Emilia slowly fluttered her eyes open, the gentle morning light spilling across the room like a soft, golden blanket. She made an attempt to rise, but the searing pain in her bottom made her wince. Her entire body was enveloped in a pristine white duvet, shielding her from the cold but not from the painful memories that now began flooding her mind. Each flash of last night returned in jagged pieces, like shards of glass cutting into her thoughts. While the intensity of the pain had slightly diminished, thanks to the ointment that the cruel man had applied on her tender, aching skin, her soft, bruised buttocks were still sore, throbbing with each breath. She had no recollection of how long that heartless man had lingered by her side after treating her wounds. Exhausted by both pain and fea