Leave. She needed to go. Very soon, she would be able to leave this place forever. Beatrice said to herself.
She slowly looked over everything inside the house; little by little, it was all memories.
The curtains they put up together, the bed covers they picked out together, the plants they raised together.
When they first moved in, they bought lucky bamboo. At that moment, both of them thought the meaning behind it was nice.
She gently cared for it, hoping for good luck, wishing Jaxon’s career to rise step by step.
For many years, Beatrice had taken care of it until it grew fuller and fuller. Jaxon’s career also became better and better, and every now and then, he would sigh that the house had a good wife.
Later, Jaxon truly became rich, but he also forgot the woman who handled everything quietly behind him.
Beatrice let out a quiet, self-teasing smile and picked up boiling water and poured it into the dirt.
After that, she brought over a step ladder and removed the curtains, replaced the bed covers she had selected, threw out their couple of outfits, and cut apart the photos of them together.
Right after doing that, that home felt completely strange. Beatrice slowly lay on the floor, letting the cold sink into her body, hoping the pain in her body could hide the pain in her heart.
The loud ringing of the phone reached her ears, making Beatrice feel restless. She wanted to hang up, but her stiff fingers accidentally pressed answer.
“Jaxon, be gentle…” The name on the screen was Jaxon, but the voice that came through was Sienna’s.
This voice was totally different from the tomboy image she had always shown, so affected that any man would feel weak just hearing it.
Beatrice’s hand, which was about to end the call, paused.
From the speaker came only the man’s heavy breaths and Sienna’s purposely soft gasps.
Even though he didn't speak, Beatrice knew that person was Jaxon.
From their past days and nights together, from the closeness of sleeping side by side, no one understood Jaxon’s aroused voice better than she did.
Beatrice listened as if hurting herself. Jaxon’s strained sounds hit her ears, and through the phone, it almost broke her heart.
Sienna sighed and said, “Jaxon, am I better, or is she better?”
Jaxon didn’t reply; only his actions grew even rougher as he pushed through the last rush.
When the passion faded, Sienna unwillingly asked, “Jaxon, between the two of us, who is better?”
The phone stayed silent for quite a long time, then Jaxon’s voice came through. “Of course you’re more slutty. Beatrice could never do car sex.”
“So annoying!” Sienna laughed and lightly complained at Jaxon.
Wet sounds came through the phone again.
Were they actually in the car? In Jaxon’s car? That car that belonged only to her?
That car, Jaxon said, nobody else could sit in; only the wife could ride in it.
That car she treasured so much, carefully arranging it like a small moving home?
That car where their family of three once rode together, drove on trips together, leaving happy memories?
Their sounds on the call became more and more intense. Beatrice couldn’t keep listening. She had just wanted to yell into the phone when the call suddenly ended.
What did they think she was? Their seasoning for passion?
Beatrice’s fingers shook as she dialed again, but it cut off the moment it rang, rang once more, and was cut off again.
She hurried out the door, wandering without direction along the street. She didn’t know where she was heading or what she planned to do.
But she still had to walk, because if she didn't step outside to breathe some air, she knew she would lose her mind.
Her thoughts were empty. Without realizing it, her feet led her to the hospital.
She arrived at Millicent’s ward. Inside was empty; Millicent was gone.
The doctor said Millicent had been taken away by her father.
Beatrice sat blankly beside the bed, touching the mattress that held no warmth, her eyes distant and empty.
The doctor worriedly said, “You hit your head. Should we do a scan? Injuries to the back of the head can be serious. I told your husband you should be examined, but he said it was nothing and that there was no need…”
“Wasn’t it you, doctor, who said there was no issue, so I went home?” Beatrice asked.
“No, your husband was the one who said falling like that was not serious and didn’t want the hassle, and insisted on taking you back home. Oh, at that moment, there was also a woman beside him, you can ask them to verify.” The doctor spoke nervously, eager to avoid blame.
So Jaxon was worried about trouble. If she stayed in the hospital, wouldn’t he be inconvenienced? He would have to take Millicent to and from school, and there was also a patient at home. How could he still look for pleasure outside?
“Hmm, I get it. Thank you for your concern, doctor.” Beatrice forced a smile.
After the doctor left, she could not hold it in anymore. Covering her face with her hands, she cried quietly.
