“Ah, Robert, isn’t this a bad idea? That necklace was meant for Amelia,” Gloria said.
“It’s fine,” Robert replied calmly.
“They’re right. Gloria, it fits you better. I chose the wrong gift for Amelia anyway. I’ll give it to you as a reward.”
Rewarding her like that helped him save face.
One of the business partners looked at me with clear disgust.
“Why is this ugly woman still here? Mr. Fuentes, if she stays, I’m afraid I’ll lose my appetite for discussing business with you.”
Robert walked over to me and said quietly, “Amelia, please go home first. I’m sorry, but I have to close this deal today. I’ll explain everything to everyone later, alright?”
Before turning away, he hesitated, but he still continued, “From now on … it’s better if you don’t wear clothes that show your arms or neckline.”
I saw the faint look of disgust in his eyes. It was almost funny to me. Didn’t he realize that every scar on my body was his doing?
That night, I woke up to the sound of someone kicking my door. Robert burst in, furious. He dragged me out of bed.
“Just because I didn’t acknowledge you today and gave Gloria that necklace, you had to hurt her like this?!”
Before I could respond, he pulled me straight to Gloria’s room. Under the torn quilt, dozens of leeches writhed and twisted. Their sticky bodies were glistening in the dim light.
“Amelia … ”
Gloria whimpered, “I never meant to steal your necklace or your place. It was Robert’s decision, not mine. I couldn’t explain it. But how could you do something so cruel, stuffing blood-sucking leeches into my blanket?”
She touched her belly and sobbed.
“I’m pregnant with Robert’s child. Luckily, I found them in time… I’ll return the necklace to you, but please just let me go.”
I looked straight at Robert.
“I didn’t do this. If you don’t believe me, check the cameras.”
But he didn’t even hesitate to not trust me.
“There’s no need. I know your vengeful nature too well. I thought prison had changed you, but you’ve only gotten worse. You should’ve stayed there a few more years!”
He glared at me coldly as he threatened me, “No matter what, I’ll teach you a lesson tonight. You’ll never dare touch Gloria again.”
Half an hour later, Robert’s men came in, covering their noses as they carried a large barrel half their height. The tub was full of leeches, writhing in dark water.
“Dump them into the bathtub,” Robert ordered.
“Then push Amelia in.”
I looked up at him sharply as I told him, “Robert, you’ll regret this.”
“If I don’t teach you a lesson, I’ll be the one who regrets it!” he shouted.
They forced me into the tub.
Hundreds of leeches clung to my skin, wriggling wildly as they sucked my blood. Within seconds, the water turned deep red. My body went numb. After that, everything went dark.
When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on the living room’s sofa. I was being hooked up to a blood transfusion. I had almost forgotten that both Robert and I shared the same blood type.
He stood beside me for a long time before sighing, asking me, “Why are you always so stubborn? If you’d just admit your mistakes and stop fighting me, I wouldn’t have to treat you this way.”
A slap first and then a gentle pat … was this his idea of love?
I pulled the needle from my arm and staggered upstairs. Behind me, Robert’s voice rang out, full of forced calm, “Amelia, let this be a lesson. Don’t make me do it again!”
At the stairwell, I ran into Gloria carrying a bowl of porridge.
“Oh, Amelia, you’re awake,” she said sweetly.
“I made this blood-replenishing porridge for you. Drink it while it’s still warm.”
I glared at her coldly.
“You staged the whole thing yourself, didn’t you? Is this how mistresses climb their way up?”
At that, Gloria dropped her act and smirked.
“I didn’t expect you to survive,” she said softly.
“But so what? In love, the one who isn’t loved is always the mistress.”
