Chapter 28 Despair
"That's my good girl. I still prefer you when you're obedient." Eugene pulled her to sit on his lap.
Jennifer struggled violently and said, "Even though I agreed, not right now. You need to calm down the public opinion first, and the compensation for that injured worker—you have to give him a satisfactory amount."
Eugene stroked her hand and readily agreed, "That's nothing, very simple. So we have a deal—once I'm done with these things, you'll come keep me company."
Jennifer struggled internally, biting her lip until it bled. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Aren't you afraid I'll tell Aria about our relationship? Would a rich girl like her accept her fiancé's betrayal?"
Eugene sneered, "I won't let her find out about our relationship. As long as you don't say anything, who would know? If you go blabbing to her, who do you think she'll believe—me, or you, the homewrecker trying to seduce her fiancé?" His face was very close to hers, his breath hitting her face as he spoke.
Jennifer naturally didn't have that confidence. She pushed his face away, despair in her expression. "There's also the company's tax issues—you should be able to fix that too. And you have to promise never to go after my family again."
Eugene teased. "You're making so many demands, yet you won't even let me hold you. How can I trust your sincerity?"
Jennifer reluctantly let him hold her. Eugene's tone was nostalgic as he whispered in her ear, "Jennifer, let's just go back to how things were. You staying in the apartment cooking for me, looking up at me in the entryway asking for a kiss—you loved me so much, these things shouldn't be hard for you."
Jennifer shuddered with disgust and quickly slipped out of his embrace. "Now it's your turn to keep your promise."
Eugene kept his word. Within a day, online discussion about the incident died down. Comments involving Jennifer and her family's privacy were all deleted, and no reporters bothered her for interviews anymore.
Jennifer once again realized Eugene's influence was even more useful than she'd thought. Eugene gave the injured worker five hundred thousand dollars and got him to sign a settlement agreement. He took a photo and sent it to Jennifer, asking her to meet him the next day at the apartment they used to share.
The public opinion had calmed down, but Jennifer's heart couldn't find peace. Thinking about meeting Eugene the next day, she couldn't sleep all night.
When she got up in the next morning, the sky was gloomy, just like her dark mood. She made some food and ate with Marlowe. During the meal, Marlowe suddenly remembered to ask. "How did you solve that online thing? I think I heard Mia mention Eugene's name."
Jennifer reacted quickly. "It wasn't him! Louie introduced me to a friend who helped out a bit. I'm going to thank him today."
Marlowe grabbed her hand tightly. "Jennifer, you're not lying to me, are you? Promise me the person you're meeting isn't that bastard Eugene!"
Jennifer looked down at her bowl, and said calmly, "I promise. Marlowe, don't worry, everything will be fine."
As long as she sacrificed her own dignity and freedom, she could keep Marlowe and David safe—she was willing! She instinctively reached to touch the bracelet on her wrist, but felt nothing. Then she remembered she'd already sold that bracelet to pay for David's surgery.
It was the last birthday gift her mother Skylar Perez had given her. Shortly after her seventh birthday, Skylar passed away from illness. Skylar was a very gentle, quiet woman. Although she often seemed unhappy, she was very tender with Jennifer.
Marlowe came into the family two years after Skylar's death. At first, Jennifer was a bit resistant to David remarrying, so she always called her "Marlowe" instead of "Mom." But one day Jennifer overheard the adults arguing.
Marlowe cried, "You love her that much? So much that you'd give up your own child just to devote yourself to caring for her and another man's kid!"
David whispered, "Don't talk nonsense, don't let Jennifer hear."Jennifer didn't hear what they said after that. At only ten years old, it was hard for her to accept that she wasn't David's child. So Skylar had been her only real family in this house, but Skylar was already gone.
After that, Jennifer became even more obedient. She prepared herself for new brothers or sisters, even though they might take David's love away. But David never had any new children, and Marlowe continued to treat her well.
David and Marlowe had been so good to her even though she wasn't their biological daughter—now it was time for her to repay them.
Jennifer thought of all this, and a tear fell from her eye. Seeing her touch her wrist, Marlowe knew she was thinking of Skylar and looked at her with some heartache. Jennifer wiped away her tears and said with a smile, "I'm heading out."
At that moment, Francis had just returned to the country. He rushed to the hospital straight from the airport—after being away for a week, there were many things waiting for him to handle.
Thaddeus came to have him sign documents and mentioned casually. "That woman Jennifer you brought in before—she's been in the news these past few days."
Francis's hand shook as he was signing, the stroke going off the page. "What happened?"
Thaddeus sighed. "Seems like there was an accident at the factory, but they couldn't afford compensation, so the media reported it. Such a pretty woman, getting torn apart by internet users. Who knew her dad was seriously ill in the hospital and there was no one at home to handle things?"
He remembered Francis had some connection with Jennifer, so he deliberately brought it up.
After Thaddeus left, Francis immediately called Jennifer, but her phone was off. Only then did he discover Jennifer had called him several times, but he'd taken a different phone abroad. Hard to imagine what difficulties she'd faced during these days he was away. Would that foolish woman Jennifer do something stupid?
Thinking this, Francis lost all interest in work and just told his assistant. "I have something urgent to take care of. Handle things for me if anything comes up."
Jennifer walked toward Eugene's apartment. As she walked, it started to rain, but she didn't even try to take shelter. She didn't take a cab—she chose to walk, just wanting to delay arriving there.
Starting tonight, she would have to sell her body and even her soul, becoming Eugene's plaything. She thought she could do it, but she felt so disgusted. Tears mixed with rainwater flowed freely down her face.
She walked down the street with vacant eyes, not even noticing the puddles on the ground. Her low heel stepped right into one, twisting her ankle and making her fall to the ground. Her ankle swelled up red, but she seemed to feel no pain, not even furrowing her brow.
Meeting Eugene, falling in love with Eugene—that was her mistake. But when would this punishment end? Would it end with death?
As Jennifer thought this, she suddenly felt a bit of relief. She lay back, letting the cold rain hit her face. But the rain seemed to suddenly stop. She opened her eyes in confusion and saw a dark figure standing before her.
A tall man held a large umbrella. She looked carefully for a few seconds before asking hesitantly, "Francis?"