In the gap when Finn went to the bathroom, Lily walked over to Aoife and stood beside her, saying, “Did you hear that? Finn sees you as nothing but a servant he can order around. In his eyes, you are nothing, not even a lover, just a useful toy. Lovers have a price, but you… you are treated as worthless. My bank card is under the fruit plate on the coffee table. Remember to take it and keep it safe. Stay as far away as possible from now on.”
Seeing Aoife’s silence, Lily felt triumphant, completely devoid of any gentle demeanor.
Lily thought that humiliating someone and trampling on their dignity would make Aoife sad and upset, but she was surprised to see Aoife raise her head and smile.
“Miss Li, thank you.”
Lily stiffened for a moment, then anger surged in her heart.
“You thank me?”
Aoife said, “Of course I thank you. You were right. Being a lover and being treated like a servant is wrong. I never thought of lowering myself to be a third party and ruin your relationship. Thank you for telling me these words today, letting me see the true nature of things. I will leave. I wish you and Mr. Snearl a happy marriage. Please make sure to keep an eye on him and prevent infidelity.”
Aoife’s words were sincere and heartfelt, and her gratitude came from the depths of her heart.
Perhaps Lily could sense the sincerity in Aoife’s words every day, her face slightly changed, as she was about to raise her hand, a commotion came from the bathroom, and Finn opened the door and came out.
He sensed that something was amiss in the atmosphere and saw Lily and Aoife standing together, his eyelids twitched.
“What’s going on?”
Lily had to restrain herself, clenching her fists tightly to calm her emotions. When Finn came over, her expression had returned to calm.
Lily said, “It’s nothing. I took the initiative to invite you out today. Shouldn’t you do something in return?”
Finn smiled, “Of course, where do you want to go? I’ll accompany you.”
“I know a place suitable for a couple’s date.”
“Let’s go then.” Finn grabbed the car keys.
Lily looked proud, like a victorious rooster, linking arms with Finn, seemingly announcing her authority to someone.
Neither of them spared a glance at Aoife, ignoring her presence completely.
After standing for a while and hearing the sound of the car outside, Aoife finally snapped out of her reverie. She gently sighed, turned around, took the leftover food bowl from the table, and went to wash it in hot water.
A drop of water fell into the sink, creating a slight ripple. Aoife wiped her hand and felt strange… why were her eyes wet?
People do zone out and suddenly cry without a sound.
After washing the dishes, Aoife returned to the living room and sat on the sofa, staring at the coffee table in front of her. Remembering Lily’s words, she reached out, moved aside the fruit plate, and found a bank card underneath with a password sticker, simply six zeros.
She rubbed her hands together, realizing how valuable that day was for her. One million would last her a long time.
Finn used to give her money often, but she never touched a penny because she felt that taking his money would mean being indirectly kept by him.
In truth, she had long been kept by Finn. She was a lover, and now she was becoming a third party. These were facts she could not deny.
She held that bank card close to her chest, curling up in a protective manner, hugging her knees.
How much more could she endure? When she cried, there was not a sound, sitting there as if she were asleep.
That day, the night fell quickly, not just the sky.
The cool wind blew, and there wasn’t a single star in the sky.
It was until dawn that Finn returned, smelling of alcohol.
The lights in the living room were on, and as he entered, calling out, “Aoife.”
This time, returning drunk was different from the previous time when there was no one around. As long as Aoife was there, the lights in the house would always be on for him, the food always hot, and the home always warm.
Aoife had cooked him a bowl of stomach-protecting soup.
After Finn finished it, he put down the bowl, and Aoife was about to take it to the kitchen to wash when he grabbed her hand.
“What did Lily say to you today?”
Aoife’s body tensed, “She told me to leave you.”
“Will you leave me then?”
“You’re engaged now and will be getting married. Finn, I don’t want to be a lover for the rest of my life.” Aoife tried to keep her tone calm, but she couldn’t help trembling towards the end.
Finn’s expression darkened, gripping Aoife’s hand tighter, “You said you would never leave me.”
“But you also said today that you would fire me this month.”
“That’s just something I said out of impulse to deal with her…”
“So did I.” Before Finn could finish, Aoife interrupted him, her voice bitter, “I only said I would stay by your side forever to appease you. Finn, the truth is, we both know why I stayed by your side. It’s because of the video you forced me to record. And why do you want me to stay? Because you’re used to treating me as a servant and a bed partner to satisfy your desires.”
“The thing I hate the most in my life is being a mistress. It’s you who have made me into the person I despise the most. Please, let me go.” She finally spoke her mind.
Finn yelled, “You’re dreaming! How long have you been with me? Not even two months, and I’m not done with you yet. What right do you have to leave? I said I’ll let you go when I’m tired of you. I’m not tired yet. If you dare to leave, I’ll release the edited video and make you never dare to show your face in public ever again!”
“What are you saying?” Aoife’s eyes were red. She knew Finn could go to any lengths to control a situation, but she didn’t expect him to be so shameless.
“I’m telling you once, but I warn you I will follow through!” Finn gritted his teeth, thinking that if she wanted to leave him, there was no way out. He hadn’t had enough of her, so why should Aoife be allowed to leave?
“Finn, you have a fiancee now. You are going to get married and start a new family.” If he was getting married, why keep her around? Clearly, he had said it, and she couldn’t compare to Lily.
Now he was clinging to one woman. Wasn’t it said that when the red flag was raised at home, the colorful flags fluttered outside?
She didn’t understand, didn’t comprehend why Finn had such a mindset.
Finn sneered, “I’m getting married. What does that have to do with keeping you as a kept woman?” In their circle, having a few lovers outside of marriage was considered normal. What right did Aoife have to care? Wasn’t it better for her to be his mistress?
Do you know the meaning of “mistress”? A woman who maintains a sexual relationship with a man when one or both of them are married to other people, she is the man’s mistress.
When Aoife compromised to become his mistress, she should have understood this principle. So why did she think that he would let her go once he got married?
With a smile on his face, Finn laughed at Aoife’s naivety, at her failure to see reality for so long.
Finn continued, trying to pacify, “Yes, I’m getting married, but it’s a business alliance with the Dankworth family. I still like you. Aoife, what are you dissatisfied with? I’ve been good to you. Can’t you be more understanding?”
This seemed to be the first time Finn had said he liked her, but to Aoife, it felt like a knife stabbing her heart, tearing it apart.
How was being “good” to her, how was this being understanding?
With red eyes and a hoarse voice, Aoife said slowly, “I don’t want, and I refuse to continue this relationship. Finn, you said you would still like me when you’re married. So I ask you, can I also get married?”
Without hesitation, Finn shouted, “No!”
As soon as he thought of Aoife marrying another man and having children, he felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if thorns were growing all over him, wishing he could pluck them out one by one.
Her wrist, gripped by him, felt like it was about to break. Aoife endured the pain, her face slightly pale, “So, why should I accept things you can’t accept? Why should I accept being a third party, a mistress, and seek things that don’t belong to me?”
With every word Aoife spoke, a string in her mind suddenly snapped, and Finn only heard a buzzing sound in his ears, his face flushing, his emotions uncontrollable, his anger pouring out in chaos. He reached out and grabbed Aoife’s neck, pressing her onto the sofa.
“Do you dare?”