Page 37

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

“How has newlywed life been, Mrs. Ivory?” Taylor and Kandi were back and brushing my hair. I ignored the question.

“I’ll just use the wig collection today.” I knew those wigs came from the innocent lives that were ripped away from them. The hair extensions and wigs were also made-to-order for the visiting wives, who were thrilled they came from humans.

“You’ll be visiting the wives today at the pool for a luncheon, and Mrs. Rothschild wanted to say goodbye to you before they leave.” I looked at them through the mirror.

“Is her husband leaving? Declan?” I questioned.

“Yes. Of course, he is,” Kandi said.

“Declan and Sage Rothschild paid one million dollars for their all-inclusive stay here,” Taylor added while filling my lips in with a nude shade.

“And for their custom baby…” Kandi shot Taylor a look of disdain.

“They are now paying three million dollars.” Taylor continued to gossip as if we were simply a group of friends having coffee.

“Mr. Ivory asked that we remind you to let the ladies know about their retail and souvenir options. The window for purchasing a live child is now closed until their next visit, but they can still buy custom wigs, skincare items exclusively made at La Gabbia, and a few other items.”

Kandi fastened a short blonde wig on my head. Brushing the sides down with my fingers, I fluffed the bangs. “I love it,” I said without hesitation. I actually did. It felt more like me. Like the girl I had to become at the Ivory estate in Charlotte when all this changed my life.

I left Kandi and Taylor to head to the pool. My white gown was draped over my shoulders as I glided down the hallway with the platform shoes.

Pausing for a moment, I looked at the images. More were missing. I knew that the girls had been moved to the other hall into black-and-white photos. That meant they were slaughtered. Intently looking through the photos of beautiful young women, I froze and dragged my finger against one.

It was the girl from the cage. The girl that… She was smiling proudly in the image.

“Excuse me, Mrs. Ivory.” Sarah startled me and took the frame down.

“There was a removal request. Jane has to be moved to the other wall…the wall of the angels.” Sarah smiled at me. “She truly served La Gabbia well,” she added before prying the image of the young girl from the frame.

My heart didn’t ache. I didn’t feel sad. I didn’t feel…

“I don’t feel,” I said with my hand against my chest.

Sarah looked at me curiously. “You’re a lucky one, then.” She smiled before leaving with the photo of Jane.

* * *

“Welcome to the farewell ladies brunch!” a man wearing an all-white uniform, stark blonde hair, and piercing green eyes said.

All the doves were donning the same short, white dresses, slicked-back buns, and eye makeup that made the green of their eyes stand out in harmony.

It was all so beautiful. Hundreds of fresh white and pale pink peonies decorated the long tables that were set across a clear acrylic floor to cover the pool.

“Mrs. Ivory!” he called out with a large smile on his face. All eyes darted over at me as the ladies stood and clapped.

The doves and man instantly bowed as I made my way to the head of the table.

I clasped my hands together to stop them from shaking. I wasn’t prepared for this kind of positive attention nor respect.

“Welcome to La Gabbia’s farewell brunch. My husband and I are so very honored you chose to spend your vacation with us. We cannot wait for you all to come back soon. I know many of you had shopping on your mind, and if you were unable to finish it, please notify your assigned dove and she will make sure you are able to place any orders. I know our skincare is the best in the world, along with the custom lipstick.” I brushed my fingers across the fresh peonies, knowing the skincare had Alister’s semen blended into it. The lipstick was blended with blood and whatever else Alister desired. I shuddered thinking of his wall art composed of lips.

“Alister and I truly appreciate your presence. We know the real world is challenging. It’s hard to carve out time for your marriage or yourselves, and that is why La Gabbia exists. La Gabbia is where your dreams and fantasies can come true. It’s the sliver of the world where the word ‘no’ does not exist. Now, please enjoy your meals and then we will finish any last-minute shopping before we say our farewells.” I sank into my chair and stared down at the salad in front of me. Lifting the drink, I swirled the blush-pink liquid before taking a sip.

The clamoring and clattering of all the wives chatting happily as they noshed on the delicacies constantly being served after spending however much time their vacation was booked for was fascinating to me. Did they know while they were sunbathing that their husbands were slicing young women up and raping their corpses? Did they know they were playing out their fantasies with bondage and toys before putting their suits back on? Did they know the children they were adding to their families were crying for their mothers?

Did they care? Maybe. Did they feel? Absolutely not. I took a bite of the chocolate cake in front of me before sitting back and sliding on the pair of sunglasses that were in my purse.

The blazing island sun was beating down on my shoulders and the ocean in front of us looked stunning.

It was truly stunning. I pinched my forearm as I felt darkness and evil grow inside me. I was enjoying this life in some way. I was better than everyone around me. And for once in my life, I was untouchable.

“Mrs. Ivory, when you’re all finished, I just wanted you to know that Mrs. Rothschild would like a private word with you, if possible.” A girl that had to be Sage’s assigned dove tapped me gently.

“Don’t touch me.” I brushed at my shoulder before standing.

Who was I becoming? What was I becoming?

I made my way into the private pool-view rooms above the kitchen, where the girls were still cooking in nothing but aprons and being filmed as part of the cinema selection for the Euphoria floor.

“Mrs. Ivory, you’ve done well for yourself in such a small amount of time, my friend.” Sage Rothschild stood by the window and smiled at me. She had sunglasses on, a scarf wrapped around her neck, and was sipping a glass of Ivory champagne.

“I suppose so, Sage.” The clear action of using her first name was an easy display of my shift in power.

“I ordered a custom product.” She slid her glasses off and looked out to the pool. “Declan and I thought we’d select something from the inventory, but they were all too…dated?” She waved her hands.

She was going to become the mother to my sister and Bradley’s child, and here she was, calling that child, my niece or nephew, a custom product. But more than her being the mother of that child, the fact that Declan, the disgusting vile man who nearly killed me, would be their father? The man who choked me and didn’t understand the word ‘no’ pleading from my mouth? The man Alister let live solely because he was concerned how it would look if a prominent, wealthy white man went missing at his resort?

I knew I didn’t have much say in any of this. I had too much to lose if I tried anything.

But suddenly, I thought about something that may be my own little project here.

“Sage…may I ask you a personal question?”

She looked at me with interest as I waved her over to a table. “Do you love your husband?” She paused. “Actually, let me ask you this… How did you meet?”

Her presence shifted almost immediately.

She grew closer to me and brushed her finger against my face. “Mrs. Ivory, you really don’t remember me, do you?”

“Sage…” I tried to back away, but she grabbed my wrist.

“Close your eyes and think, Demi,” she rasped. “You were just their little housekeeper. You came into Dr. Ivory’s office to clean and pulled the curtain back. I’m sure you thought you’d see trees or something pretty, didn’t you?”

Her voice grew deeper and raspier. “I was one of the caged girls you left behind to die—just like you did to your own flesh and blood. And look at the poor girl, she’s giving life while you steal it.”

My breathing grew rapid as I looked into her eyes. “You were there? You were her?” I choked out as I peeled her hands off me.

“Declan bought me out of the catalogue. I won.” She chuckled.

“Sage, I didn’t know… I… Wait.” Goosebumps scattered across my arms as I stood and pressed my hands against the glass window.

Suddenly, everyone outside, all the wives, stopped.

They looked at me through the window and smiled. Most wiggled their fingers in small waves, while some even blew me kisses.

Blonde hair, green eyes, perfectly pale skin, white dresses, and…submissive personalities. They stayed with the doves on the all-white floor. Their meals were all white.

Rice, yogurt, peeled radishes, vanilla cake, and milk…

I flung around, and Sage was standing there, grinning. “We’re all just precious little birds, finally set free.”

It felt like the entire world was closing in on me. I’d never escape this sick, all-white world. These women were so happy to be here because it was better than the cages they all came from. There wasn’t just one caged girl; there were hundreds, if not thousands walking this earth. These women were the custom-made brides from Ian Ivory.

“Sage, listen to me. I have an idea…” My voice trembled as I walked toward her. It was all interconnected. The Ivory family was everywhere. They made sure to have businesses that poured into one another. Wealthy men needed obedient and submissive wives, so they sought out Ian Ivory. Then, once they were married and bored, they needed an escape and their wives wanted children…

So, they came to La Gabbia. “Why do so many of you choose to take children from here?” I questioned.

Sage rubbed her hands against her abdomen. “When we get purchased by rich men, we are expected to be submissive and use our training from the white therapy. Some of us try to fight back when they…torture us. There is a one strike rule. They say we are being hysterical, so they force us to get hysterectomies.” She switched her entire personality. “But now, Declan and I need a legacy. We need children to fill our home. My children were stolen from me when I let sex and booze consume me. The Ivory family saved me.”

“Oh my God,” I breathed out in shock. “Sage, do you love your husband?”

Something changed in the way she looked at me. “Of course.” She anxiously looked to the corner of the room.

I glanced up but didn’t see any cameras. “Sage, no, I need you to tell me. I won’t say anything. I’m not…”

“Says the woman who abandoned us all.”

I shook my head. “And look where we all ended up. Together. I didn’t escape hell.”

It was as if a mask fell from her face and Sage blurted out, “I hate him. I hate the way he hurts me. I have heard La Gabbia helps tame their male rage. But I hate the way he…controls me. I hate the way he locks me up in the all-white dog cage at home and laughs while pleasuring himself.”

“I have an idea about Declan. I want to keep him here,” I said quickly, knowing it was only a matter of time before Alister would wonder what I was doing.

“You could inherit all his money. You could raise your child. You could break all of this. You could have the means and chance to live on your own terms and give that to the baby.”

A single tear rolled down her cheek. “He’s too powerful. Everyone would question where he went.”

“It’ll be a boating accident; I can set it all up. Somewhere farther away from Ivory Island. We can’t afford to have our resort or island in any headline.”

Color flushed in Sage’s cheeks. “What would you do to him?”

I shook my head. “You don’t need to know; all you need to know is this is your chance at freedom. I just have one request.” Rolling my shoulders back, I said, “You must promise to update me about the child and raise them in a life of sheer happiness. If I find out you are hurting the child or causing any form of pain, then I will personally hunt you down and kill you.”

“I promise.” She wiped away her tear. “What will you tell your husband? What are you going to do with Declan?”

Rolling my tube of lipstick up, I painted my lips with the red shade I had hidden away. “I’ll handle it. That’s all you need to know. If a man hurts you, then you owe him nothing.”