Chapter 11 Humiliation
Genesis's POV
Stay closest to home? He might as well just lock me up here.
I stared directly into Eli's eyes and nodded again.
Actually, my determination to leave the Martinez family wasn't just because of Savannah's harassment and everyone's indifference.
Most importantly, I wanted to investigate the truth behind my parents' deaths.
When Jordan brought me back years ago, he sternly warned me never to investigate the truth about my parents' deaths. Even when I grew up and showed signs of curiosity, he always found ways to stop me.
If I didn't leave the Martinez family, I might never be able to investigate this matter.
But I could never forget the beautiful times my parents and I shared together, and I especially couldn't forget the look in my mother's eyes before she died.
I had to know why, even if it cost me everything.
"You agreed so readily. You're not trying to fool me, are you?" Eli narrowed his eyes at me, seemingly trying to figure out if I was lying.
I innocently shook my head.
\[I've always been obedient. I wouldn't lie to you.\]
I knew Eli wanted to watch me to ensure I wouldn't leak his betrayal of Jordan. I had no intention of telling anyway.
Since I'd decided to stay away from the Martinez family, I wanted even less to get involved in their mess.
Eli smirked sarcastically. "Always obedient? Little liar."
He didn't seem inclined to investigate further. Instead, he glanced at the band-aids in the trash and frowned. "That kid gave you band-aids. Where are you hurt?"
I originally wanted to shake my head in denial, but under his threatening gaze, I reluctantly lifted my skirt to reveal the wound on my knee.
After several hours, the wound looked even worse.
Eli frowned and somehow produced a box of band-aids, gently applying one to my injury.
I blinked, as if the person before me was a hallucination.
How could he possibly tend to my wound so carefully?
"Don't accept things from male classmates anymore. I know exactly what they're thinking." Eli forcefully stuffed the remaining band-aids into my backpack and zipped it up with satisfaction.
He stepped back two paces, looking me up and down. "Are you hurt anywhere else?"
I warily pulled the towel over myself and shook my head to indicate I wasn't.
But Eli didn't seem to believe me. He braced one hand on my chair and grabbed my skirt hem with the other.
I looked at him in terror, reaching out to stop his movement, but how could I easily pry away Eli's hand?
He caught both my hands with one of his, almost pulling me entirely into his embrace. I felt like if I lifted my head even slightly, I could kiss his lips.
Our breaths mingled together.
Eli's gaze slowly moved downward. Even though he wasn't actually touching me, it made me extremely uncomfortable.
As if deliberately, he hooked my skirt hem and slowly lifted it.
The cold air made me shiver slightly, almost going limp in his arms. Eli smoothly wrapped his arm around my waist, drawing me toward him.
I could even feel his elevated body temperature through the thin nightgown.
Eli's teasing voice sounded. "You're trembling?"
His fingers traced my thigh with seeming casualness, as if examining me, yet carrying other implications.
I didn't think this was a sign of affection. He was more like someone toying with a pet, a plaything that interested him.
Just like before when he let Delilah push me into the pool in front of everyone, he only wanted an obedient toy.
Understanding his intentions, I actually relaxed.
I forced myself to suppress my urge to resist, letting him examine my knees and thighs until he released me with apparent boredom.
"Remember my words. Don't let me see you mixing with those punks again."
For some reason, Eli seemed angry. With a dark expression, he threw out this statement and walked out.
Only then did I breathe a long sigh of relief, slumping back into the chair.
Though I didn't know why Eli had suddenly taken interest in me, I just hoped he'd quickly forget about it and not become an obstacle to my college plans.
The next day, Susan knocked on my door early in the morning.
Seeing my sleepy appearance, she sighed imperceptibly and handed me an elegant cupcake. "Happy birthday, sweetheart."
I was somewhat dazed. This cake must have been specially prepared by Susan for me. In this family, she was probably the only one who still remembered my birthday.
"Thank you, Susan." I actively hugged Susan, grateful for her care.
Susan waved her hand and frowned. "You'd better hide. That one is in a particularly bad mood today."
She meant Savannah.
It was truly cursed fate. When Savannah caught Christian cheating and subsequently miscarried, it happened to be on my birthday.
No matter how many times we explained that I wasn't Christian's child, she refused to believe it.
After losing the baby, she made me her outlet for venting. Every year on this day, she'd find ways to torment and humiliate me. She wished it had been me who died instead.
It was utterly ridiculous.
Christian was the one who caused her miscarriage, but she didn't dare blame him. She just took it out on me because I couldn't fight back.
Fortunately, these days would soon end.
I decided to take Susan's advice and go out to avoid Savannah's anger.
But unexpectedly, as soon as I opened my door, I saw Savannah waiting outside.
She crossed her arms, arrogantly looking me up and down, finally focusing on the cupcake on the table.
"You still have the nerve to celebrate your birthday?" Her voice was ice cold. "I heard you've been fooling around with boys at school, even sleeping with them? Is this what we're paying tuition for?"
Her voice was loud, attracting many servants' attention. I could even feel their schadenfreude.
I lowered my head, just like countless times before.
As long as I waited for her to get bored of scolding, she'd naturally let me go.
But perhaps Christian had provoked her again, because she actually dragged me to the garden.
"Since you wasted our tuition, make up for it with work." She casually pointed at the weeds in the garden. "Kneel and pull all the weeds here, or you won't go to school anymore."
My hands clenched tightly into fists.
I knew she could really do it. Neither Christian nor Jordan cared whether I could attend college. They just needed me alive.
I lowered my head, gritting my teeth hard, and knelt in the grass.
Those weeds were deep and tough. Even my hands got cut in several places, but I still gritted my teeth and persevered.
As long as I endured this, I'd be one step closer to college.
Just then, Eli walked in from outside.
I instinctively glanced at him, thinking he might say something to me, but he didn't even look at me. He passed by as if I were just a stranger.