[Your man is a jerk. Your sister was right.]
[Rest up. When you’re better, we leave.]
I smiled. It wouldn’t be that easy.
I called Jessica in the afternoon; she was
flying in two days, and then we’d be set.
I felt slightly better.
I hadn’t eaten all day. I put on a robe and
went downstairs for something to eat.
I think it was my imagination, but the mansion.
was deserted. No servants.
As I went downstairs, I heard a woman moan.
From the banister, I saw a couple kissing
passionately on the sofa.
The copyright of this content belongs to
“realnovel“.
<
Chapter 2
She was on top.
Sarah, in a flimsy lace nightgown, straddled
Mark.
“Mark, I’m not a child anymore. I’ve grown
up.”
“Why don’t you look at me?”
“I don’t want you to treat me like a child. I
want you to see me as a woman.”
“Your woman.”
She whispered sweet nothings, kissing him
again. This time, Mark surrendered, losing
himself in the moment.
I watched silently, feeling nothing, only
disgust.
I didn’t hide anymore; I slowly walked
downstairs.
Just as they were about to shed the last
vestiges of clothing, I spoke.
“So you can do it!”
6
Mark’s eyes widened. He pushed Sarah off
without a second thought.
He frantically explained: “No, Sarah was
drunk. She mistook me for her boyfriend.”
“Nothing happened between us.”
I stepped back.
“Why are you explaining this to me?”
“It’s none of my business. Carry on. I’m just
getting something to eat.”
His explanations were unconvincing. He
followed me, repeatedly insisting he couldn’t
perform, that he didn’t have feelings for
Sarah.
I grabbed a piece of bread and went upstairs,
closing the door just as he was about to
enter.
I sat on the floor, slowly tearing the bread
apart.
Bite after bite, I choked back salty tears.
Memories of our time together flashed
く
through my mind.
To have a normal relationship, I’d dropped all
pretense, creating romantic candlelit dinners,
using alluring scents, making every moment
special.
Every attempt stopped at a hug.
The last time, I wore a sexy nightgown; he
merely glanced at me before falling asleep
fully clothed.
The next morning, Mark left for work early.
The butler woke me for breakfast.
He brought out a bowl of meat with a strange
smell.
Sarah took my bowl and ladled a large portion
for me.
“This is good stuff, Auntie. You should eat
plenty.‘
“What kind of meat is this?”
I looked at the butler; his eyes flickered,
nervously glancing towards the pet room.
く
A bad feeling washed over me.
My sister had given me a small Pomeranian,
Boo. He’d always greet me at breakfast,
wagging his tail. Today, there was silence.
Seeing me about to check, Sarah smirked.
“Looking for that little mutt? It’s right here.”
She pointed to the broth.
“He kept barking at me. So annoying.”
“Do you know what happened to dogs that
barked at their owners in ancient–times?”
She spoke slowly: “They were beaten and
eaten!”
I trembled with rage, slapping her.
“You’re dead.”
Sarah had always possessed a unique cruelty.
She didn’t value life, scorned anyone less
fortunate than herself, dehumanizing them.
That’s why we clashed.
Stunned, she grabbed a plate and threw it at
my head.
<
I was dazed.
Blood streamed down my forehead, blurring
my vision.
Still angry, she tried again, but I dodged.
Sharp shards of porcelain scattered on the
floor. She pointed at two servants.
“Are you Ultons‘ paid servants or not? I’m
Uncle’s favorite niece, and you don’t help
me?”
“Hold her down.”
I was restrained.
Sarah used the tableware to hit me several
more times, until I passed out. Then the
servants released me.
Sarah looked at the dog meat, slowly
approaching me with the bowl.
“You hit me because of a little dog?”
“Then you’ll keep it company.”
The butler stopped her just as she was about
to drop the bowl, saving me.
23
<
to drop the bowl, saving me.
My head was shaved, the doctor removed the
porcelain shards, and stitched me up.
Mark sat beside me, his expression complex.
“Clara, Sarah was wrong.”
“But you shouldn’t hit Sarah for a dog.”
“You slapped her, she hit you back. Auntie,
don’t fight with a child.”
His logic made me laugh. “So killing my dog.
and hitting me is minor?”
“You call her a child, but I’m younger than
her!”
Mark opened his mouth, but I cut him off.
I pointed to the door. “Leave. Go coddle your
overgrown child. I have nothing to say to
you.”
The door closed. I took out a picture of Boo.
Tears flowed freely.
I pressed the photo to my chest. “I’m sorry.”
If only I’d been more careful.
If only I’d woken up earlier, Boo might still be
alive. If only…
Crying, I fell asleep.
I don’t know how long I slept, but in my
dream, Boo was barking, his voice sharp,
frantic.
I struggled to open my eyes and saw the door
open.
Sarah entered, followed by several men.
They looked… unwell. Even from a distance, I
could smell a foul odor.
Sarah smirked, a chilling smile.
“Because of you, Uncle refuses to be intimate
with me.”
“Because of you, he scolded me.”
She approached, her eyes icy. “I hear you and
Uncle haven’t been intimate in so long.”
“You’re jealous of me, aren’t you? You faked
that noise that night!”
Excited, she trembled, as if she’d discovered
2
Г
something terrible, her gaze like a viper.
“Want a man? I can help.”
“These guys are sick and unemployed. I found
them with great difficulty.”
“They’ll take care of you.”
Before leaving, she told the men: “This is a
virgin. Be gentle.”
I jumped out of bed, trying to escape, but the
men blocked me.
I dodged their outstretched hands, noticing
disgusting lumps on their skin.
Even without prior experience, I knew what
that meant.
They were sick.
As they closed in, I frantically searched for an
escape.
