Chapter 3 A Man Taking a Bath
The air was filled with the pleasant scent of body wash, and she breathed it in deeply, feeling a sense of satisfaction.
Right now, her mind was calm, like a still pond. Otherwise, she would have been even more anxious.
She listened quietly to the sounds of the night, flowing gently around her.
In reality, everything was beautiful.
The ugly part was the unbearable transaction.
In the darkness, her bright eyes were fixed on the door.
It sounded like the door outside had opened.
The noise was particularly jarring in the quiet night, making her heart leap into her throat.
She panicked instantly.
Even though she had been telling herself to stay calm, her hands trembled uncontrollably, clutching the blanket as if she had been shocked.
Then, she heard footsteps, unhurried, coming towards the bedroom.
Alison held her breath, her eyes still fixed on the door.
The man was finally here.
A shadow approached, moving casually. He tossed his jacket onto the sofa.
He seemed very familiar with this room.
He took off his shirt.
He was tall, probably over six feet, exuding an air of nobility.
He made no sound and didn't speak. After undressing, he headed straight to the bathroom.
At that moment, Alison nervously hid her face under the blanket.
She didn't dare to look, her heart pounding wildly, relying on deep breaths to calm herself.
Alison, don't be afraid.
Even if it hurts, it will only be once. After the pain, everything will be over.
Three months is a short time in a long life. You can get through it.
The sound of water from the bathroom was piercing.
Unable to block it out, Alison decided to listen carefully.
She curled up like a baby, staying still for a long time.
She was waiting, waiting for the moment she would transform into a woman.
Suddenly, the bathroom door opened, and the man walked out.
He was heading towards the bed where she lay.
Alison's emotions were in turmoil, even contemplating ending it all. But then she thought of her parents far away, how heartbroken they would be if she were gone.
She was their only child.
The man was getting closer.
The scent of his freshly washed body and cologne wafted towards her.
The footsteps stopped abruptly as he sat down beside her, the bed dipping under his weight.
In the darkness, her hearing was exceptionally sharp.
She heard the sound of him fumbling, realizing he was looking for a cigarette.
Soon, the strong smell of smoke filled the air. Alison mustered the courage to pull the blanket slightly, but the man seemed unaware of her presence.
Did he really not know?
No, that couldn't be.
The person who brought her here must be connected to this man.
She wanted to ask him, to ask who had taken her photos.
This apartment was clearly in a prime location. Though not particularly large, the interior decor and furnishings were beyond what an average person could afford.
This man was not ordinary.
But if he had money, why didn't he find a lover? Why resort to such despicable means to force her into his bed?
These questions weighed heavily on her, making it hard to breathe. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come out.
Thinking of her naked body, she felt too embarrassed to say anything.
She didn't even dare to make a sound.
Naked, waiting to be violated, she felt like crying.
But she couldn't cry. She had to find the person who took her photos and make sure they were destroyed. Otherwise, she would never have peace.
Hearing the man finish his cigarette, Alison's heart pounded. The inevitable was about to happen.
The man's hand moved over, pulling the blanket away. He slid under it, his body close to hers.
Alison didn't dare move, curling up tightly. He was about to touch her, but miraculously, he lay down just a bit away from her.
The smell of smoke grew stronger, but Alison didn't mind it. She held her breath, and he made no further moves, just stretching his long legs under the blanket.
Could it be that he didn't intend to...
Just as Alison thought she might escape tonight, the man's arms suddenly spread out like wings, one about to land on her head.
It must have been a habitual gesture for him.
But he didn't know that his arm was about to hit Alison's head.
"Bang," his arm came down, hitting her nose. Pain shot through her, and her nose started bleeding. Before she could wipe the blood, the man let out a surprised growl, "Who? Who's in my bed?"
Her hand froze in mid-air, wanting to cover her nose but forgetting to move.
He didn't know there was a naked woman beside him.
She trembled uncontrollably, looking like a woman caught in an affair, but she wasn't.
She tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come out.
Her mind was a mess, unsure of what to say. If he didn't know everything, should she tell him about the photos?
After much thought, she decided not to.
It was best not to let too many people see those photos. If anyone did, she would feel even more humiliated.
In the dark room, she looked at the blurry figure in front of her, feeling lost, not knowing how to face him.
If he didn't know who she was, maybe she could escape.
But she feared the person who forced her here would find out she ran away.
As these thoughts swirled in her mind, the man suddenly moved, turning on the bedside lamp with a click. The light illuminated Alison and the man clearly.