I almost told him there was something critical I hadn't yet finished. But in the end, I chose silence, swallowing the unsaid words with a bitterness that lingered in my throat. The odor clung to every corner of the car, and Conner tossed me his jacket with a grimace.
"Cover up that smell!" he snapped.
I wrapped myself tightly, tears brimming in my eyes, but Conner's expression remained stern.
"The person who was supposed to donate bone marrow to Kayla is missing," he said. "Her condition isn't good. When you go back, steer clear and treat her well."
My fingers curled in trembling despair. He was blind to my injuries, his mind focused solely on Kayla’s illness. Kayla had leukemia. The day I was kidnapped was supposed to be the day of her bone marrow transplant. But her donor vanished.
As these thoughts consumed me, Conner impatiently reminded me, "Remember, you took what should have been Kayla’s spot. You owe her."
Kayla was Conner’s one true love. After they were separated, my persistence led Scarlett to arrange my engagement with Conner. The day after our engagement, Kayla returned home. She knelt before me, begging me to give Conner back to her, and I laughed at her hopeful dreams. Later, she fell ill, and Conner was convinced that I was the cause of her suffering.
I swallowed my bitterness and nodded gently. "I know I owe her. I’ve always wanted to make amends, and I will try."
"Being indebted to her"—this phrase was drilled into me by Conner countless times, yet I never wanted to admit it or voice it.
Conner looked at me with disdain. "Have you learned anything these past few days? But how will you repay her? Kayla only needs a bone marrow transplant now, and your blood isn’t a match."
My nails dug into my palm. In Conner’s eyes, I was worthless. If my blood were to fill Kayla’s veins, it would be an insult to them all.
The car stopped outside the Peterson estate. In the grand hall, Kayla sat pale, like a fragile flower on the verge of wilting. Conner blocked my path and turned to shield Kayla in his arms.
"Emilia, go clean up. In your current state, you might make Kayla sick."
Kayla was now the porcelain doll Conner cherished, untouchable and fragile. Silently, I turned and went upstairs, immersing my dirty, foul-smelling body in hot water. The pain from my wounds pierced deeply, and I overheard Conner instructing Kimberly to dispose of the jacket I had worn. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face, not just from the pain but from Conner’s rejection.
After a while, Kimberly knocked on the door, saying Scarlett was eager to see me. I dried myself off and put on a Victorian-style dress to prevent Scarlett from worrying.
As I descended the stairs, Scarlett was in tears, her fists playfully hitting my arms. Kayla softly pleaded with her.
"Nana, if Conner ever bullies Emilia again, make sure you give him a good scolding... we can't let Emilia run away from home in a fit of rage anymore..."
Thanks to Kayla's "innocent" hints, everyone believed the kidnapping was just my melodramatic stunt. Scarlett wiped away her tears, chiding my foolish heart, but eagerly pulled me into a seat, piling my plate high with pulled pork and lobster. The ordinary meal now carried an irresistible aroma. My saliva quickly pooled, and my stomach clenched in hunger. With trembling fingers, I picked up a piece of pulled pork and shoved it into my mouth.
Just as the savory meat spread across my palate, Conner's voice sliced through the air with displeasure.
"Emilia, Kayla is sick and can't eat anything. Do you really have to enjoy your meal just to provoke her?"
I froze, the pulled pork slipping from my fork onto the table. Kayla’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she clutched a cup of plain coffee. Memories from my captivity suddenly engulfed me.
A chill ran through me, and swiftly I pushed away the plate and fork, dropping to my knees with a thud.
"I'm sorry, I was wrong! I'm a worthless coward who couldn't even manage to earn a single penny for ransom. I don't deserve this kind of food! I don't even deserve pig slop!"
I raised a trembling hand, letting slap after slap fall upon my cheek with unforgiving force.
