“Laura…” Carter leaned on the crutches, standing there with difficulty. His face was pale, and his whole body was trembling.
“What were you just talking about?”
I was shocked, my body stiffening, my throat seemed to be blocked by something, staring at him blankly, unable to speak.
“Laura, you…”
Carter’s eyes were bloodshot, and his lips were trembling.
His temper had always been gentle, and I had never seen him like this.
I didn’t know how to explain to him, but I felt that I should explain.
I grabbed his sleeve. Carter suddenly pushed me away, and I stumbled, hitting my entire back against the wall. My tears streamed out instantly.
“Carter…” I went to grab him , but he struggled hard, and the crutch struck me hard.
I was in so much pain that cold sweat streamed down my body. Yet, the fear in my heart overshadowed all the pain
Carter was angry.
A man who had been gentle and caring towards me since childhood now only gave me a cold back. He turned around, leaning on the crutches, staggering away. No matter how I called him from behind, he didn’t look back.
…
I returned home in a daze. As soon as I got back, Stella pulled me aside. She asked why Carter had come back alone, and I didn’t know how to answer it and just kept in silence…
I sat numbly in the study, fully aware that Carter was in the bedroom, but I lacked the courage to push the door open. He needed peace, and so did I. My thoughts were a tangled mess, tears were staining my face.
“Is crying here all you can do?”
The door handle clicked, and heavy footsteps approached from behind. A sudden gloom enveloped my heart. I tried to stand up, but strong arms pulled me into an embrace. His hands began to roam over my body.
I nearly broke down and raised my hand to give him a resounding slap.
“Get lost!” I screamed, wildly hitting him.
“Cameron, why are you doing this to me! You beast, pervert! You’ve ruined my life, and I will kill you… I will kill you!”
He seized my wrist, and intense pain surged through me. My mind became much clearer.
Cameron’s thin lips were tightly pressed together, a merciless smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“Kill me? Haha… Alright!” He leaned in, warm breath lingering near my nose. His hoarse voice whispered, “I’ll go find you a knife, and you can stab me right here!”
Cameron grabbed my hand, pounding his chest forcefully.
My legs went weak, and I slid down his body, sitting on the cold floor, crying uncontrollably.
“Cameron… Cameron, I’m begging you, don’t treat me like this… What have I done wrong! Your sister’s death has nothing to do with me, nothing!!! How many times do you want me to say it!”
“Laura, your biggest mistake is replacing my sister in this family!” He stared at me coldly, each word emphasized, “My sister Anne, no one can replace her! Especially someone like you, an unknown bastard!”
I gradually stopped crying. Now, the most important thing was not to delve into the past but to figure out how to get through the current ordeal. Carter had discovered my betrayal through the doctor, and my relationship with Cameron would soon be exposed. Once the truth came to light, Cameron, being the son of The Lynch Family, wouldn’t face severe punishment, and their anger would be directed solely at me.
They would claim I was fickle, seducing Cameron, causing family discord… Should I escape? It was something I had considered.
But what could I do after escaping? These past dozen years in The Lynch Family, although life was uncomfortable, I still enjoyed a life of luxury. After living like this for more than a decade, could I really return to the bottom and start over by my own efforts? If not, then I couldn’t leave The Lynch Family for the time being. So, I had to appease Carter-he was my only umbrella of protection in The Lynch Family!
“What are you thinking?” A large hand suddenly tilted my chin.
“Let me guess… are you thinking about how to deceive Carter? After all, he’s impotent. How could he possibly be the reason for your gynecological issues?”
I froze abruptly, staring blankly at him. His words resonated in my ears like thunder.
He knew… he knew everything!
“Did you find it strange how I know so much?” His gaze was icy. “Laura, do you think I’m unaware of your ways? Every time after we’re together, you want to disinfect yourself inside and out… you’re clean, and I haven’t been with any other women. How could you possibly have a gynecological issue?”
“What do you mean?” Suddenly, I grabbed his collar.
“Cameron!” I glared at him. “Is all of this… orchestrated by you? Is it?”
I suddenly doubted if he intentionally did all of this for Carter to see… the report was fake, the doctor was arranged by him, he deliberately made the doctor say those things for Carter to hear!
He remained silent and acquiesced to everything!
“Why do this? Do you have to be so cruel?” I shouted at Cameron.
He looked at me calmly. Time passed second by second. There was no mockery in those deep, dark eyes, but there was something I couldn’t understand.
Gentleness? Pity?
I couldn’t say for sure.
But in that moment of locking eyes with him, a sudden palpitation arose in my heart.
Illusion… I told myself, Laura, his gentleness is just an illusion!
“I couldn’t bear to see you suffer so much,” his low, hoarse voice echoed in my ears.
He took hold of my hand, guided me to sit down, and gently lifted my chin with his long fingers.
“Let me think of a solution for you, Laura!” he chuckled, “A solution that can ensure your safety without implicating me, and can also deceive Carter without suspecting anything.”
I looked at him with confusion.
He pursed his lips, took something small from a drawer, and dangled it in his hand.
It’s a vibrator…
I angrily pushed him away, tears of humiliation streaming down my cheeks.
He forcefully handed me that thing, and as I desperately avoided it, our hands tangled. Somehow, during the struggle, I inadvertently touched a switch, and it suddenly started vibrating in my palm.
I let out a low cry and snatched it away, angrily throwing it into the corner of the room.
Then I sat on the floor, helpless, with my head in my hands, and cried.
Cameron looked down at me with an air of superiority-a victor’s posture and a dominator’s demeanor.
He enjoyed seeing me like this-helpless, weak, and bewildered. After many times futile resistance, I would crawl back to him obediently, continuing to be his humble servant.
“It seems like you’re not very willing!” He fingered my cheek, forcing me to look directly at him. “Don’t like the gift I gave you?”
“Cameron,” I held back my tears. “I’ll go confess everything to Carter… I don’t believe Carter won’t distinguish right from wrong!”
“Sure, go! It would be even better if you admit to everything about how you harmed my sister!” he sneered.
“I didn’t do it, I didn’t do it! Your sister’s death has nothing to do with me, why won’t you believe me?”
“Even if you didn’t kill her, you’re definitely involved!” His gaze was ruthless and confident. “Laura, I’ve been investigating this matter all along. Although it’s been a long time and a bit tricky, I’ve finally found some clues recently.”
“I don’t believe I can’t expose your disguise!” Cameron’s large hand slapped my cheek, making a resounding sound.
I stood there in a daze, my mind was blank. I thought that the incident from all those years ago would end with Anne’s tragic death. I believed that my childhood nightmares would come to an end by being adopted by The Lynch Family. I thought that by replacing Anne, my life would be splendid.
But what I believed was just my own assumption.
If Cameron truly found something through his investigation, wouldn’t I fall back into my father’s hands again? Then, I would never find peace again. In a matter of seconds, many thoughts raced through my mind-Anne’s screams, her severed tongue, the wounds on her body, the blood in her mouth. When we escaped together, my father’s furious roar echoed in my ears:
“Laura, you little bastard! Dare to betray me, and I will make you descend into hell!”
“What are you thinking?” Cameron pressed his fingertips hard against my cheek, his nails digging deep into my face.