And what about Aoife?
As a lover, she had no money, no house, and no social security.
Not only that, she had to serve Finn day and night, in the living room and in the kitchen, and even warm his bed at night.
From dawn till dusk, she catered to Finn’s every need, more like a maid than a lover. But even maids get paid and don’t have to sell their bodies.
In selling her body, she was no different from a plaything, simply put, she was a plaything not fit for the public eye.
Finn was a selfish and heartless man, wanting Aoife to bloom at home for him like a flower. But he forgot that his mother was once in the same position as Aoife.
Aoife’s path now was undoubtedly the same as that of his mother in the past, a path leading towards an inevitable demise.
Finn had thought about treating Aoife well, giving her money, buying her clothes and jewelry, but Aoife didn’t want any of it. She even worked in secret to pay him back.
Aoife and Elisa were alike in their useless dignity. What these women didn’t know was that dignity was often the first thing to be destroyed.
“A lover…” When Aoife heard these words, the last string in her mind snapped.
A lover, she realized, was all she was to Finn. She had always been his “lover” supported by him, only she hadn’t realized it until now… but now she saw.
When he got tired of her, who knew how long she would stay by his side.
In Aoife’s eyes, Finn was not a faithful man, especially since he didn’t love her. If he loved her, he wouldn’t insult her, expose her body in front of a camera, or ask her to be his “lover.” If he loved her, he wouldn’t make her suffer.
Everything he did now was because he felt displeased at losing control over her.
She was his toy, and when a toy was tossed aside, it was either old or broken. He was waiting for her to break.
At thirty, Finn was at an age where one should get married. Perhaps, when he was ready to marry, she could finally leave him for good.
She was a lover, Finn was her employer, and their relationship was neither here nor there. There was no need to be delusional about being devoted to each other.
Seeing Aoife silent, Finn thought he had hurt her pride again. He held her cold and stiff hand, feeling a twinge of discomfort. Just as he was about to take back his words, Aoife softly uttered a sound of agreement.
She agreed to be his lover; she had no pride left, all that she had was shattered by Finn, and she had no choice but to compromise.
What else could she do? She couldn’t escape. Did she really want those embarrassing videos and photos to be exposed for amusement?
Now she was Finn’s caged bird, chained to him. Wherever she flew, she was still in a cage.
Finn gently patted her back, trying to straighten her hunched spine little by little. “Let’s go to sleep.”
That night, Aoife hardly slept, staring in the direction of the window with red eyes. She gently took Finn’s hand off her waist.
Any movement from Aoife would startle Finn awake. He grabbed her hand, his voice hoarse as he asked, “Where are you going?”
“Preparing breakfast.” In the dim light, Aoife met Finn’s frantic gaze and paused before saying, “Just like before, nothing’s changed.”
She remembered the lesson from last night.
Finn breathed a sigh of relief, and the panic in his eyes disappeared like a mirage. Slowly, he let her go.
Aoife returned to her original room, everything was untouched, just as it was when she left. Her clothes were neatly hung in the wardrobe.
She felt pain, her movements slow, sometimes having to lean against the wall for support.
In the bathroom, when she saw herself in the mirror, Aoife was startled. Finn seemed to have left bruises on her neck as a mark. Even her nape had bite marks. She touched it, and the pain made her eyelids twitch.
Her skin was fair, making the injuries stand out. They wouldn’t fade for at least ten days.
Aoife lowered her gaze, a bitter smile forming on her lips. After splashing cold water on her face, she went downstairs.
When Aoife left, Finn slept restlessly, awake and sitting quietly on the edge of the bed.
He didn’t dream any strange dreams that night, finally able to sleep soundly.
Aoife woke up and prepared breakfast for Finn, as usual. Everything returned to normal, as if nothing had happened. It felt like the events of the previous night were just a nightmare.
Finn didn’t say a word, silently watching Aoife bustling about in the kitchen.
She remembered what he said last night, trying her best to be good to him, to prepare breakfast as she used to.
In late autumn, the temperature difference between day and night was significant. Evenings were chilly, while daytime was hot. Surprisingly, Aoife wore a turtleneck sweater, long-sleeved top and pants, covering herself tightly.
She also wore an apron, the strings tied tightly around her waist. Her movements were sluggish, and upon closer inspection, her legs trembled slightly. With one hand supporting herself on the countertop, the other held a spoon.
Finn’s gaze lingered on Aoife as she bent over, her clothes rising with her movements, revealing a glimpse of her waist and the two seductive dimples, sparkling white.
Finn felt a surge of heat in his heart at the sight, thinking to himself, provoking so early in the morning.
After the chicken soup simmered, Aoife was about to turn off the heat when a pair of hands wrapped around her waist from behind.
Aoife suddenly stopped, a flicker of panic in her eyes. She quickly composed herself, looking down and saying, “Breakfast is ready.”
Finn lowered his head, resting his chin on her shoulder, and embraced her waist, swaying gently.
“Provoking me so early in the morning.” His voice was dark and magnetic, filled with desire. Not just physical, but emotional too. His heart had never been so calm, wanting this to continue.
He regretted not having Aoife earlier, wasting so much time.
At his words, Aoife’s eyes widened, her voice trembling. “I didn’t…”
“No, you did.” Finn childishly argued, “Flaunting yourself in front of me, showing off your waist.”
As Aoife instinctively reached back, Finn stopped her, forcibly turning her around to face him.
Suddenly lifted up, Finn held her waist and sat her on the countertop. Aoife struggled to get down.
“Don’t move, if you keep moving, be careful, I…” Finn leaned in close, deliberately whispering in her ear with a dangerous tone, amplified by his dark eyes.