Chapter 12 Peep
Genesis’s POV
I wasn't surprised at all.
In the past, this attitude toward me was his norm. These past few days of inexplicable closeness were just his momentary whim.
I lowered my head and continued pulling weeds. Not far away, Savannah sneered. "Someone gives you a smile and you think you're really a princess? You're just an illegitimate daughter nobody acknowledges."
As soon as she finished speaking, Eli walked out twirling his car keys. "I'm going out to have fun today and need a sidekick..."
His finger made a circle and landed on me. "How about I take her out with me? Then she won't be an eyesore at home."
Savannah's face immediately darkened.
She tugged at the corner of her mouth. "She's just useless. If you take her out, I'm afraid it might..."
"Sister-in-law doesn't want to?" Eli scoffed. "That's fine too. I'll just tell the old man it's not that I don't want to apologize to Genesis, but that you're unwilling..."
"How could I be unwilling?" Savannah said through gritted teeth.
She already didn't want to offend Eli, and now he was using Jordan as an excuse. How could she possibly refuse?
Savannah walked up to me and glared viciously. "Didn't you hear? Hurry up and go out with Eli!"
I staggered to my feet and obediently followed behind Eli.
Eli glanced at me and led me to his flashy sports car.
This was my first time in his car. Almost as soon as I got in, he floored the gas pedal. The car roared and shot forward.
I couldn't see the road ahead clearly. I could only feel the howling wind whipping against my face, almost blowing me away.
I gripped the door handle tightly and turned to look at Eli.
Even if he didn't want to live, I still needed to stay alive for college!
Eli laughed heartily. He seemed to understand my meaning and actually increased the speed even more.
I was powerless to stop him. I could only close my eyes and press myself as close to the seat back as possible.
I would never ride in his car again.
The sports car stopped in front of a bar.
Eli casually tossed his car keys to the bouncer at the entrance. I looked at the bar's door but didn't go in.
This was my first time at a bar. It wasn't that I was shy, but Savannah controlled me strictly and absolutely forbade me from appearing in such places.
Seeing me stop, Eli turned back and raised an eyebrow. "What, scared to go in? You've been locked up at home too long. That's why you're so weak. See more of the world."
With that, he walked in first.
To avoid going back and being tormented by Savannah again, I had to follow.
As soon as we entered, a man in a silver sequined jacket came over. When he saw me, he excitedly whistled. "Yo, where did this little beauty come from?!"
His frivolous expression made me instinctively step back. Eli irritably kicked him. "Get lost!"
"This is your girl?" The man looked at Eli in shock. "You're really bold. Delilah is here today too, and you still dare bring a woman."
Eli punched the man in the stomach. He screamed and finally shut up.
After a while, he covered his stomach and winked at me. "Little beauty, don't mind him. I'm Archibald, Eli's friend. His fiancée is quite ruthless. Why don't you come with me instead..."
Eli glanced at him, and he finally didn't dare speak anymore.
I also took out my phone to introduce myself. \[My name is Genesis. I'm Christian's adopted daughter.\]
"You're that illegitimate daughter?!" Archibald exclaimed, immediately attracting quite a bit of attention.
Eli punched him again. This time Archibald completely behaved.
He properly apologized to me. "Sorry, I just misspoke. Don't mind me."
I waved my hand to indicate it was fine.
But Eli suddenly glared at me. "Don't talk so much when there's nothing wrong. So noisy."
Me: ...
I was clearly mute, and he was calling me noisy?!
"Eli!"
Just then, Delilah walked over arm in arm with Sofia. The moment she saw me, her face darkened. "What are you doing here?"
"Brought her to broaden her horizons." Eli casually explained. Delilah didn't say anything more, just hugged his arm. "We're playing twenty-four. Come on."
Without giving Eli a chance to refuse, she pulled him toward the gambling table.
I didn't follow.
I wouldn't know how to play anyway, and Delilah's anger from last time hadn't completely subsided. I didn't want to give her another chance to humiliate me.
I looked around and found the most inconspicuous spot to sit down.
Unfortunately, even though I wanted to avoid those people, there were always some who wouldn't let me be.
Soon enough, Sofia came over with her little followers.
She held a microphone in her hand and excitedly said to me, "Genesis, since you're out having fun, don't be so antisocial. How about singing a song to fit in with everyone?"
"Sofia, how could you forget? She's mute! Is she going to sing with her butt?" Sofia's follower quickly chimed in, and everyone laughed mockingly.
She'd already used this trick before. I calmly showed my phone to her. \[I can't sing.\]
Sofia casually threw the microphone aside and grabbed my wrist, trying to pull me up.
I knew she was up to no good and resisted, not wanting to be easily dragged away. But her followers quickly swarmed up, carrying me to the stage.
In the center of the stage stood a steel pole. Just minutes ago, scantily clad strippers had been dancing here.
Sofia became even more excited. She shouted loudly, "Since you can't sing, then dance for everyone! The 'authentic' kind!"
As soon as she said this, the drunk thugs below also got excited, constantly whistling lewdly.
The atmosphere in the bar suddenly became heated.
I stood on the stage. Their gazes carried naked appraisal, as if I were now a stripper for their entertainment, wanting nothing more than to strip off my clothes.
Overwhelming humiliation surged through me. I bit down hard on my teeth and typed out a line. \[I can't dance either.\]
"Come on!" Sofia shrieked. "Don't be so stingy! Everyone knows you're charming at school. How could you not know how to dance?"
She dramatically pulled at me, even reaching to tug at my skirt.
At an angle others couldn't hear, Sofia lowered her voice and sneered coldly. "You bitch! You think hooking up with Forth means you can rest easy? I told you I wouldn't let you off."
She gave me a hard push, making me crash into the steel pole.
Sharp pain made me cover my forehead. I looked tearfully toward Eli's direction, but he only glanced at me indifferently before turning back to continue their card game.
Delilah nestled shyly against his shoulder.
The two looked perfectly matched.
I should have known. How could Eli be so kind as to bring me to a bar? It was all for this moment.