Evadne stood under the sun, holding a thermal lunch box. Her face was flushed from the heat. When she saw Percival come out, her eyes couldn’t hide her joy, but she tried her best to suppress it.“Percy, I made some soup for you and Eulalia. It’s got your favorite veggies in it.”Percival looked her up and down before finally resting his gaze on the lunch box she was holding. It looked heavy.He took it from her. “You don’t have to bring this over anymore.”“I was worried you wouldn’t like takeout.”He’d been eating Eulalia’s cooking for a few days and had gotten used to it. Takeout just didn’t cut it anymore. But he couldn’t afford to be picky now. Besides, Evadne’s cooking wasn’t much better than takeout. It was a waste of time.Percival was a rational guy, good at time management and planning his day. To others, this made him seem cold and unlikable.“Do you want to come in for a bit?” Percival noticed the sweat on her forehead.Evadne forced a smile. “I’d better not. Eulalia might
Eulalia had been in a bad mental state for the past few weeks, mostly lost in a foggy illusion. She saw her deceased father and the unborn child she lost. Every time she thought about it, the pain was unbearable, so much so that she even considered ending her life during her therapy sessions.All this agony was brought on by Percival. She had initially planned to use the remaining year of her life to get back at him, but the man was like a fortress—impenetrable. Even with her burning resolve, she couldn’t melt his icy heart.She had overestimated herself and underestimated Percival’s cold-heartedness. She foolishly thought she could warm his heart with her touch, only to find out that Percival had no heart to begin with.“Percival, I owe you nothing. Or rather, I’ve paid back whatever I owed you, with interest,” Eulalia said.Percival acted as if he hadn’t heard her. “I know you resent me. I’ll make it
Percival could see that Eulalia was in a foul mood, so he changed the subject, "Do you want to hire a maid to take care of you, now that you're home alone?""I don't need one. I can take care of myself," Eulalia responded listlessly, sipping her soup with a lack of interest."You can choose the maid yourself. Having someone to talk to at home could be good for you." He genuinely cared for Eulalia's wellbeing, aware that her mental state hadn't fully recovered yet, displaying a tendency towards self-isolation that needed addressing.With his unavoidable obligations, he couldn't be by her side at all times. He hadn't been to his company for a month, leaving a pile of documents needing his signature and social obligations that required his presence.After her discharge from the hospital, Eulalia had changed; the once gentle and soft demeanor now occasionally erupted in unexplained fits of anger.Before her illness, a frustrated Eulalia would merely scoff at Percival, but now, she would r
Eulalia didn’t say a word, not even sparing Percival a glance.“Eulalia, didn’t you used to beg me to accompany you to social events?”“That was then,” she retorted.Back in the day, Eulalia was head over heels for Percival. Marrying him felt like hitting the jackpot, and she couldn’t wait to show him off everywhere they went.Eulalia thought her words would anger Percival. To her surprise, he stared at her for a moment, his expression unreadable, before breaking into a gentle smile. “There’s a bidding event next week. You’re coming with me.”It wasn’t a request but a firm command, a way to quash her momentary rebellious streak.Percival, accustomed to wielding power, believed that a firm hand was needed when dealing with people like Eulalia. A slap followed by a sugar cube, so to speak. If that didn’t work, he’d keep slapping until it did. After all, who doesn’t remember pain?Eulalia shot Percival a sidelong glance, catching a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes.As they got out of the
(Content Advisory: The concluding section of this chapter includes graphic depictions of violence involving a rat.)Upon hearing that it was just some worthless fool, Percival couldn’t help but snort. “What kind of waves can a fool make?”Still, he didn’t like the way Vincent was looking at Eulalia. That gaze felt like someone was peeping into his hidden treasures, and just with that look, he felt like Eulalia was tainted.Vincent happily took the cake, but his mood plummeted when he saw that every kid around had one. He thought Eulalia had brought it just for him.Vincent had so much to say to Eulalia but didn’t know where to start. He was socially awkward due to his years of loneliness.Eulalia looked more worn out than before. He wondered what had happened during the month she was missing. Was she sick? Hospitalized?Before he could ask, he felt a piercing, icy gaze. Looking up, he met Percival’s
The scissors were all rusty, uncomfortable to hold, and slightly prickly against the palm. Vincent stepped on therat, his eyes turning icy. With a swift jab, he plunged the rusty scissors into the rat’s neck. Surprisingly, the worn-out tool pierced right through the rodent’s head, leaving a pool of blood.Vincent stared at the dead rat beneath his foot, his expression turning sinister.Eulalia, witnessing this, felt a chill run up her spine. It was eerie.Vincent emotionlessly picked up the dead rat with the scissors and tossed it into a trash can.He turned back to Eulalia, his menacing aura vanishing, replaced by his usual goofy demeanor. ”Lala, anything you’re afraid of, I can take care of for you. People included.”Eulalia saw a glint of something dark in his eyes. She couldn’t understand why Vincent could exude such a terrifying aura. A flash of fear crossed her mind.It was as if she had accidentally opened a cage, and inside was a ferocious beast now eyeing her intently.The ne
Percival didn’t ask any more questions. He already knew the specifics of where they met and how from his therapist.Eulalia’s reluctance to bring it up was a good thing, he thought. He was afraid that talking about it might trigger something for her.“Eulalia, my memory isn’t the best, and I’ve forgotten a lot from the past. But I promise to treat you well from now on. Let’s not keep looking back, okay? Let the past be the past...”“What right do you have to talk to me about the future, Percival? Some things can’t just be brushed off with a simple ‘let it go’!”If people could just say ‘let it go’ and everything would be fine, what would be the point of laws? Percival was the last person who had the right to say that.She was grateful for their encounter sixteen years ago, but now she regretted it too. She didn’t understand why loving someone had to be this pa
Percival’s way of comforting people is like how you’d soothe a kitten or a puppy. To him, Eulalia’s furious outbursts are as harmless as a puff of air.“Who’s making a fuss with you?”“Alright, alright, you’re not fussing. Let’s eat. If you don’t want the candied hawthorns, fine, I won’t buy them for you anymore.” He had thought Eulalia really liked them.---Percival didn’t insist on taking Eulalia to a movie. Seeing that she wasn’t feeling great after dinner and seemed sleepy, he just took her home.As soon as they got in the car, she leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. Her drowsiness was a side effect of the medication prescribed by her psychiatrist. Taking too much of it wasn’t good for her health, but without it, she couldn’t manage her condition. It’s a catch-22; the medicine is a necessary evil that she has to gradually reduce.She didn’t wake up even when they got home. Percival was about to carry her inside when his fingers barely touched her waist, and she woke up.
#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