“Sir Madam, she’s...” Ms. Jonas choked out, struggling to continue. Her mouth trembled, and even her breathing was filled with sobs.“What happened to her?” Percival asked cautiously, as if touching a spiderwebbed mirror that would shatter with the slightest force.“Madam is in trouble. There was a fire at the villa, and she was burned alive inside... The first-floor bedroom collapsed, and she was trapped under the debris.”Percival’s eyes lost focus, and he stumbled, nearly freezing in the cold wind.He looked up at the sky, feeling snowflakes melting on his cheeks like scalding tears. His face was contorted with grief, his eyes bloodshot, and his expression frozen.Eulalia is dead? How could she die?He had tormented her, turned her into a vegetable, she jumped off a building, crashed her car, he had signed countless critical condition notices for her, and she survived every time. She was just months away from beating stomach cancer. How could she be dead?She must be mad at him for
Animals have a certain spirit to them. The firefighter stared in shock at the bloodied cat. Its front paws were torn open, flesh hanging off and bones visible underneath, but it seemed oblivious to the pain, desperately clawing at the debris.Many people watching felt tears well up.Suddenly, Misty, who had been frantically scratching at the ground, froze. A hand, wearing a bracelet Percival had given years ago, was uncovered. The bracelet’s lock, once sparkling with diamonds, was now tarnished, covered in blood and ashes.“Meow...” Misty nudged the hand with her head, as if wanting it to pet her again, but the hand remained motionless.Misty licked the bloodied fingers, then with trembling paws, reached for the charm on the wrist and tried to drag the person out with her mouth.But she was just a cat, and her strength was too small. Injured all over, she had no energy left. With the bracelet in her mouth, she let out a helpless, mournful cry, her blue eyes filled with tears.“There’s
Eulalia was always afraid of the cold, but she died in the snowy winter. She was terrified of pain, yet she burned for two whole hours in the fire...Percival’s face seemed frozen from the cold wind. Kneeling on the ground, he clutched her charred right wrist, his body trembling violently, repeatedly calling out her name, “Eulalia,” with tears mixing with the blood in his mouth and throat.He remembered Eulalia once telling him that blood and tears in the mouth for too long taste bitter. He hadn’t believed her...but now, experiencing it himself, he found it unbearably bitter. This was the bitterness Eulalia endured for seven years.No matter how many times he called, the woman lying on the ground wouldn’t respond.Pulling back his hand bitten by the cat, Misty tumbled to the ground, exhausted. Its beautiful eyes were half-closed with a misty white layer, gasping weakly.
“Percival, are you afraid I might just disappear?”“Are you afraid that one day you’ll hear nothing from me?”“Are you scared that the next time I’m in the hospital, you won’t get a critical condition notice but a death certificate?”“And when you see me again, it will only be a black and white photo?”“Percival, remember your words well—go crazy for a lifetime.”Percival had a long dream. Eulalia was struggling in the sea of fire, with scorching flames licking her feet. She writhed in pain on the floor, desperately pounding on the floor-to-ceiling window.Her fingers were bloodied, and the glass was smeared with blood, marks of her struggle before death. Percival wanted to rush in and save her, but he couldn’t even get close. An invisible barrier kept them apart.In his dream, the overwhelming heat blew against his face. He looked up at the sky, which seemed stained with blood. He knelt on the ground, crying his heart out, as if to drain every tear from his body.He reached out to gr
Her slender body was so cold, so frigid, cold as frost, biting into the bone, no matter how much he tried to warm her up, she just wouldn't get warm.Percival tenderly described Eulalia's features.Oliver stood off to the side, the morgue already dark and icy, the chill in the air made it hard not to be uneasy.Seeing Percival talking to a corpse like that, Oliver was spooked, a cold sweat breaking out on his back.The whole scene just looked so damn weird, Oliver felt like Percival had gone mad, his psyche shattered into insanity.Oliver was a bit superstitious, kind of a scaredy-cat, he'd never been this close to a dead body before, but looking at Eulalia, she didn't seem as scary as he'd imagined.He just felt a bit melancholy - just a couple weeks ago, Eulalia had been fine, and now she was a cold, lifeless corpse. Next time he saw her it would probably just be a pile of ashes, just like that four-month-old fetus they'd pulled out of her belly.Oliver felt a pang of guilt in his h
It's been 7 days since Eulalia died, and things are in chaos at the Clearwater residence.Oliver had the police bring the news of Eulalia's passing to the her family, so someone from there could come sign the death certificate and claim the body.Arranging Eulalia's remains was not just for Percival's sake, but for Eulalia's as well. Eulalia definitely wouldn't have wanted Percival to defile her body like that when she died.When the call came, Benedict was totally stunned. Eulalia died? That troublemaker, how could she be dead?Benedict didn't believe it. He stood there rigid, the color draining from his face as he held the phone.He hadn't been involved in Eulalia's affairs for a long time, to the point he almost forgot he even had a sister.How old was Eulalia anyway? Benedict couldn't recall. He only knew his mother had died 27 years ago.When Eulalia was living at home, he had cursed her with the most vicious words - a worthless life, a money-sucking parasite, a curse, someone wh
Orian's legs buckled for a moment, feeling like he was hallucinating...So not long after he left, Eulalia had filed for divorce from Percival because his dad lied in court that she was mentally ill and secretly transferred millions in marital assets? That's why she couldn't get divorced?Orian's ears were ringing, and his body swayed. While he was abroad working his ass off to try and save Eulalia, his own family was pushing her to the brink. Even calling for help was a luxury for her.In an instant, so many thoughts flooded Orian's mind. He didn't want to believe Benedict, but the avoidant looks from his parents and their refusal to discuss Eulalia after he returned home explained everything.Benedict stood there, neck strained and eyes blazing like an enraged lion. He grabbed Orian by the shirt. "You're right, I don't deserve to be her brother since I never accepted her. But what about you, Orian?"You think you treated Eulalia well? When she was desperately struggling and begging
"What?" Mrs. Blackwell looked confused and anxious, as if she didn't understand what her son Orian meant.Orian calmly took in her expression, then looked away coldly. "Eula's dead...Mom, are you satisfied now?""Mom, are you satisfied now?"Those words hit Mrs. Blackwell like an electric shock. Her fingertips trembled slightly and her eyes turned red."How could Eula die? How?" Mrs. Blackwell frantically asked over and over again from behind him.Orian turned around with his suitcase and paused. "People die. Three years ago, she was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer and didn't have long left. If I hadn't forced her to take the medication, she might not have lasted two years."Mrs. Blackwell's face turned pale. She let out a sob as tears streamed down, blurring her face. "She was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer three years ago? Why didn't she tell us?""Because she didn't want you to worry, so she told me to keep it a secret. Mom, Eula never wronged us, but what did ou
#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