Percival carried the dishes to the dining table. It was just the two of them for dinner, with Mabel's portion set aside. To Percival, this seemed superfluous; servants usually had their meals prepared separately.Percival picked up his utensils and sampled the boiled greens. The dish appeared simple but was actually a test of culinary skill. Undercook it, and it would taste bitter; overcook it, and it would lose its flavor. He took a bite and found it perfectly cooked. The taste was refreshing, and the broth was delicious. This was his first time tasting Eulalia's cooking, and he was pleasantly surprised. It was as if she had tailored the dish to his palate.The thought that he had never tasted any of Eulalia's cooking in the past four years filled him with a tinge of regret. But then again, it wasn't too late.Percival then picked up a piece of the sweet and sour rib. It was boneless, and a single bite released a burst of tangy and savory juices. It was appetizing.Usually, Percival
Eulalia curled up under the blanket, her eyes stinging from the pungent smell of antiseptic.Percival didn't know what to say. After applying the medicine, he picked up his pajamas and headed into the bathroom.The sound of running water filled the room. Struggling, Eulalia sat up to grab some pills from the drawer. She didn't even bother with water, just dry-swallowed them.Percival was quick in the bathroom. He came out in less than ten minutes, got into bed, and pulled Eulalia into his arms, blanket and all.Feeling uncomfortable with his assertive embrace, Eulalia shifted a bit and finally said, somewhat annoyed, "Can you sleep in another room?""Where should I sleep?"Eulalia looked drained. "There are plenty of rooms. If you can't find one, go sleep in Evadne's room. You slept just fine there the night before last, didn't you?""When did I ever sleep in her room?"Eulalia tensed up, almost imperceptibly. So Percival hadn't slept with Evadne? Then what about the marks on Evadne's
After moving back into the villa, Eulalia started job hunting. Weirdly enough, she applied to over a dozen companies online and didn't hear back from a single one.She couldn't help but wonder if there was some glitch in the system. Early in the morning, Eulalia made breakfast and changed into formal attire.Percival came downstairs for breakfast and saw her all dressed up. "You heading out?" he asked."Job interviews," Eulalia replied, sipping her porridge.Percival almost forgot about Eulalia's plans to work. Hadn't he asked Oliver to handle it? Why would anyone still call her for interviews?After a quick glance at the time, Eulalia hurriedly finished her porridge and left. Percival watched her go, then called Oliver, instructing him to keep an eye on her and make sure she didn't find a job.Oliver found Percival's behavior puzzling and, as an observer, quite off-putting.Eulalia was a 24-year-old adult. Keeping her cooped up at home would eventually ruin her ability to function in
Eulalia felt a dull ache in her abdomen, as if something was moving inside. She rushed to the bathroom and froze when she saw the blood on her pants.Is it my period? Eulalia's cycle was irregular, and she realized it had been a while since her last one. No wonder it hurt so much this time.She put on a pad and filled her hot water bottle, placing it next to her belly. But the pain was unbearable. She quickly took two strong painkillers to finally suppress the cramps.Curled up in bed, she felt drained, unable to focus.Mabel came upstairs to check on her. "Eulalia, are you okay? Should I call a doctor?""No need," Eulalia rasped, clutching her blanket. "It's just my period. I'll be fine in a couple of days."Mabel nodded and left, gently closing the door behind her.Not long after, footsteps approached again. The door opened. Eulalia assumed it was Mabel and didn't bother to look.It wasn't until a shadow loomed over her that she sensed something was off. She turned her eyes and met
"You were pinching my mouth shut. How could I speak?" Eulalia looked at the painkillers in the vomit on the floor, wondering if they'd still be effective.Leaning weakly against Percival, she softly said, "If you really care about me, just let me sleep."Percival looked at Eulalia, her eyes downcast, curled up in his arms like a cat seeking affection.The mess from her vomiting was not just on him but also on the bed and her. The smell still lingered.Disgusted, he said, "Clean yourself up first. I'll have Mabel come in and clean the room."Eulalia felt cold and weak, her face as pale as paper, her eyes misty. She looked so pitiable that it was hard not to want to hold her close and comfort her.Hesitating for a moment, Percival began to undress her.Eulalia felt so unwell that she couldn't even muster the energy to resist. She was limp in Percival's arms, like a dying cat.He easily stripped her and carried her into the bathroom to soak in hot water.The moment she was submerged, she
Percival didn't know much about diets, so Dr. Kruso thought for a moment and replied, "I'll prepare a meal plan and send it to your email.""Mm."Percival called Mabel over and handed her the list of herbs. "Go to the herbal medicine shop tomorrow and prepare these for Eulalia. Make sure you keep an eye on her."Eulalia hated anything bitter. She wouldn't even take Western medicine, let alone the dark, mysterious Chinese herbs. If Mabel wasn't careful, Eulalia would probably dump it all down the sink.Dr. Kruso glanced at the time. "Mr. Dunraven, I'll be heading out now."Percival nodded and instructed Mabel, "Mabel, please see Dr. Kruso out."The room emptied, and Percival went to chat with Evadne for a bit. After calming her down, he returned to Eulalia's room.When people get sick, even the strongest show a bit of vulnerability. Like Eulalia now. The room was too quiet, lit only by a dim wall lamp.She had been holding up okay until Percival's fussing—throwing up, seeing the doctor
"Do you want to go?" Percival asked."Yeah." Eulalia put away her expression, looked at Percival with wide-open eyes, and didn't say a word of flattery. But her eyes were already pleading.Percival couldn't resist her gaze and put down his phone. "Behave and take your medicine for the next few days, and I'll let you go.""Are you for real this time?" She had been tricked by Percival before and always double-checked.Percival touched her forehead lightly. "Yes, I won't lie to you this time."Eulalia couldn't figure out what Percival was thinking. One moment he wouldn't let her go out, the next he agreed. She felt uneasy, thinking his mood swings were faster than an opera face change."Let's sleep, it's late."Percival turned off the light and got into bed, wrapping his arms around Eulalia. He agreed to let her go to the orphanage not out of pity, but because he thought she'd be less resistant to having kids if she spent more time around them.Two days later, the stuffed toys Eulalia ha
Eulalia felt awkward, her ears burning with embarrassment.Walking beside her, Vincent casually chimed in, "Yeah, I like her."The head of the orphanage burst into even more laughter. "Never thought Vincent would finally take an interest in girls. If only he were a bit smarter."Vincent frowned, his face stern. "I am smart."The head of the orphanage didn't take his words to heart. After all, he was a big goofball. Besides, what could possibly happen? Eulalia was a married young lady. How could she ever be interested in someone like him? What a pipe dream.Eulalia's eyes met Vincent's serious gaze, and her heart tightened. "Why... why are you looking at me like that?""You know my name, but I don't know yours."Eulalia sighed in relief; he was just asking for her name. "Eulalia.""Eulalia... Eulalia... Eulalia..."Vincent's voice was deep and magnetic, like a cello playing a haunting melody. It made her heart race.Eulalia cursed herself for being so easily swayed by a stranger's voic
#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