My Child and I Married a Billionaire

Chapter 179: Chapter 179: Cecelia Archer Is "Looked After

In the detention center, after a spirit-crushed Cecelia Archer signed the "interrogation record," she was given "special treatment" and led into a small room.

The moment she stepped inside, she felt an immense pressure.

On the cold, grim floor, seven or eight women of varying heights and builds were staring at her in unison.

Cecelia Archer’s mood was at rock bottom. She didn’t want to talk to anyone, nor did she want anyone talking to her. She swept her gaze over the curious women, then quickly looked away and walked to a corner by herself.

But who would have thought—the moment she sat down, someone approached her.

A tall, large woman with short hair stuck her foot out and tapped Cecelia on the chest with her toes.

"Hey. What’s your name? What’re you in for? First time? You know the rules here?"

Cecelia Archer didn’t know the rules, nor did she want to. In any case, she didn’t have much longer to live.

She ignored the woman, simply raising a hand to gently push the foot aside. This instantly enraged the woman.

"Are you fucking deaf or mute? Can’t you hear me talking to you?"

She squatted in front of Cecelia, roughly grabbing her chin and forcing her head up.

"I asked you for your name, what you’re in for, and why you didn’t go pay your respects to the Boss. Are you fucking deaf?"

The woman’s skin was dark, her face fleshy and brutish, her teeth yellow.

A sour stench wafted from her mouth. ’Whether it’s the conditions here or just a lack of hygiene, I don’t know.’

Cecelia, who had no will to do anything, couldn’t help but frown as the woman’s foul breath washed over her.

"What’s it to you?"

"So you’re not mute? All delicate and pretty, with a nice voice, too. Must be a real seductress!"

Seeing that she had finally spoken, the woman stared at her with renewed interest.

"Were you the other woman in some marriage and got reported? Or were you with some big shot who fell from power and took you down with him? Huh?"

’Disgusting.’

’A person like her couldn’t possibly have a single decent thought in her head.’ Cecelia viciously shoved the woman’s hand away and turned her face to the side.

"I’ll say this one last time. It’s none of your business. Please, stop bothering me."

Shoved away, the woman suddenly let out a strange, mocking laugh.

"Got an attitude, do we? Too good for me now? Hey ladies, come take a look! This is the kind of woman men love most. Your husbands were probably seduced by a bitch just like her! Come on, look at the little homewrecker!"

At her words, the other women swarmed over, all except the tallest and strongest one.

They didn’t care whether Cecelia was willing or not. Some held down her legs, others grabbed her arms. One pulled her hair back from her face while another pinched her chin, forcing her to look up.

Cecelia felt like a piece of produce at a market, being thoroughly inspected by them.

"She really is delicate, so what? No amount of prettying up can cover the reek of a whore! I’ve spent my whole life despising women like this. It’s like they’re helpless, with no skills other than seducing men. Ptooey!"

"Exactly! If it weren’t for women like her, I wouldn’t be in this mess! And you dare to look at me like that? You want me to gouge those eyes out?"

They spoke as if they had personally witnessed Cecelia commit some shameful act—as if she had seduced their own husbands. The more they talked, the angrier they became.

Someone pinched her leg, another her waist, and another yanked her hair.

The pain was unbearable and the humiliation was profound, but Cecelia refused to cry.

She just found the world absurd, like a grand circus of buffoons where everyone was just a bit player.

They beat her for a while. Seeing that she made no sound and shed no tears, only glaring at them with fierce eyes, one of them grew even more annoyed. She grabbed Cecelia by the hair and dragged her before the tallest, largest woman, saying as if to claim credit:

"We’ve already worked her over, but she’s still defiant. It seems she doesn’t respect your authority, Boss. Do you want to teach her a lesson yourself?"

"Or we could not trouble the Boss. Tomorrow, once her hair is cut and she’s in uniform, she’ll truly be one of us. Then I’ll have plenty of time to teach her a lesson."

As she spoke, the woman holding Cecelia gave her hair a vicious tug from behind, forcing her face up.

Cecelia saw the tallest and largest woman.

The woman wore the same standard-issue uniform, her hair cut short. She was sitting cross-legged.

Her expression was blank, but she radiated an unmistakable aura of ruthlessness.

Ordinarily, her first instinct upon seeing someone so menacing would be to shrink away. But this was not an ordinary time.

Her heart was already dead. Nothing could frighten her anymore.

"Let her go."

Cecelia fearlessly held the woman’s gaze. After a few seconds, the woman spoke, her voice surprisingly gentle.

The woman beside her was taken aback. "Boss..."

"I said, let her go."

The woman reluctantly released Cecelia, but not before giving her head a hard shove.

Cecelia stumbled forward but caught her balance, refusing to fall. She adjusted her position, shifting from kneeling to sitting, and faced the woman opposite her, her expression still placid.

The woman continued to meet her gaze calmly. After a few seconds, she suddenly extended a hand toward Cecelia in a gentle gesture.

"Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you. Come here."

The gesture was like one used to summon a kitten, a puppy, or a small child. Cecelia had the feeling that if she moved closer, the woman would pull her into an embrace. The thought repulsed her.

"What do you want?"

"I’m not like them."

Seeing her hesitation, the woman explained gently.

"You’re very beautiful. I like you. Stick with me, and you won’t have to suffer. I happen to be looking for a partner right now, and you’ve arrived at the perfect time. Come, let me get a good look at you."

Cecelia was so disgusted she almost threw up last night’s dinner.

She never discriminated against people for their orientation; she could even offer her sincere blessings to others. But to have this forced upon her was something she could never accept.

"Thank you for the kind offer, but I’m sorry, I’m not into women."

When she finished, someone in the crowd couldn’t suppress a quiet laugh.

The Boss’s gentle expression vanished in an instant, replaced by that of a bloodthirsty demon. Her venomous gaze shot toward the sound.

"Who laughed? Was it funny?"

THUD! The woman who had laughed fell to her knees in terror.

"No, no, no! I wasn’t laughing, I just had a tickle in my throat. I’m sorry, Boss! I didn’t mean it, I’m so sorry!"

As she spoke, she slammed her head against the floor several times.

Perhaps it was because the woman’s groveling was so pathetic, or perhaps because Cecelia’s presence had put the Boss in a good mood, but she simply kicked the woman aside without pursuing the matter.

"Get out of my sight."

After dealing with her, she turned her attention back to Cecelia.

"You look like a smart girl. You should know better. What was that you said just now? I didn’t quite hear you."

’You’ve seen I have a bad temper. I’m giving you a chance to start over. Take the hint and play along.’

Cecelia was indeed smart; she understood the unspoken threat perfectly. But with disdain, she enunciated each word clearly as she repeated herself.

"I said I’m not into women. I could repeat it a hundred times, and it would still be true. Do you understand now?"