Eulalia was shaking all over, leaning against the wall to keep herself upright. She had suspected that her father's death had something to do with Percival, but she never knew the truth could be so brutal."Sacrifice," she thought, the word echoing in her mind. The price was too high. She had gambled everything on an unknown outcome, and now she had lost it all.Evadne, taking pleasure in Eulalia's misery, sneered: "Eulalia, admit it, you're a losing bargain! You deserve this! Without the Clearwater family, you're worse than a beggar, just a stray dog!"Eulalia looked at her with disdain, then raised her hand and slapped her hard across the face. The sound echoed through the empty living room. She used all her strength, and Evadne, caught off guard, fell to the ground."You hit me? Do you believe I'll tell..." Evadne began, but Eulalia slapped her again before she could finish."Hit you? I should have slapped you twice yesterday. You made me suffer for nothing," Eulalia said, her eyes
Eulalia had the urge to run away, but where could she escape to? The entire city was under Percival's control. She feared that before she could even get in a car, she would be bound and sent back, and the cost of being sent back might be something she couldn't bear.Besides... she had a brother.Her death wouldn't matter; she had been living with that thought for over a year. But she feared dragging others into her mess.Percival knew what she feared most. As long as he grasped her weakness, she was like a kite in his hands. No matter how high or far she flew, a gentle tug would pull her back.Eulalia couldn't eat, her mind preoccupied, but her stomach couldn't bear the hunger. She boiled two eggs and took them to her bedroom to eat.The eggs in her hand went from scalding hot to icy cold, and she waited from day to night. Finally, the sound of a car came from downstairs.A beam of light gradually illuminated the night. Eulalia sat on the edge of her bed, her gaze shifting from the wi
Eulalia had thought of many outcomes, but she never expected Percival to mock and ridicule her so openly to defend Evadne.Her heart was numb with pain, but the discomfort was unbearable. Eulalia coughed twice, wiping the blood from her hand on her clothes, thankful that she was wearing a black jacket that wouldn't show the stain.“If you can’t keep your mouth shut, you deserve a slap, right? That’s what you always told me, Percival. Don’t even talk about two slaps; you’ve hit me way more than that. What I did to her doesn’t even compare to a fraction of what you’ve done to me.” Eulalia leaned back against the bed, struggling to push herself up. Her body wobbled, but she managed to stay on her feet.Percival’s slap had been harder than ever, leaving her bleeding from her nose and mouth, her head still spinning.Percival ignored Eulalia’s pale face. He knew her tricks, always playing sick to gain sympathy. He’d fallen for it once, but not again!People are like that; once deceived, the
The temperature plummeted as night wore on, and Eulalia shivered, curling into a ball on the floor. The cold was biting, but there was something else: pain. Her stomach was in agony again. She breathed on her palms to warm them, clutching her stomach, but nothing could ease the pain.Her medicine was just inside a drawer, but with her left hand cuffed, she couldn't reach it. She struggled to free herself, only to chafe her wrist.Eulalia peered inside, biting her lip, then pulled a boiled egg from her pocket. Thankfully, she had prepared it earlier, so she wouldn't have to resort to chewing on toilet paper to fill her stomach like last time.She cracked the egg with one hand, slowly peeling and eating it. People with stomach issues usually avoid the yolk, but she had no choice. It was dry and hard to swallow. Eulalia's eyes fixed on the washroom, longing for water.Would she die of thirst this time?Eulalia gave a bitter smile. Percival's methods of tormenting her were endless and nev
Percival got back at ten in the morning, his mind heavy with worry about Eulalia. He didn't dare lock her up for too long, haunted by the memory of what had happened last time.Once home, he played out various scenes in his head: Eulalia tearfully apologizing, or maybe still stubbornly refusing to admit she was wrong. But what he found instead was a nightmare he hadn't even considered—a floor splattered with blood and no sign of Eulalia anywhere.A strange panic seized him, his heart feeling like it was missing a piece. It was like losing a favorite childhood toy and never finding it again.The villa was eerily silent. He shouted Eulalia's name, his voice echoing through the empty rooms, answered only by silence.He stepped over shattered glass on the balcony, bending down to remove the blood-stained handcuffs still attached to the railing. They felt rusty, like old iron.When had Eulalia disappeared? There were no security cameras in the villa. The quickest way to find her would be t
"I used to think I was the type to love forever, you know? The kind who'd keep going even if I hit a wall. But now..." Eulalia's voice trailed off, and she chuckled, "I've realized that even love can wear thin."Why had she fallen for Percival? She remembered reading something online once.When you fall for someone, you see them shining like a beacon, and you're drawn to them like a moth to a flame. But if they never respond, that light dims, and they become just another speck in the universe. You try to remember how they once shone, but you can't. You realize that the light was just a reflection in your eyes the first time you saw them.For her, that light was Percival, sixteen years ago, carrying her home.But that light had lingered in her eyes for far too long."Why do you want him to fall for you? Haven't you figured it out after four years? Percival's a cold fish. He'll never love you. Don't waste your time on him," Orian's words stung."It's not a waste. I don't have much time
Eulalia was like a broken tape recorder, speaking in fits and starts. Maybe even she didn't know what she was saying. Her mind was a mess, but her heart was even messier.Her words were like pebbles thrown into Percival's calm lake of a heart, causing ripples that quickly smoothed over.For some reason, Percival's heart ached. He looked at Eulalia but saw Evadne's face in his mind. What was Eulalia compared to that? Why should he be afraid of her hypothetical scenarios?The room was warm, bathed in bright sunlight that seemed to sweep away all the shadows in the corners. Despite the warmth, Percival broke into a cold sweat.He suddenly stood up, gripping Eulalia's thin chin. "Trying to gain my sympathy? You think a few words can make up for your past mistakes?"Eulalia paused for a second and then smiled. "You saw through me, huh?"Half of her face was in shadow, making her expression elusive.So it was true! Percival felt relieved to have his suspicions confirmed. He wanted to scold
“Look, I’m not opposed to you going out to work,” Percival finally relented. “Just make sure you prepare breakfast and dinner for me, just like you used to, according to my tastes.”Eulalia knew there had to be a catch. “And what if I don’t agree?”“Then don’t even think about stepping out,” Percival said, fully aware that Eulalia had grown more defiant. Taming her wouldn’t happen overnight. “You know I can make it happen.”In a way, Percival, a man who had little regard for the law, could indeed make it happen. Unless, of course, he went bankrupt like her, which was highly unlikely.“Why don’t you just have Evadne cook for you? She seemed to be quite to your taste at the dinner table last time. Why not let her do it?”Percival replied nonchalantly, “Got tired of it. Want to switch it up. You better do a good job, or I’ll lock you up for good.”She was already close to her breaking point; being locked up would just drive her insane.“You’re so picky,” Eulalia retorted.“So, are you do
#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