Eulalia went shopping again during the day, stocked up on some everyday stuff, and threw some fresh meat in the fridge to chill.The lady renting out the place to her is about thirty, with two kids. Eulalia hasn't talked to her much, but she seemed nice and friendly when they signed the contract.The landlady lives in the same building, which has five floors. Eulalia's on the third floor, and the landlady's up top.One day, she stopped by Eulalia's place, knocked on the door, and brought over some veggies from her garden.Eulalia accepted them and quickly checked her fridge to see if she had anything to give back.The landlady laughed and said, "Don't worry about it. It's just some veggies from my garden, not worth much. By the way, are you living alone?"She looked around the neat and tidy room that felt a bit too quiet."Yeah, just me."The landlady was curious but didn't pry since it's personal stuff. Still, she thought she should keep an eye on her from now on since living alone i
The landlady invited Eulalia in to sit on the sofa and poured her a glass of lemon water, which she placed on the coffee table."How have you been feeling these last few days? Are you uncomfortable?""Just a lack of appetite and a bit nauseous, other than that, I'm okay.""That's a normal reaction, but if you feel really bad, you should go see a doctor. When I was pregnant with my son, I also had no appetite for anything. My husband spent his days figuring out what to eat and took me out to distract me; it made me feel better. Oh, when I didn't feel like eating, I liked sour things, like lemon slices. Try this and see," she suggested, handing over the drink.Eulalia, touched and envious of the proprietor's words, admired the care she received from her husband and his consideration for her and their child. She tasted the lemon water, finding it pleasantly sweet and sour, and nodded, "It's delicious.""That's good, I enjoyed drinking it when I was pregnant too, but you can't drink too m
Early the next morning, Eulalia boarded the bus to the county town. Upon arriving, she took a taxi to the largest shopping mall in the area. This was her first visit to a mall since she had arrived in town, and she concealed the excitement trembling in her heart.Eulalia surveyed her surroundings while memorizing the route, searching for a jewelry store. After asking around, she finally found a shop where she could pawn jewelry. She glanced at the décor and then her eyes settled on the jewelry displayed behind the glass—too ordinary. She was unsure how to price them.It was only when a sales clerk saw her wandering around that he approached her and asked, “What kind of jewelry are you looking to pick out, miss?”Eulalia responded directly, “Is your boss here?”The clerk’s smile faltered slightly, subtly masking his concern—perhaps fearing she was there to return an item or cause trouble.“Our boss isn’t here, but the manager is.”“Could you please call the manager over? Thank you.”Th
“If youcan’t afford it, then I’ll have to look elsewhere,” Eulalia said as she had meticulously observed the jewelry store’s decor upon entering. It was unlikely they couldn’t come up with a million.“This necklace, nearly worth amillion, I’m sure there are other stores that can pay for it, like the jewelry just around the corner.”What Eulalia was sayingwas Mr. Louis’s competitor. Hearing this, hewas about to say something when Eulalia suddenly stood up.“Not to mention, using this necklace as a centerpiece could attract many customers, or even selling it in the city for millionswould net you a huge profit.As Eulalia spoke, she casually walked towards the exit, her nonchalant demeanor making Mr. Louiseven more anxious, sweat beading on his forehead.“Ms. Clearwater, pleas
Eulalia’s mind went blank with fright, and her phone nearly slipped from her hands and crashed to the ground.She quickly realized that there are many people with the same name in the world; this Trent might not be the one she knew.Besides, she had changed her phone number and her FB account.Eulalia didn’t dare accept the friend request, tossing her phone aside to continue with her tasks, hoping to dispel her unease.But the name "Trent" kept circling in her mind, making it impossible for her to concentrate on anything. By evening, she picked up her phone again to find that he had sent three friend requests, this time with a message.“Don’t recognize me anymore?”“Since you left Percival, would you consider me? I’m very interested in you.”There was no doubt now—it was Trent. How did he get her ID?Eulalia’s hands shook with nerves, her fingers trembling like those of someone with Parkinson's disease, the harsh light above making her eyes hurt.She finally clicked "accept."It seeme
“Meow~”The eight-month-old Ragdoll cat had grown to weigh about 10 kilograms. Ms. Hayak had kept its fur spotless, and those blue eyes looked super well-behaved when staring at someone.Ragdoll cats are really friendly with people. Even faced with Percival, who always looks gloomy, the cat would still come over and rub her head against him, leaving her hair all over him before sauntering away leisurely.Right now, Percival was scrolling through photos of Eulalia on his phone, and the Ragdoll cat came over to peek, jumped onto the back of the sofa, and pawed at Percival’s shoulder.Percival, who once hated pets and wouldn’t even touch them, now didn’t mind at all being stepped on by the cat. He reached out to rub the cat’s head and then turned around, hugged the cat into his arms, and pointed at Eulalia’s photo on the phone, saying, “Soon, your mom will be back.”The Ragdoll cat nuzzled the phone and gave a soft meow.---“Eulalia, stop right there!”Eulalia didn’t dare to stop. She r
“When you told me that this child was an accident and shouldn’t have come into this world, I thought it was you who shouldn’t have been born. Your mother should have killed you in her womb, or taken you with her when she died,” Eulalia’s voice was icy.“You deserve to be parentless and unloved!”Words, such potent tools, can express love deeply but can also cut sharply when used to hurt someone, like a dagger that can stab and leave a person bleeding profusely.Once deeply in love, these two now pressured each other with the most venomous words. If she had a dagger in her hand, she would not hesitate to thrust it into his chest.Percival inhaled deeply, trying to calm his chaotic emotions, but it was futile; his blood felt frozen. The repressed feelings seemed to have no outlet.Had anyone else spoken to him like that, he would have slapped them hard, the kind that could cripple or kill.The death of his parents was a wound that never healed, even after so many years. Just thinking ab
There's this saying, right? If someone truly loves you, you can't get away, unless they let you go.So, did Percival not letting her go mean he really loved her? Could love involve hurting her? Could love look at her with such cruel eyes? Could love want to kill their child?Her eyes swelled with tears because of the stress, tears streaming down her face.Percival watched her tear-stained face expressionlessly, his grip unyielding until a bodyguard injected Eulalia in the wrist. Only then did he relax a bit.Soon after the injection, Eulalia’s consciousness blurred, her limbs numbed, and she couldn’t even shout for help. Keeping her eyes open was all the strength she could muster.Percival scooped up the limp Eulalia, then instructed the bodyguard to tidy up the room inside.Eulalia's tears flowed helplessly, her voice trembling, "Let me go, Percival, please let me go..." Her voice was faint, squeezed out as if from her throat, barely audible.Her weak voice was so low, Percival almos
#Barry AnimalAbuse#This trending topic suddenly appeared at the top of social media.Barry rubbed her eyes, wondering if she was hallucinating from stress or if there was an issue with her phone. Hadn't Evette just told her on the call that #Eulalia AnimalAbuse# was trending? Why was she seeing something different?Barry's heart pounded, and a growing sense of unease filled her. She carefully opened her eyes again and looked at her phone. Nothing had changed from what she saw earlier, except the trending topic kept rising in popularity.Barry's face went pale, and her breath grew cold. Though autumn hadn't arrived yet, she felt a winter chill. The air entering her nose felt like icy vapor, freezing her heart. The cold sensation spread down her spine.How could this be happening?Why was it completely different from what Evette had said?Didn't Evette say Eulalia was trending? Why was she herself the top trend instead?Though animal abuse wasn't technically illegal, and what's done wa
Victor's large, warm hands enveloped Eulalia's cold ones completely.Victor was the golden boy, a perfect specimen in the entertainment world. This perfection wasn't just about his looks, but also his voice and his very soul.They say that pretty faces are a dime a dozen, while fascinating souls are one in a million. Victor had both.Those who knew him well were aware of his quirks - he could be a total dork sometimes, clueless about romance despite being overly narcissistic. His face would betray his Evettery emotion, and his ears would wiggle when he got cocky. For all his self-admiration, he'd turn beet red whenEvetter his crush was near.With Eulalia, he was gentle, wanting to get close but afraid of scaring her off. When she was in trouble, he stood firmly by her side, even if she didn't spare him a glance.Victor's affection for Eulalia was obvious, but his approach was cautious.Eulalia watched his lips move, his soft voice reaching her ears like a gentle breeze, slowly soothin
Eulalia gently stroked the singed fur of the ragdoll cat, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. Her gray eyes were filled with moisture, stinging painfully.Her eyes were either unable to cry or unable to stop once they started. Now they seemed almost blind with grief. She tilted her head back, veins bulging in her neck, mouth slightly open and eyes tightly shut as she let out a hoarse, anguished cry.Her choked, raspy voice was broken, like a rusty knife scraping against a whetstone - so harsh and painful to hear that it made one's heart clench.Victor's eyes were red too, but he turned away silently. He couldn't show any weakness, afraid he wouldn't be able to support Eulalia if he did.Kneeling on the ground, Eulalia slowly scattered dirt over Misty's body, burying her until she was no longer visible. Eulalia's thin frame shook violently, her fragmented sobs growing from quiet to loud as her grief reached its peak.Eulalia had never imagined she could feel heartbreak like t
As much as she wanted to block out the world, cruel voices kept invading Eulalia's ears. Misty wasn't just a cat; she had saved Eulalia's life. They had promised to be together forever. Misty was family, a lifeline in her darkest moments, a light in the shadows.Eulalia's voice was hoarse, her tear-choked words barely intelligible as she called out "Misty" over and over. The pain in her chest was unbearable, desperately needing something to fill the void. Her grip on Victor's shirt loosened as she clutched Misty's collar tightly to her heart."Eulalia," Victor whispered. The girl in his arms was ice-cold, shivering uncontrollably. Her anguished sobs had faded to quiet whimpers.Even after crying her heart out, Eulalia wasn't feeling any better. Her veins were bulging, her temples throbbing. Her body alternated between freezing shivers and feverish heat, her back burning and itching.Victor's heart clenched. He opened his mouth, but no words of comfort came out.Kneeling down, Victor g
Eulalia's hands trembled as she reached out to touch Misty's wounded body. Her hands came away bloody. Ropes had cut deeply into Misty's limbs, and blood covered the cat's body, tail, paws, and head."Misty..." Eulalia's eyes were terrifyingly red, dry from the intensity of her grief. The pain was so extreme she couldn't even cry.In a daze, Eulalia somehow managed to untie the ropes binding Misty. All she could see were the burn wounds on Misty's skin and the blood oozing from four small punctures in the cat's mouth. Misty's sharpest fangs had been viciously pulled out. How much agony had Misty endured?"Misty, I'm here now. Look at me. Didn't we promise to always be together?" Eulalia's body shook as she cradled the bloodied cat. "I'll cancel all my work... I'll stay by your side from now on. I'll never leave you with anyone else again. Please, just hang on a little longer..."Misty lay in Eulalia's arms, struggling to open her eyes at the sound of Eulalia's voice.It's Eulalia... E
Barry noticed the collar around the cat's neck and tried to cut it off with a knife, but it wouldn't budge. Frustrated, she gave up—she couldn’t waste time on a collar.Gripping the cat's jaw, she forced its mouth open, grabbing its sharp teeth with pliers. "You want to bite me? I’ll pull out every last tooth and see if you try that again."Misty trembled, lying helpless on the ground, bound and unable to move. After all, it was just a cat—no way to beg for mercy.Barry's eyes darkened, and with a sharp tug, a sickening crack rang out, like bones being torn from flesh. Misty's scream filled the air."Meow..." Blood spilled from the cat's mouth, staining its once-pristine fur. Misty lay there, defeated, and in that moment, all it could think about was Eulalia."I just wanted to spend more time with you... I wanted to see you again…"...After dinner, Eulalia was told to get ready for the next scene. She glanced at the door, feeling uneasy—Jane hadn't returned yet. Eulalia called her, a
Eulalia took the phone Jane handed her and attached the tracking device to Misty’s collar. “Misty's well-behaved; she won't run off.” “I know, but just in case… too many people dislike me. If they can’t get to me, they might target Misty. A tracker at least adds some safety.” Eulalia focused on the device, missing the brief flicker in Jane’s expression. Jane pressed her lips together, hesitating like she wanted to say something, but held back. “All done,” Eulalia returned the phone, noticing Jane still looked tense. She ruffled her hair. “If something’s on your mind, tell me, don’t bottle it up.” “I…” Jane started, then glanced at Misty in her arms, “I’m fine, really.” “Alright, if you say so.” Eulalia could sense something off, but couldn’t quite place it. Maybe Jane had issues at home these past few days. It wasn’t her place to pry if Jane didn’t want to talk.Just then, Reid called, telling Eulalia to get ready for her scenes. The day was packed with her shoot, and wrap
Percival’s heart felt like it was being pierced by a thousand arrows at the thought of Eulalia in bed with Victor. It was only 1 a.m. when he glanced at the clock, and he reached under his pillow for the wedding photo of him and Eulalia. In the picture, she smiled cautiously, her dimples soft, eyes gentle. The photo wasn’t big, but he pressed it to his chest alongside the well-worn journal he often read, then lay back down.That night, he didn’t dream. But when he woke, his eyes were damp, his face sticky with tears that left his skin stinging.As a cancer patient, Percival's body was weak, and he often caught colds easily. The open window and a night of cold wind, combined with the emotional breakdown after seeing the picture Victor posted, left him feverish.The housekeeper was the first to notice and rushed to inform Mr. Lee, who promptly called for a doctor. The doctor came, measured Percival's temperature, and set up an IV. But as the doctor tried to insert the needle, he noticed
Eulalia had never seen a post about herself deleted so quickly before.She sat cradling Misty in one arm, absently fingering the tag on the cat's collar. After a few minutes, her phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number:"Eulalia, I don't want you as a replacement anymore. Stay by my side and I can protect you. Percival is ruthless - if you want a better life, stay far away from that madman."Eulalia frowned as she read the message. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard to reply "Go to hell," but she thought better of it and deleted the draft. There was nothing worth saying to someone like Trent. She blocked the number and set up a custom auto-reply instead.Meanwhile, Trent was anxiously awaiting Eulalia's response. He thought he had made himself clear - surely the small-town girl would get the hint. But after half an hour of silence, doubt crept in. Had she not seen the message? Or was she too afraid to reply?He sent another text:"If you come back to me obediently, I'm will