. "I love your mother. For her sake, just think of me as the villain. I'll stay out of your life. Hell, I'll even pay you - compensation for your... suffering."
Like I wanted his blood money.
All I cared about was that video being gone and Mom being safe. But after everything...
"How do I know you'll keep your word?" My voice sounded hollow even to my own ears.
End of My Stepfather’s Prey Chapter 9. Continue reading Chapter 10 or return to My Stepfather’s Prey book page.