The Silent Storm Beneath the Moon by Arvin Cole Maddox
The Birthday That Turned Into a Nightmare
The chapter opens with a haunting contrast—what should have been a day of celebration becomes the darkest moment of the heroine’s life. On her birthday, instead of joy, she finds herself kidnapped and subjected to three days of brutality and psychological torment. The horror she experiences is so intense that by the time the police finally rescue her, she is no longer the same woman. She emerges wounded, physically and emotionally, her clothes torn, her body bruised, and her spirit shattered.
Benjamin’s Sudden Appearance and Public Proposal
As the authorities secure the scene, Benjamin Whitmore—the man she once believed to be her protector, someone deeply trusted in her life—rushes in with dramatic urgency. He shields her from reporters, curses at the media for trying to invade her pain, and gives off an image of a fiercely protective man. His eyes fill with pity and heartbreak, a reaction that should soothe her, should make her feel safe, yet it does the exact opposite.
In a shocking, unexpected moment, Benjamin drops to one knee and proposes to her right there amidst flashing cameras and chaos. In her weakened state, unable to process anything, she becomes trapped in his arms and in the narrative he begins to craft around her.
Exhaustion and a Chilling Revelation
As they leave in Benjamin’s car, her body gives in to exhaustion. She drifts into a half-conscious state—neither awake nor fully asleep—and it is in this fragile space that she overhears a conversation she was never meant to hear.
Benjamin’s trusted bodyguard, Kenneth Rutledge, speaks in a tense, troubled voice. His words cut through the silence like a blade:
“Ben, did we go too far by drugging her and arranging someone to assault her? Even if your goal was to tarnish her reputation for that woman, there had to be another way.”
These words shatter her world.
The man she had trusted, the man who had just proposed to her, the man who appeared as her savior—and he was the one who orchestrated her suffering.
Benjamin’s reply is terrifying in its calmness. He strokes her back while saying, in an eerily steady voice, that for a “devout girl” like her, chastity meant everything. If one wanted to destroy her reputation, there was no method more effective.
He does not show guilt. He does not show regret.
Instead, he explains that he will “make it up” to her for the rest of his life through marriage—as if marriage could erase torture.
A Hopeless Realization of Betrayal
Though her body remains limp, tears stream down her face while she pretends to sleep. Inside her, a cold emptiness begins forming. The marriage she had once wished for, dreamed about, hoped for—was revealed to be nothing more than a cruel punishment, a cage disguised as love.
Her spirit fractures further when the men begin discussing where to take her. Kenneth suggests using the Whitmore Group’s private hospital where no one would dare say a word. But Benjamin refuses. He wants the public hospital, the place filled with reporters and chaos. He wants her humiliation to be visible.
This is not for her well-being.
It is for someone else entirely—Amelia.
The Puzzle Pieces Fall Into Place
In her numb silence, she recalls her past. She remembers that after divorcing her cheating husband Jonathan, Benjamin had continued to pursue her relentlessly. She once believed this was love—his insistence, his attention, his devotion. But now, she understands the truth.
Benjamin only wanted her as a pawn.
A tool to clear the path for Amelia.
Both Benjamin and Jonathan—two men she had loved deeply—were tied to the same woman, Amelia.
And neither of them had ever chosen her for who she was.
This revelation is devastating.
It drowns her in nausea and heartbreak, forcing her stomach into painful convulsions until she retches violently in the car.
Benjamin’s Fake Tenderness
The sound of her distress wakes Benjamin. He leans over her, rubbing her back gently, repeating the word “sweetheart” over and over again. His voice is soft, soothing, almost loving—yet every word feels like poison to her ears.
He hands her her favorite water bottle, the water inside warm, just the way she always liked it. This detail confuses her—how can a man capable of causing such horrific suffering still remember the little things about her? Still speak to her like he cares? Still act like he is protecting her?
This duality—his monstrous actions mixed with his gentle tone—unsettles her more than anything.
Passing the Whitmore Hospital
As the car drives by the Whitmore Group’s private hospital, she notices Benjamin tense. He quickly hides his reaction and pulls her closer, whispering excuses about wanting her treated by “top specialists.”
He lies effortlessly.
He lies like it is natural.
He promises again to protect her from reporters, even though she now knows he is the one who wants them there.
The Beginning of Her Personal Hell
In this moment, she finally sees the truth.
The man she trusted was her captor in disguise.
The man she admired orchestrated her downfall.
The man who used to make her feel safe had turned her life into a calculated trap—planned, executed, and justified in his twisted mind.
Her heart breaks anew as she realizes:
The nightmare she thought was over has only just begun.
She is not being rescued.
She is being carried deeper into a future she never chose.
Her body, battered and fragile, rests helplessly against him as he embraces her like a lover, while she silently screams inside.
A Prison Made of Lies and Love
Benjamin believes his actions are necessary. He believes his ability to “fix things” after ruining her life is enough. He thinks marriage will be the balm that covers the wounds he inflicted.
But for her, his embrace is suffocating.
His love feels like a trap.
His presence feels like chains tightening around her neck.
The car moves like a metal coffin on wheels, carrying her into a future filled with deception, humiliation, and betrayal.
The chapter ends with the heroine overwhelmed by grief, dread, and the bitter taste of betrayal. Her heart, once full of hope and dreams, has turned cold and hollow.
She now knows the truth:
She was never chosen.
She was never loved.
She was merely used.
And the people she once cherished were all connected to the same woman—Amelia.
The woman who was the centerpiece of everyone’s life but her own.
