The machines beeped rhythmically.
I curled up in the corner, hugging my knees, staring blankly at the snowflakes falling outside the window.
Jaylin had his assistant buy the best scar cream. “The doctor said you need to apply this on your back daily, or it’ll leave scars.”
Girls care most about their appearance. You wouldn’t want ugly scars on your body, right?
I turned my gaze to Jaylin, just in time to meet his eyes.
“You called off the engagement in public. How does that leave me?”
“You’re nothing but a homewrecking mistress.”
Jaylin, familiar with my body, started pulling down my clothes to apply the cream.
“If you don’t want scars, don’t move!”
I glared at him angrily, clutching my collar tightly to cover my exposed skin.
A mocking smile played on his lips. “There’s no part of your body I haven’t seen. And now you’re shy?”
I bristled like an angry cat. “Jaylin, you’re shameless!”
He didn’t get angry. Instead, he explained patiently, “The engagement with the Sharpes was purely for business reasons.”
“Mollie barged into my house last time and hit my people. Now, in front of everyone, she’s bullying you even more. Does she think I have no temper?”
I smirked slightly. “Last time you lost a billion-dollar deal because of me. Now, you’ve fallen out with the Sharpes for me again.”
“People might think you still have feelings for me.”
His hand suddenly pressed harder as he applied the cream, making me wince in pain.
“You’ve got the energy to be sarcastic, so it seems you’re not that badly hurt.”
I was sharp-tongued and rarely lost an argument.
“Jaylin, are you really not going to marry Mollie?” I asked, my eyes probing.
He leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear. “You seem awfully interested in who I marry.”
I blinked, flustered. “You can marry whoever you want. I have no right to interfere.”
Jaylin’s voice grew husky. “When we were in school, you said you’d marry me.”
My eyes drifted, dazed. “That was just a joke we made when we were young. How could that count?”
So much has happened. Everything is different now.
Marrying him… I don’t even dare to dream about that anymore.
Jaylin silenced me with a kiss, taking away all the air in my lungs. “But I took it seriously. What now?”
My lips were bitten, and the taste of blood-metallic and sweet-filled my mouth.
His kiss left me dizzy, my heart pounding wildly in my chest.
Caught up in the moment, I couldn’t help but call his name. “Jay…”
Jaylin bit my earlobe, his voice rough like a whimpering wind at dusk.
He responded softly, “Rae, I’m here.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck, my tear-filled eyes gazing at him. “If only none of that had happened…”
Jaylin suddenly pushed me away, the tenderness in his eyes gone. “How can we pretend nothing happened?”
“The Bennetts have already declared bankruptcy. Didn’t you know?”
On the TV, news of the Bennetts’ bankruptcy flashed, showing my father looking like a beaten dog. He was under investigation for bribery and money laundering. The police had already opened a case.
Panicked, I scrambled for my phone and saw dozens of missed calls.
When I finally picked up, my father’s furious voice blasted through the phone.
“Rachel! I sent you to take care of Jaylin, and now you’ve pissed off the Sharpes?”
“You’ve ruined me!”
It felt like vines were tightening around my heart. “Dad, I knelt before Jaylin, just like you asked. What more do you want from me?”
“Why should I be the one to pay for your sins? Do I deserve to be humiliated, to be bullied?”
Jaylin’s expression faltered slightly, but I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
My father continued yelling through the phone, “I’ve spoiled you since you were a child, gave you everything you wanted. Isn’t it only right that you repay me?”
His voice left no room for argument. “You need to apologize to Miss Mollie. Whether it’s through a gift or by getting on your knees, you must earn her forgiveness!”
“If you can’t help, at least don’t make things worse!” he cursed angrily into the phone.
I found his words unbearable and hung up in frustration.
My mind felt like mush, on the verge of exploding.
Jaylin sneered, “Mr. Bennett’s downfall-didn’t he bring it upon himself?”
The tension inside me suddenly snapped. “The police have already started their investigation. He won’t escape prison this time.”
“He deserves it. He can’t blame anyone else.”