Chapter 3

3

I really emphasized the "aunt", hoping it would bother her.

She frowned, but didn't say anything as I walked away.

Soon, laughter and giggling filled the room below.

"Jess, I made you a special herbal meal, I'll feed you."

"You're so naughty, you're eating, don't bite me."

"Do you know how much you need? Should we give it a try tonight?"

I covered my ears and turned up the volume on my phone. Still, I couldn't block it out.

Finally, I gave up, letting tears soak my pillow, and bit my lip to keep quiet.

When I was fifteen, my parents died in an accident. Jessica's father, my grandfather's comrade, took me in and gave me to his youngest daughter, Jessica, to care for.

I called her "Aunt Jess" for five years, she helped me through the pain of losing my parents.

She went to parent-teacher conferences, remembered my birthday, always brought me along, and even took time off work to care for me when I was sick.

When I was eighteen, I confessed my feelings, but found out she had a boyfriend.

After her legs stopped working, we went back to the way things were, and even she started kissing me.

I thought my chance had come. But she was putting on a show.

It's true, Jessica never said she loved me.

I was just making it up.

I tossed and turned all night and got up with red eyes.

Sean was coming out of her room, wearing pajamas.

The love bites on his neck, the expression on his face, all showed what they did last night.

I froze.

"You guys..."

I thought I was ready to leave.

But seeing it made my eyes hurt.

How could Jessica do this?

Right under my nose, they were doing...

The cup fell to the ground and cut my ankle.

Jessica ran out and saw me.

"Peter, let me explain."

"It's not what you think. Sean was just helping me massage my legs."

"Ask him if you don't believe me."

Sean yawned.

"Yeah, I was just giving Jess a massage."

I saw the taunt in his eyes, the guy-to-guy challenge.

Jessica got mad that I didn't believe them.

"Why are you so twisted? You're turning a treatment into something disgusting."

"Sean is a doctor, how is he suppose to work?"

"Don't you want my legs to get better?"

My pain deepened as Jessica spoke.

She's the one who did something wrong, but somehow I'm the bad guy.

Jessica, am I really so worthless to you?

No wonder you think I pretended to be sick to stop you from seeing Mark that day.

"Apologize to Dr. Sean."

Her words crushed me.

I fought back tears and bowed to Sean.

"Dr. Sean, I'm sorry. I misunderstood."

Jessica seemed satisfied and told Sean to go and then said.

"Come here. I'll clean the wound."

I noticed the blood in my slippers.

She carefully took out the glass, as if she was dealing with the most fragile treasure.

During the last five years, she always found a way to put me down or scold me when she was in a bad mood.

When I wanted to leave, she would pull me back with a sweet date.

I stared at her, and said to her.

Jessica, I don't want the date anymore.

I stayed in my room because of the injury.

The housekeeper knocked on the door with Sean behind her.

"Master Peter, Miss Wright said you should switch room with Dr. Sean, so she can get better treatments."

"Housekeeper, change everything. I am disgusted by used items."

I moved to the smallest room, putting everything she gave me into a box.

The fire consumed everything, like my affection disappeared.

"What are you burning?"

"Nothing. Just cleaning up."

The forecast said it would rain today.

Sean and Jessica left early.

The rain started. I waited, while holding onto my phone.

Finally it rang.

The voice was hurried, along with Jessica's moans.

"Peter, get Jessica her pain pills. We're at 35 Riverside Drive."

I sighed and said:

"I'm on my way."

The rain was pouring down like the day Mark left.

But that day, I went out to look for the ring and got sick.

Today, I would walk into Jessica's trap.

While I was on the way, Jessica and Sean were drinking, she rejected him when he tried to lean on her.

"Do it right, Peter would not do this."

Sean sat up straight, his face bitter.

Ashley saw and said:

"Jess, it will make him regret the day he blocked you."

"I even prepared several thugs for him."

"What are you planning on doing after this is done."

Jessica played with the glass, and no one dared to breathe.

"It will be the end of his punishment, I will never see him again."

After she said that, Ashley secretly sighed with relief.

I arrived, all I could see was a dark, narrow alley. 35 Riverside Drive was at the end.

I took a deep breath and walked in, telling myself.

"Peter, don't be afraid."

"After today, you will be free."

"Jessica is just trying to hurt you, it will hurt for a few days."

But I was wrong.

My clothes were torn off, and cold hands roamed all over my body.

"Don't. Leave me alone!"

"Jessica, I was wrong, please forgive me!"

"Aunt Jessica, I am sorry."