Chapter 4

Julian Blackwood’s cold gaze swept over me, lying on the hospital bed.

“You dared to lay a hand on your sister? Apologize to her!”

I bit my lip hard, tears brimming in my eyes, refusing to fall.

Seeing my silence, Sera sneered softly.

“Julian, I think my sister has been spoiled by you. She doesn’t respect me at all.”

Julian’s eyes instantly turned icy.

“I don’t want to repeat myself.”

Five more days. If I could just endure these five days, I would be free from this place forever.

Why provoke him at the last moment?

Digging my nails into my palm, I spoke softly,

“Sera, I’m sorry. It was my fault.”

Seeing my sudden obedience, Julian’s brow smoothed out.

“Remember your place. You’re nothing but a tool the Reed family sent to satisfy my needs!”

The moment he turned, tears silently streamed down my face.

So, in his eyes, I was merely a tool for his release.

Due to my physical condition, Julian Blackwood didn’t come to my room that night.

The next day, he happened to glance at my phone’s browsing history, which was filled with searches for livable cities.

His face instantly darkened.

“Where do you want to go?”

He gripped my chin, his teeth gritted.

“Elara Reed, understand what you are. You’ll be chained to my side like a dog for the rest of your life! Don’t even think about escaping!”

An unspeakable suffocating feeling washed over me.

I took a deep breath and obediently replied,

“Yes, I remember.”

His gaze swept over my pale face and frail body, and his brow furrowed.

“Since you’re not dying, you’ll stay by my side from today on, serving me tea and water.”

For the next two days, he always found fault with the various nourishing tonics brewed in the kitchen.

He’d claim they weren’t to his taste, then hand them to me.

Under his watchful eye, I drank them, sip by sip.

As a result, my complexion improved significantly.

He curled his lips in satisfaction.

“Remember, your life is mine, and your body is mine to command. The day I tire of you, I’ll discard you somewhere you belong.”

I lowered my head, my nails digging deep into my palms.

Only two days remained until my departure. Just 48 hours, and I would be free.

But Sera clearly had no intention of letting me leave peacefully.

That day, she suddenly appeared at the villa.

“I heard my sister is recovering well. I came to see her.”

Seeing my distant attitude, she took my hand, feigning sadness.

“Is my sister unwilling to see me?”

I pulled my hand away, my voice cold.

“Sera, if you have something to say, just say it.”

“Why are you so cold to me, sister?”

She looked wronged.

“We’re sisters, shouldn’t I be concerned about you?”

No sooner had she spoken than Julian Blackwood walked in.

Sera’s face suddenly changed, and she immediately cried out in alarm,

“Julian, my cat is missing! The one you gave me for my birthday.”

My heart plummeted.

“It was just here a moment ago, and then it suddenly vanished.”

A short while later, a bodyguard entered, carrying a bloodied, barely breathing cat.

“Snowball!”

Sera’s pupils constricted. She snatched Snowball into her arms.

“Elara, why did you have someone kill him?”

My face paled.

“I didn’t.”

Just then, Mrs. Jenkins, a maid, was brought in.

“Miss Reed, I killed the cat according to your instructions. Please, you must help me!”

Sera’s eyes were bloodshot.

“Elara, I know you’re jealous that Julian likes me, which is why you harbor resentment.”

“But Snowball was innocent. I kindly brought him to play with you, and I never expected…”

I looked at Julian, shaking my head repeatedly.

“It wasn’t me. Please, believe me.”

Julian Blackwood’s face was grim. He was about to speak when another maid stepped forward to testify.

“I heard it too, Miss Reed. You even said it would be easier to kill the cat than Miss Sera.”

The moment she spoke, Julian Blackwood’s eyes turned cold as he looked at me.

“Still denying it? It seems I’ve been too lenient with you lately, making you forget your place.”

He raised a hand.

“Take her to the basement and let her reflect on her actions.”

I stared in horror, my heart plunging into a bottomless pit.