The next morning, the sweet, toasty smell of butter filled my nose and I groggily opened my eyes.
Going downstairs, I saw Garren preparing breakfast. It was a rare scene.
He gestured for me to sit at the table and brought over a plate of golden-baked almond croissants. I took a small bite—fluffy and delicious, with honey bursting on my tongue, leaving a lingering sweetness.
I casually praised, “Your cooking is pretty good.”
Garren’s expression stiffened, looking a little embarrassed. “The new housemaid made these. She just left. If you like, I can have her make more for you later.”
“No need.” I returned to my cold expression and refused decisively. I should have known—his cooking was only for Fenella.
After breakfast, I wiped my mouth and was about to stand when Garren suddenly called out. “Linnea, there’s something at the company you need to handle. Today… come with me.”
He lowered his eyes, looking almost guilty. “You’ve suffered a lot recently. Once this busy period is over, I’ll make it up to you properly.”
I stayed silent for a moment, then finally nodded. I did need to go to the company—but not to handle work. I was going to submit my resignation.
Garren got out of the driver’s seat and opened the passenger door for me. But I didn’t want to sit so close to him. I walked past him and took a seat in the back.
About twenty minutes later, sleepiness began to take over.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash and the car jolted violently. Caught off guard, I hit the seat in front of me. I lifted my hand to my head and felt the sticky warmth of blood.
Garren slammed on the brakes, anxiously looking back. “The car must have broken down. Don’t worry, Linnea, I’ll go find someone nearby to help and see if there’s a first-aid kit. Stay here and don’t move.”
I nodded and waited in the car for a long time. The air around grew colder and fine raindrops kept seeping in, chilling me to the bone. The wound on my forehead throbbed painfully; the first blood had dried and a new stream began to flow.
I couldn’t bear it anymore and got out of the car. I turned on my phone and found the nearest auto repair shop. After asking around, I realized that no one had come to help at all.
Where had Garren gone?
Holding my wound, I started walking back toward the car.
As I neared it, I heard noises from another car, sounds so intimate that they made my face burn.
“Fenella, how can you cling to me at a time like this?”
Hearing her name, I froze. I looked over in disbelief.
Garren’s eyes were dark and intense, fixed on the delicate figure in his arms, his voice husky with emotion. “Linnea is still waiting for me. She’s hurt… we can’t do this.”
But Fenella smiled and wrapped her soft arms around his arm, leaning close to his ear and whispering. “Don’t worry, she won’t find out. And… it seems too late to say anything now.”
Then, she immediately pressed her delicate lips to his. Garren held her head tightly and they kissed passionately, completely entwined.
I stood outside for a full five minutes. But they were so absorbed in each other and they didn’t notice me at all.
There they were, on the backseat of the car with no privacy at all, acting as if no one else existed.
Seeing this, my whole body began to shake uncontrollably. I bent down and hastily grabbed the nearby wall for support, my stomach churning, nearly making me vomit.
I tore my gaze away, unwilling to look any longer and took a few hurried steps forward.
Suddenly, a sharp metallic clang rang out behind me— and the next second, intense pain shot through my body.
I felt myself flying through the air, then crashing heavily onto the ground.
Darkness enveloped me as I lay in a pool of blood, gradually losing consciousness.
