Finn had never shown any respect towards Aoife; he disregarded her unspoken words. He didn’t know how important the contents of that “broken suitcase” in his words were to Aoife. He also didn’t realize how precious her phone was to her, the one he casually broke, as it was the first gift he had ever given her.
He never thought about Aoife’s feelings, maybe because he thought she wasn’t worth it, so he didn’t seem to care as much.
With nothing else to do, Aoife had to keep cleaning, as Finn asked her to tidy up his bedroom.
After finishing cleaning, she finally entered the room. Everything was a mess; things were scattered all over the floor, making it hard to know where to start.
The bathroom was damp, with their clothes still on the floor. Finn wouldn’t want dirty clothes, and the dress she wore yesterday was torn to shreds, beyond salvaging.
She picked up a intact belt and put it away, throwing the clothes into the trash.
After tidying up the whole room, even though it was clean and the air was fresh, she still felt dirty, although there was nothing actually wrong.
The family doctor that Finn had called arrived, conducting a check-up which indicated a hospital visit was necessary. The doctor could only provide medicine for minor injuries.
Finn briefed the doctor on the situation, and he asked Aoife to undress in the room so he could check her wounds.
It was supposed to be a minor event, but undressing became a source of fear for Aoife.
Giving her time to prepare mentally, hesitating for a long time, Aoife slowly took off her clothes, revealing the marks on her neck that looked painful.
Her body was covered in bruises, and her wrists were scraped.
At first glance, the doctor knew Aoife was being abused, but she was just an employee, so as long as she knew some things, there was no need to ask more questions and cause unnecessary trouble.
After applying the medicine, the doctor instructed her on its usage and advised, observing her fragile figure, “It’s better to get a thorough check-up at the hospital.”
Aoife nodded, quickly putting on her clothes after taking the medicine. She looked obedient with her head down, but also filled with loneliness.
Having seen people like Aoife before, the doctor knew there were many patients with depression at mental hospitals. Initially, he thought she was just too quiet, but neglecting this could lead to mental breakdown.
The doctor still thought Finn needed to be told, reminding him to take Aoife to the hospital for a check-up before it was too late.
Finn, however, didn’t care.
“She’s always been like this, introverted and reserved,” he remarked. How could Aoife have depression?
“Does she have any other issues?” Finn inquired.
“I’ve treated her wounds and injuries already, but her neck needs attention,” the doctor warned, “Mr. Snearl, intense kissing on the neck can compress the carotid artery. In severe cases, it could lead to respiratory or cardiac arrest, even death, so please be careful and don’t play with someone’s life.”
Finn knew his actions the previous night were wrong, being too violent which hurt Aoife. But emotions can sometimes be uncontrollable, leading to excessive force.
“I understand.”
The doctor wasn’t sure if Finn truly understood or not, but she had said what needed to be said. Before leaving, she specifically reminded Finn to observe Aoife more and take her to the hospital if she showed any unusual signs. Mental illnesses often don’t show outwardly, so they tend to be overlooked.
After the doctor left, Finn received a call that Aoife’s new phone had arrived.
With a new device and a new sim card, Finn handed the phone to Aoife.
The latest model with essential apps downloaded, Aoife opened the contacts to find only Finn’s name.
All her social media accounts had been reset, with only Finn appearing on any messaging app she scrolled through.
Aoife didn’t have many contacts in her previous phone, mostly people she knew from work: crew members, actors, and directors she collaborated with, totaling less than 50.
Her Facebook was primarily for work communication, and she didn’t chat much, as everyone knew she was quiet and rarely initiated conversations except for Ethan, who had been in touch more frequently recently.
Looking at her empty contact list, Aoife felt a void inside. These were friends she had just made when entering society, and now they were abruptly deleted by Finn.
Finn’s idea was simple; he wanted to keep Aoife, this “wild grass,” as a “ornamental flower” at home.
She didn’t need to face the external elements or work or socialize; she just had to stay home and accompany him.
This monotonous and dull life was not exciting. It seemed like she wasn’t living for herself but for Finn.
Already feeling insecure, Aoife knew the gap between her and others, especially Finn, the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company. His life, his work, were things she didn’t dare imagine.
Now trapped at home, slowly, she began losing her ability to communicate. The only person she could converse with was Finn, but he couldn’t always be with her as he had his own daytime responsibilities.
Alone at home, Aoife could only daydream and occasionally speak softly to herself.
Gradually, due to lack of communication, she could only respond with “yes” or “okay,” like a broken robot, lacking even basic conversational skills.
Finn knew it wasn’t good to keep Aoife isolated for long.
He understood that confining someone like Aoife, a young woman, would deteriorate her social skills.
But he was too selfish and stubborn, ignoring these issues.
Rather than letting Aoife meet other men outside, the thought of her getting close to Ethan bothered him. In his mind, turning Aoife into a “waste” was preferable; there was nothing wrong with that.
What could a “waste” like Aoife do outside? She should be kept at home by him to survive properly.
Moreover, she was already his lover, his possession. A lover should obediently take care of his physical and mental well-being; that was her essential responsibility.
Finn treated Aoife like a plant, forgetting that even the most vibrant plants could wither in harsh conditions, and even the most beautiful flowers would eventually fade.
He might control someone’s freedom, but often, what changes a person are the environment and time.
Furthermore, Aoife wasn’t just a plant; she was a human being.
A living, breathing person, capable of emotions, pain, and resistance.