"Jane, hurry and bring Nicole over!"
Jane froze on the spot, stammering, unsure of what to say.
For the past three days, she has been focusing only on consuming the powdered goat milk and various supplements sent by the military.
She had absolutely no idea where the child had gone.
"Charlie, Nicole ... Nicole went out to play with Mom!"
"She won't be back for a while!"
Charlie's frown deepened. Without a word, he turned to the room and came back with a tranquilizer gun.
"Let's calm Caitlin down first. When Mom brings Nicole back, she'll be fine once she sees her!"
After saying that, Charlie raised the gun without hesitation.
Bang!
A shot hit the pig.
The pig wailed and collapsed to the ground.
I stared blankly at the fallen pig, tears suddenly welling up in my eyes.
"Nicole, wake up!"
"There's so much blood."
"It doesn't hurt, Nicole."
I cried heartbreakingly, hugged the pig and tried hard to pry its mouth open.
Charlie watched my movements and was terribly irritated.
Without any gentleness, he grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the pigsty.
Back in the room, he shoved Nicole's clothes into my arms.
"Caitlin, stop acting crazy! Nicole went out with Mom!"
I held Nicole's clothes, lowered my head, sniffed my daughter's milky scent and finally calmed down.
Charlie's frown loosened and he took off his coat.
Jane quickly stepped forward to take it, lowering her gaze as she choked up.
"Charlie, it's all my fault."
"I should have paid more attention, but I haven't been feeling well these days and I've been confused every day."
Charlie comforted her in a gentle voice, feeling a little uncomfortable.
Still, Jane's delicate body leaned against him. Her breath was warm and fragrant against his ear.
"Charlie, my boobies is swollen again."
"You've been out for three days and no one has helped me."
Desire surged in Charlie's eyes. Ignoring the broad daylight, he lifted her clothes.
Their moans were loud and unabashed. I stood there, dumbfounded.
Suddenly, the pig outside groaned in pain.
Without a second thought, I immediately put down the clothes in my hand and ran out.
In the yard, three or four men were dragging a pig by pulling a wire noose tight around its neck.
"Wasn't this pig starved for over ten days?"
"Why do I smell a meaty scent on it?"
"Let's hurry up and go!"
"Charlie said we should come straight to the pigsty and take the pig for breeding."
The men pulled as they walked.
I rushed over and hugged the pig's head tightly, refusing to let them take it away.
The three men frowned, exchanging glances.
"Isn't she Charlie's wife?"
"What happened to her?"
"I heard her brother is coming back from the military today. If he sees his sister in this state, wouldn't he just shoot Charlie?"
"Shut up! Didn't you see Charlie come out?"
The men fell silent, not daring to move the pig.
Charlie saw me hugging the pig again. His eyes blazed with anger, his fury uncontrollable.
"Caitlin, are you deliberately trying to cause me trouble?"
"Wasn't it just an accident that you were locked up for a few days?"
"Jane already said it was unintentional. Do you want her to be locked up for a few days too?"
His words never made me look up.
I focused on hugging the pig, coaxing it like a child.
Seeing that I remained silent, Charlie let out an exasperated laugh, turned around and went inside. Moments later, he emerged with a butcher's knife in hand.
"Today, I'm going to kill this pig!"
"Let's see how you keep pretending to be crazy!"
The knife in his hand glinted coldly under the scorching sun.
