Chapter 68. A Tough Woman
After pondering for a while, Jacob finally got the question out of his mind. He had been holding back too long from asking Riley because he didn't want to hurt her. He waited until he felt that Riley was mentally prepared for the question. Last night, he heard Riley's heart-wrenching and very loud scream from outside her bedroom. He knew that Logan had snuck into Riley's room and raped her while she was sleeping. He happened to be going to the bathroom to pee when Logan walked into Riley's room. And not long after, he heard Riley's heartbreaking screams. Sometimes, he imagined his lost sister suffering the same fate as Riley. What if Teressa met the bad guys out there and was treated badly like Riley?
"You know what happened to me last night, right?"
"There were only me and a few people in the house last night. There's no way I wouldn't know. Are you okay?"
"No. I'm not okay at all."
Slowly, Riley loosened the tension in her body and leaned back in the chair.
"I can't be okay after what happened to me last night. Logan fucked me. He treated me like a useless slut. He tied my hands and feet to the bed. He did whatever he wanted to me and hurt me."
Jacob’s gaze shifted to Riley’s hand, which was slumped on the table. The long sleeve and scarf covered everything Riley was hiding so well. He hesitantly took Riley’s palm, then rolled Riley’s sleeve up to her elbow and found a bruise on her wrist.
“Did he hurt you this bad?”
Riley snorted sarcastically. “Only a small part. My whole body was covered in even worse bruises. Logan put ointment on all my bruises this morning."
"I've never seen Mr. Hatcher like this before. He dates the most beautiful women out there, but he never treats them this possessively. Ever since you disappeared from his house, Mr. Hatcher has been very restless. He's been grumpy all day. He punishes Kaella, but he calls a doctor to treat her. I can't understand him."
“You'll get dizzy if you try to understand him. I can't even understand him either. He is too difficult to understand. Sometimes he can be really kind. But he can suddenly become very mean. How's Kaella?"
Riley changed the topic because she didn't want to discuss Logan any further. Let her be a little calmer without Logan.
“Betty told me Kaella's condition was stable. She was well cared for by Betty. Her wounds were monitored by the best doctor in New York."
"Thank God she's okay. I made Kaella end up like that. If only she hadn't tried to help me."
"How did you sneak out?"
“I got in the trunk when you guys went to Essex Market. You must not have noticed it.”
Riley laughed, for the first time since Logan had locked her in his golden cage. She was proud of herself for being able to fool Jacob and the others.
"I did it so subtly. You didn't even know I snuck in the trunk, right?”
"I may not have known you were there, but I got a feeling when Betty told me you were missing. I checked my car and smelled your perfume faintly. The first thing that crossed my mind was Kaella. She must have been the one who helped you escape. When I was about to ask her about you, I was too late. Kaella was dragged by those burly men from her room, then she was taken to the torture chamber.”
"Hopefully Kaella doesn't get traumatized. I feel sorry for her."
Riley pulled her hand away from Jacob and pulled down the roll of her sweeter sleeve to cover the bruises on her wrist. She saw the waitress bringing Jacob's order and was walking toward their table.
“Kaella is a damn tough woman. Betty said she was still as chatty and stubborn as ever. There is absolutely no fear or remorse on her face for all the things she did for you.”
"Logan will send Kaella back to her parents' house," Riley sighed softly. She knew Logan wouldn't keep Kaella in his house much longer.
"Thank you," Jacob mumbled to the waitress who delivered his food. The waitress blushed as Jacob gave her a flirtatious wink.
“Tsk, I can’t believe you were flirting with the waitress.”
"Why?" asked Jacob nonchalantly.
He looked impatient to immediately spoon the grated potatoes and cheese into his mouth. The aroma of grated potatoes combined with cheese and eggs made his stomach scream with hunger.
"You've been quiet all this time. And a little skeptical of Kaella."
"I treat women according to their personalities. People like Kaella don't deserve to be treated gently. She likes to be treated roughly."
Jacob's words reminded her of what Logan had said to her last night. Logan told her that she didn't deserve to be treated gently, and instead liked roughness.
"Do you want it?"
"No, thank you. Just finish your food."
"It's delicious. You can't keep your sadness and anger for too long."
"Then, what should I do? Have you ever fucked a woman?” asked Riley sardonically.
She was really annoyed with people who underestimated the problems that befell her. Well... she knew everyone had their own problems. But she hoped that people wouldn’t think that her problem was something easy and that she was overreacting with her current condition.
"Nope. I've only dated very few women. And if we want to sleep together, it's because each of us wants it."
"Then you won't know what it's like to be me. It's not only my body that hurts, my heart hurts too."
"But, you can't be gloomy all the time. One day something like this could happen again. You have to forget about it, as if nothing bad ever happened in your life. Or, you'll go crazy," Jacob said in a low voice, as if he was going to scare her.
But even without being scared like that, Riley was already scared for her life.
"I don't want this to happen again. But I have a feeling that this will happen again.”
Jacob looked at Riley worriedly. There was nothing he could do but finish his food quickly, then take a sip of his cappuccino to rinse the remaining food in his mouth. He felt refreshed. He was ready to drive Riley back to Logan's house.
"Time to go home."
“Oh, I hate this part. Are you going to lock me in my room like yesterday?”
"As long as you don't try to run away, I won't lock you in your room. Please, Riley, don't make it difficult for yourself. I don't want you to get into trouble with Mr. Hatcher again."
Riley didn't say anything and just stood up from her seat. Jacob left the twenty dollar bill for his meal on the table, then he gestured for Riley to walk to the car, and he led her out.