Eulalia found herself running dangerously low on funds. Sarah, sensing her friend’s financial strain, cautiously broached the subject, “Do you want to visit him after the surgery is done?”“No, I’d rather not,” Eulalia responded, her voice tinged with a sadness she couldn’t quite mask. “Of all the people Benedict would want to see right now, I’m probably at the bottom of that list.”She paused, contemplating her next words carefully. “People are at their most vulnerable right after surgery. The last thing I want to do is add more stress to his already fragile state.”“Could you arrange for a dedicated nurse to look after him? As for the medical expenses, I won’t be covering those. Benedict got ten million from Cassius just last week. He should be fine.”“But if he does run out of money,” she added, almost as an afterthought, “give me a call.”
Percival shot Oliver a glance, his eyes icy and unreadable. Oliver met his gaze and felt a shiver run down his spine. He tightened his shoulders, trying to shake off the unease. “Do you think we should explain things to Eulalia?” he ventured, attempting to change the subject.“Explain what?” Percival’s voice was as cold as his gaze.“That you didn’t actually chop off her brother’s hand, obviously,” Oliver replied, his voice tinged with nervousness.Percival squinted, his eyes narrowing. “She’s already convinced that I did it. What good would explaining do?” He paused, reflecting on his own actions. “I guess I’ve brought this upon myself. If I hadn’t been using her brother Benedict as a threat against her all this time, she wouldn’t have jumped to such conclusions.”Oliver nodded, sensing the weight of Percival’s regret. “Why don’t you have someone investigate who actually did it?”“Alright, I’ll get on it,” Oliver said, preparing to leave the room.“Wait,” Percival interrupted, his fa
“He’s got a wife at home but still plays the field? And that’s not enough, he wants his wife to legally transfer their child to his mistress?”Percival’s gaze remained steady, unfazed. He had anticipated that Eulalia would release this video.His eyes deepened, intrigued, as he glanced at Eulalia. “What does a video prove? It was a heated moment, and the woman beside me is just my sister—my mom’s goddaughter. If the judge doesn’t believe me, she can testify herself. I’ve brought her here.”Eulalia’s breathing became labored, as if the oxygen had been sucked out of the room. Her face paled under the lights. She hadn’t expected Percival to bring Evadne to court to testify that he hadn’t cheated, let alone use the excuse of a “god-sister.”All eyes turned to a secluded corner where Evadne stood up, her voice hoarse: “Yes, there’s nothing inappropriate
Killing a person is nothing but the execution of the heart, and Percival’s goal was to make her watch as the people by her side betrayed her one by one, abandoned her, and discarded her.Percival relished the thought of her stepping deeper into quagmires, struggling for her last breaths, and finally being dragged into the endless abyss of hell.From start to finish, she was the sole tragic character in a farce that played out thoroughly.The judge finally withdrew Eulalia’s appeal, advising her to stay with Percival and take care of her health.How could she possibly recover? A tumultuous surge of blood and breath choked her throat, Eulalia unable to discern if it was her heart aching or her stomach that hurt more.The judge’s retraction of the divorce was expected by Percival but not by Eulalia.No one anticipated that Percival could be so ruthless, countering move for move with traps more lethal than the last, like heavy shackles on Eulalia that she could not avoid. From the very be
People who don’t listen need to be tied up like dogs.Percival had truly seen Eulalia as a person before, wanting to treat her well, but she didn’t appreciate it, insisting on defying and challenging his limits.He had said that if she insisted on divorcing him and failed, she would have to bear the consequences.Percival picked up the iron chain from the bed, a pinky-thick and quite heavy one that Eulalia couldn’t break no matter how hard she struggled—unless she cut off her own foot.Percival pursed his lips slightly, a sinister glint passing through his eyes. He was a man of his word; locking up Eulalia wasn’t just talk.Eulalia was too disobedient. To tame her, he had to use the most brutal methods—whatever worked best to grind down her rebellious spirit.After cleaning the room and finishing her IV drip, Percival carried Eulalia in his arms to the third floor via the elevator and carefully placed her on the bed, then tethered the chain to her ankle....When Eulalia woke up, it w
“Unlock the chains from my feet,” she demanded.Percival scoffed, “Eulalia, did you really take my earlier warning for a joke?”Eulalia’s grip on her phone tightened, the knuckles turning white as her body shook. Taking a deep breath, her voice raspy, she said, “Percival, you’ve already confined me to Repulse Bay; where could I possibly run off to?”“You won’t get away, but I relish fulfilling my promise to keep you tethered. To err is to be punished, a concept even a child understands,” Percival stated maliciously. “Since you consider my words empty, brace yourself to be treated less than human, locked in a ‘cage’ with chains. How do you like that?”Eulalia’s face drained of color, her lips a purplish hue, as the butler watched her body shift from slight tremors to violent shudders, barely able to stand.With a slight turn of her head, Eulalia looked out the glass to the sky. Now, chained like this, she couldn’t leave, nor could she die. She suddenly accepted this reality, her spirit
“Are you trying to strangle me in the middle of the night, Eulalia?”Percival took a deep breath and called out, “Bring up the food!”Soon,the maid delivered a bowl of porridge. Percival took it and crouched down, scooping up a half spoonful to feed Eulalia. His voice softened, “Eat, it’s not hot.”The porridge was a nutritious, easily digestible mix, cooked until soft with bits of minced meat. Eulalia pressed her bloodless lips tightly shut, refusing to open her mouth or speak, just like a soulless puppet, exactly as the butler had described.Percival, in a foul mood and lacking patience, forcibly opened her mouth to feed her. The warmth of the porridge and the sharp taste of the meat made Eulalia’s stomach revolt, urging her to vomit.Satisfied when she swallowed, Percival’s lips curled into a smile. But before he could “praise” her, she threw up.The white, creamy porridge
Eulalia was in agony, her jaw nearly dislocated, tears uncontrollably dropping from her half-closed eyes. Her grip on the iron chain did not loosen but tightened as if she intended to crush it.Percival frowned, his hand loosening as he released her, “Why the tears? You’re so scared of just the thought of killing me? If you’re this afraid, why even entertain the thought?”Eulalia collapsed on the bed, unable to control her tear glands, hating herself for being so powerless that she couldn’t even harm the person who hurt her. When Eulalia cried, it was with a pursed mouth and clenched teeth, stifling her sobs until they became choking gasps, which was agonizing to hear.Percival pried Eulalia’s hand off the chain and tucked her into the blanket.Eulalia continued to cry, the recent events haunting her like a nightmare.Percival felt a pang in his heart watching her cry, turning on the light and carefully wiping her face with a tissue.Her courage was like that of a cat, bold enough to
#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