In the early morning, I had just finished taking care of my legs and was preparing to send the documents needed for departure to my assistant. I had just fallen asleep after doing all this when Huo Nancheng dragged me out of bed drunkenly.
“Margaret drank too much and isn’t feeling well. Go to the kitchen and make her something to eat.”
I was dragged to the kitchen, sitting in a wheelchair barefoot and groggy. Even when I said I didn’t know how to cook, Jeremiah didn’t believe a word.
I couldn't resist him. Last time, I refused to give up the passenger seat to Margaret, and Jeremiah tied me to the back of the car and dragged me for several kilometers.
Left with no choice,to leave safely, I made a simple egg drop soup.
Just then, Margaret walked in. She saw me quietly working at the stove, and the corners of her mouth curled into a sneer.
“Lainey, it would’ve been better if you’d just died in prison. Look at you now, trying to compete with me for Jeremiah’s affection. And yet, you haven’t even earned a single crumb. Pathetic. So pitiful.”
I stayed silent, stirring the soup as if I hadn’t heard a thing.
Her smile twisted. Then she suddenly dangled something in front of me. It was the diamond pendant my parents had left me.
When she saw my face darken, Margaret’s smile widened with delight, and said sweetly, “Tell me, what do you think would happen if I split this thing in half with a knife?”
“Don’t you dare!” I gritted my teeth.
That pendant was the only keepsake my parents had left me.
My anger seemed to fuel her glee.
“Why wouldn’t I dare? Don’t forget, Jeremiah has always stood by my side.”
“If you don’t believe me, how about a little bet, let’s see who he believes more: you or me.”
Without warning, she picked up a spoonful of hot soup. I watched her warily, heart thudding.
Then, right before my eyes, she poured the steaming liquid all over herself and let out a piercing scream.
Jeremiah came running the moment he heard her.
He swept her into his arms in an instant.
Leaning weakly against him, face twisted in pain, Margaret trembled as she whispered, “It’s my fault, Jeremiah. I never should’ve come back. I’ll leave.”
“Lainey told me I’m a curse, that I should go die. She… she poured the soup on me…”
“If I hadn’t blocked it with my hand, my face would’ve been ruined…”
Jeremiah’s cold gaze cut through me.
I am in a wheelchair and have difficulty moving around. I am worried that Jeremiah might do something to hurt me.
Panic shook my head as I whispered, “It wasn’t me. I swear it wasn’t me…”
Margaret, tears streaming down, said softly, “Let’s just say Lainey is always right. Brother Jeremiah, please don’t make things harder for her. Maybe she just doesn’t like me…”
Jeremiah said nothing, his expression dark as he carried Margaret away for treatment.
That night, he returned with a kettle of boiling water and stepped into my room. Without a shred of mercy, he poured the scalding water over me.
The 90-degree burn jolted me awake. I tried to crawl away, terrified.
But with my legs powerless, no matter where I fled, Jeremiah followed, pouring again and again.
Exhausted, I finally collapsed, my skin blistering and peeling, raw and broken.
When he finally left, I dialed for help through the searing pain.
When the ambulance arrived, I dragged myself from the bedroom to the stairs, only to hear the man downstairs telling the medics, “This is just a misunderstanding. My wife and I were playing around. Who knew she’d be so dramatic and accidentally called you? Sorry for the trouble.”
Although I no longer had any expectations of Jeremiah, I still felt disappointed when I heard him say that.
When I woke, I found myself locked in the basement. Jeremiah came to see me.
“If you’re willing to go apologize to Margaret, I’ll let you out,” he said.“You know, she donated a kidney to me and is my lifesaver. You should be more considerate."
I was a little confused. When did Margaret also donate a kidney to Jeremiah?
But the pain of the burn and the fatigue of being locked in the basement quickly distracted me.
My eyes were hollow, and I nodded. “Okay.”
Once released, I forced out a sincere apology to Margaret. Jeremiah, satisfied with my compliance, kindly allowed me to be sent to the hospital.
