"Back then, I'd already predicted that something might have been up with Robert's body, but I didn't care. If he married me, I'd have destroyed him anyway and inherited the property. But all my hard work and all my planning and he still suspected me. I guess that's fate, Georgia. He never loved me, so after even a bit of doubt, he never gave me another chance."
Having said that, Sierra's expression was thoughtful, and no longer as madly twisted as before.
Georgia, on the other hand, felt truly pained. Sierra had already kept it simple. She hadn't even described what Robert looked like when he was being tortured.
But Georgia could guess it all. She was a person who experimented in labs herself. She couldn't have ever used humans, but how had she treated the lab rats during all those experiments breeding bacteria and fungi in them?
She'd never felt any pity. And that attitude was the same as the one held by those people who'd experimented on Robert in the lab.
Injecting all sorts of chemicals into a system without testing for concentration and content – the damage that could be done to a human body that way was substantial.
Georgia closed her eyes and a tear finally rolled down her cheek.
Sierra seemed to be tired from talking and didn't even laugh at Georgia's sorrowful appearance.
Georgia sat there in silence for a while and stood, about to leave.
Only then did Sierra speak again.
"I'm sure you must have taken Robert for a body check already. I don't even have to think about it to guess what state his body is in. Just a ruined frame. He's only acting strong at the end.
"I wish you a proper life as a widow, Georgia Lane!"
Georgia's footsteps faltered at Sierra's words.
She took a deep breath and felt the taste of blood close up her throat.
She didn't turn around. She didn't want to give Sierra the satisfaction. Slowly, she strode out of the basement.
When she reached the garden outside, she finally spat out a mouthful of blood.
She wiped the gore off her lips and kicked dirt over the blood on the ground.
Georgia wasn't about to let Robert see her like this. The harder the times were, the harder she had to be.
This wasn't the first hurdle she'd come across. She wasn't going to be defeated by something like this.
Deep in the night, she sat alone on the swing, comforting herself.
No need to be afraid. The results weren't up yet. Maybe it wasn't that serious.
If his body really was weak, he could take it slow.
From now on, he'd be kept from being too busy. After all, they had more wealth than they could spend, and it wasn't necessary to go fight for more business against the whole world.
From now on, they'd go through their days of retirement, spending the rest of their lives slow and steady.
Georgia told herself all that, building up her mental fortitude again.
When she'd settled her emotions, her whole body felt the chill.
She turned and headed back towards the mansion, but found Robert standing there behind her.
Georgia jolted.
"How long have you been here? Why didn't you say anything?"
Georgia asked, concerned. Seeing Robert's clothes were a bit thin, she spoke again, a little angry.
"Why didn't you put a jacket on? Come back inside with me."
She took his hand and dragged him back into the mansion.
Inside, she hurriedly poured him a mug of hot tea.
"Your hand is so cold. Why can't you take better care of yourself? I'll get mad if you keep being like this."
As Georgia fussed, Robert took a sip and set the tea down. He stood and hugged Georgia.
The two embraced, and Georgia kept her arms wrapped tight around his back. Suddenly whimpering, she spoke.
"You can't go on like this. You're almost thirty now. You have to stay healthy. After a person gets past twenty-five, their body will start slowly declining, you know?
"Like us women. We have to use all those anti-wrinkle essences after twenty-five. Your body needs upkeep. From now on, you can't just do what you want, okay?"
Facing her, Robert replied.
"With a controlling wife like you, of course I'll wake up on time every morning from now on. I'll go to bed before ten, get enough sleep, and drink herbal teas every day to keep healthy, eat just to the point of being full with three meals a day, follow a strict regimen, and treat life as seriously as I eat, to keep this body of mine perfectly healthy, so you're satisfied in bed and out of bed."
At that, Georgia thumped Robert's chest with an angry fist.
"Why are you this naughty? Still joking with me at a time like this."
Georgia's eyes reddened as she spoke.
"You're so annoying. I'm being serious, do you understand?"
"I understand."
Robert smiled at her and gave her a light kiss on the forehead.
"From now on, we'll follow a schedule. We won't let ourselves get sick. We'll get our fill of sleep and food every day. Oh, and I forgot. We'll go running together every morning, get fit together, and go for regular checkups. We'll live to a hundred together, right?"
Robert finished, and Georgia buried her head in his chest.
Afraid that he'd see her tears fall, she sniffed deeply several times and kept the droplets in. Her voice, though, still held a whimper.
"You finally get what I mean. Look at you, wide awake in the middle of the night. Hurry up and go back to sleep with me. No more babbling. Come on. We really should rest now."
Robert suddenly bent over and picked her up.
Georgia let out a surprised cry, then smiled and laid her hand relaxedly on his neck.
The pair were like a teenage couple as Robert sprinted rapidly up the stairs, carrying Georgia with a grin as he rushed inside the bedroom.
On the bed, Georgia turned to Robert and warned him.
"No questions, no more wasting time. We need to sleep and rest. I'll give you a chance today for coming out in the middle of the night, and you can sleep in tomorrow. All right. Now rest, and turn off the light right now."
As Georgia finished, Robert chuckled lightly, then turned his head and flicked off the bedside lamp.