“Alright, dear,” Nelson didn’t show it in the end, he said, smiling slightly once again. “Remember to come down for dinner tonight. Patrick will be back, and we’ll have a family gathering.”
Emma didn’t look at him, she just nodded and then glanced at Jennifer. She was still glaring at Emma with anger.
She almost couldn’t help but laugh at Jennifer, whose hair seemed about to explode. Although she had no malicious intent, occasionally riling up Jennifer could improve her mood.
“Good morning, Jennifer,” she said politely, with a hint of a pleasant pause in her tone.
Jennifer didn’t respond, just watched Emma walk up the stairs with a cold expression.
Emma swore by the moon goddess that she hadn’t lied to Nelson. She was genuinely tired and just wanted to take a shower and go to bed. The headache and the disarray of her body made her nasal passages uncomfortable. She was about to open the bathroom door to step in when she suddenly felt someone barging into the room.
She turned around and saw an angry Jennifer standing at the door of her bedroom. “Jennifer?”
Emma thought she was hallucinating. Why would Jennifer be here? She wasn’t supposed to come in. Oh god, she had entered because she was exhausted and had forgotten to lock the door. She thought she would always remember today. It reminded her to remember to lock the door.
“You didn’t knock,” she reminded the other person. “This is my private space.”
“This is my home,” Jennifer continued to approach her.
That was true, Emma couldn’t argue with that. Strictly speaking, this wasn’t even Nelson’s home. Jennifer allowed Nelson the right to live here.
In her mind, she once again expressed disdain for Nelson. So, this was the better life Nelson wanted.
Emma shrugged. “So, what do you want?”
“I don’t like your attitude towards Nelson. You have no manners towards him,” she stepped forward, and Emma felt her brows furrowing.
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“You are rude and ungrateful, Emma,” Jennifer growled softly. “I won’t tolerate such things happening in my house.”
“I was just talking to him normally, I didn’t…”
Jennifer didn’t let Emma finish her sentence. She forcefully slapped Emma. It was a heavy slap, and Emma was thrown to the ground. The blow had dazed her. She covered the swollen side of her face and felt as if she could hardly hear anything on that side, just a buzzing echo resonating in her mind.
“Don’t explain, Emma. Nelson might tolerate your rudeness, but I won’t.” Her anger made Emma somewhat fearful. She wasn’t afraid of Jennifer as a person, neither in the past nor in the future, but she feared Jennifer’s power. A wolf fears stronger power from blood and genes.
It’s their instinct for survival.
Her legs and body began to move outward. She needed a relatively safe space to escape from Jennifer, but it backfired. Jennifer became angrier. Emma’s nose was bleeding from the slap, but it didn’t make Jennifer feel any mercy and release her.
The sight of blood ignited a deeper desire for abuse in Jennifer. She got closer and then grabbed Emma’s throat. Emma couldn’t breathe, she tried to push against her arms, struggled desperately, but it was no use. She was facing a strong she-wolf, with her own wolf.
Emma was not yet an adult, she couldn’t gain the upper hand in this situation. She felt like she was losing her breath.
“Don’t think you can escape my sight while you’re at Silver Moon Pack, Emma,” she roared. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make you follow the rules.”
Emma had no strength to think, she just needed fresh air now.
Jennifer watched her face turning purple, and finally, she let go of her hand, satisfied.
“Don’t try to complain to anyone about this,” she said coldly. “No one wants you here, Emma. Do you think Nelson kept you here out of love? You’re wrong.”
If Nelson didn’t want her here, why was she still here? Emma wanted to laugh, but now she didn’t dare. She knew Jennifer was truly insane. A truly crazy person with strong hands when they go mad.
“I said you need to follow the rules, you need to abide by the rules here, and if you don’t agree, I will teach you myself. Nelson also agrees with me. No one here will help you,” she said coldly.
Since Nelson agrees, then he should be here now, not you. Why are you here to find me in anger? But Emma didn’t ask, she didn’t want to cause trouble for herself.
Jennifer laughed again. Emma’s seemingly gentle appearance now made her feel relieved.
“Be good, Emma,” she said. “If this happens again, I will make you remember it for a lifetime.”
Emma didn’t give any response, she was still breathing heavily. Right now, she just needed oxygen to clear her mind, with no space for thought. Jennifer turned and left her room, slamming the door shut.
After lying on the ground for a while, Emma sat up. She took a deep breath. The side of her face that had been hit was now completely swollen, like dough fermenting in a bakery. She lightly touched it, and the piercing pain instantly shot through her brain, making her gasp for air.
She should apply some ointment to herself now and then go to the bakery in the afternoon. She didn’t want to stay at home. She texted Rory, “Are you opening the store today?”
Rory replied, “Yes, are you coming over?”
“Yes. In the afternoon.”
“Alright,” came the reply, “I’ve saved a slice of Swiss roll for you. Come by in the afternoon to have it.”
Emma didn’t know whether to laugh or cry; she should laugh. Rory’s warmth comforted her, but the pain on her face prevented her from smiling. She decided to take a nap and leave from the window when she woke up.
When she woke up, it was already two o’clock. Rory messaged her, asking why she hadn’t come yet. Thirty minutes had passed since the time they had agreed upon. She replied, “I’ll be there soon.”
Then she started getting dressed. However, when she saw her face in the mirror, she paused for a moment. Finally, she put on a mask and climbed out of the window.
Rory looked at Emma’s face in shock.
“This is abuse,” he said.
Emma didn’t have much of a reaction. She didn’t have a strong reaction to being beaten. She knew that sooner or later, this slap would land on her face. It was just a matter of time. At least now, the last thin layer of pretense of peace between her and Jennifer had been torn apart.
“I know she has always wanted to hit me; it just happened to be her chance this time,” she said, sipping her cola through a straw. “The cake is delicious.”
Rory was unhappy with her attitude. “You have to speak out about this.”
Emma thought for a moment. “I’ll think about it.”
Rory was almost infuriated by her. “At least you should tell Patrick, shouldn’t you?”