Chapter 3.
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”
She shivered, pulling the quilt tight around her shoulders as she attempted to rise from the bed. “I’m sorry, Olivia. This is all because of me. I shouldn’t be here, making you and Eric argue.”
Eric quickly pulled himself together and shot me a look of disdain. “You’re so good at pretending. If Kelly hadn’t clued me in, I might have believed your act.”
He grabbed a handful of my hair, pulling my head up to meet his cold
stare.
“Those who make mistakes should apologize. Olivia, since your parents passed away early and didn’t teach you, I’ll instruct you now.
W
Growing increasingly impatient, he continued, “And your body was violated when you were a teenager. It’s no surprise your mind is corrupted too–only I can still accept you.
My eyes widened. He knew I’d been kidnapped and assaulted.
During our happiest moments, I had confided in Eric about it, and he had held me gently, reassuring me that it wasn’t my fault.
But now he was purposely reopening that wound.
In the middle of the struggle, my nails dug into Eric’s wrist as blood dripped from my nose.
That’s when I truly understood the taste of despair. “I’m sorry. I apologize. I’m really sorry.”
Eric shoved down the slight unease in his chest and let go of me.
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Chapter 3
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When our eyes locked, his heart momentarily fluttered. Yet, in the next instant, he convinced himself that I could never part from him. No one else would ever accept me like he did.
Kelly’s astonished, mocking gaze felt like it was piercing right through
- me.
Moments later, I wiped the blood off my face, looked up at Eric, and said with composure, “Eric, I want to go back to the Daston’s residence.”
I figured that if I gave up my place to Kelly, Eric would send me away without hesitation.
However, instead of making a swift decision, he made an excuse and quickly left with Kelly.
As they departed, Kelly gave me a fierce look, her eyes brimming with darkness and envy, leaving me bewildered.
Aside from Eric mentioning that my marriage to him led to Kelly’s downfall and subsequent chronic illness, I hadn’t interacted with her at all.
Yet, it didn’t matter much to me. The sharp ache in my chest made it clear that I was genuinely dying.
For the following two days, I didn’t hear from Eric.
He remained by Kelly’s side, and her condition got better each day.
Sitting sideways on Eric’s lap, she said sweetly, “Eric, I love this.”
She gestured to an item on the screen, and Eric frowned a bit when he saw it. “Pick something else,” he replied.
His mind wandered, thinking that since I hadn’t reached out in those two days, perhaps he’d crossed a line. Purchasing this auction item for me
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Chapter 3
would certainly appease me.
Eric was sure of it because he recalled that this item was part of my mother’s collection.
Kelly noticed the brief look of nostalgia in Eric’s eyes. She clenched her fists discreetly, her voice lowering as she spoke, “Don’t I deserve this…..? I’m sorry for causing you any trouble.”
Eric couldn’t stand seeing her in that state. He embraced her gently and reassured her, “No, really… if you like it, I’ll place a bid and get it for you.”
At the auction the following day, Eric didn’t hesitate–he placed an unlimited bid to make sure he won it.
Despite this, he felt a pang of guilt because he hadn’t heard from me at all.
He knew how much my parents‘ belongings meant to me, and yet, three days had passed without a word.
Frustrated, Eric pushed Kelly’s face away as she leaned closer, pulled out his phone, and checked once more–still no messages.
I sat on the couch, bundled up in my coat, as I waited for midnight to arrive.
When the clock hit twelve, I got up, opened the door, and walked out into the night.
A contract gradually appeared before my eyes. My name was already signed on it.
I bit my finger, pressed it firmly onto the contract, and declared in a steady voice, “I want to make a trade with you. All my emotions in exchange for…”
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I glanced down at the contract, feeling each emotion in my heart slowly fade away.
The six formidable beasts of greed, anger, delusion, attachment, love, and hatred showed their true natures, consuming the emotions that tied me to this world, one by one.
I had held onto this world for Eric’s sake. When he was poisoned, I was the only one who could save him.
In that moment, the contract Eric had signed disintegrated into dust, and mine officially took effect.
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