The strong scent of alcohol mixed with Julian’s unique cologne filled my nostrils, making me feel like I was about to pass out.
“Julian, let me go, please!”
While I’d hated Julian for not touching me before, now that he was suddenly doing all this, I felt a strange repulsion.
“Scarlett, you’re my wife. Sleeping with me is natural. I won’t let you go.”
He finished speaking, then slowly leaned his head closer to mine until our faces were mere millimeters apart.
<
I could clearly see every pore on his face, and his hazy, red–tinged eyes.
“Scarlett, don’t leave.”
Before I could protest, Julian’s face, now impossibly close, covered mine.
His kiss was dominant yet sweet, growing more intense by the second. I lost all ability to resist.
His large hands roamed freely over my skin, and my intimate wear fell to the floor, piece by piece.
“No!”
My protests in this silent battle felt utterly insignificant.
Julian gently wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes, then pressed his lips back to mine.
“Shh, it’ll only hurt for a moment. Ml be gentle.”
Julian didn’t stop until dawn. Looking at the glaring crimson stain on the sheets, I felt an overwhelming sense of shame.
Of all times to finally sleep with me, it had to be *now*. God really had a twisted sense of humor.
While Julian was still asleep, I practically fled the room.
Even back in my own bedroom, I couldn’t calm down for a long time.
Oh no! Only then did Julian’s diagnosis report flash back into my mind.
But I was still so young. I didn’t want to die!
Please, Julian, don’t let him have infected me with his dirty disease.
I didn’t know what to do. I had to get Mom’s help.
“That jerk Julian assaulted me! What if I got infected?”
Even though I was babbling, Mom pieced it together.
“Weren’t you planning on leaving him? How could this happen?”
I couldn’t explain it all now. We had to go through with our escape plan tonight.
I didn’t want to see Julian for another second.
“Mom, I can’t wait. Let’s do it tonight. North Peak, we meet there, no matter what.”
It was almost nine, and Julian still wasn’t up.
Didn’t he care about being late for work? Oh, right, it was *his* company. Nothing to worry about.
I needed to find a good excuse to get him off my back so I could go out tonight. Otherwise, he’d definitely get
10:09 AM J
After breakfast, Julian finally emerged from the bedroom, rubbing his eyes.
He seemed to realize what he’d done last night, his eyes full of guilt.
“Scarlett, I…”
He rushed to my side, trying to explain himself.
I shoved the toast I was holding directly into his mouth.
“You were way out of line. I’ve seen enough. No need to explain.”
Julian chewed the toast, then dragged a nearby chair over and sat down.
“We’re married. Doing those things is normal, something we’d have to face eventually.”
Now he was playing the good guy. Was *I* the one who forbade him from my room before? Did *1* lock up my own
underwear?
“But you’re sick! Did you forget? You want to die, but you want to drag me down with you?!”
Every time I brought up that issue, he chose to stay silent. If he’d just said one word, I might have thought that report
needed a second look.
But his silence only made me suspect him more.
I really didn’t want to talk to him anymore. I had a big plan for tonight.
We quietly finished our breakfast, then quietly went about our separate ways.
It wasn’t until the afternoon, when I saw him finally drive off, that I felt safe enough to start packing my things.
As I was leaving, I stood at the villa entrance, looking at the home I’d lived in for so long. Surprisingly, I felt no sadness
at all.
Julian, now you can finally bring your parade of women home, out in the open.
I turned off my phone, blocked all of Julian’s contacts, and went to the mountain peak alone.
Mom was already there, waiting for me.
She looked at the sheer drop below us, then turned to me, her eyes filled with worry.
“Are you really sure you won’t regret this?”
I shook my head.
“Regret what? After this ‘rebirth,‘ we’ll be free to live the rest of our lives, never again bothered by men.”
“What about you, though? Are you truly ready to leave the Richardsons behind?”
<
Mom squeezed my hands tightly.
“Compared to the Richardsons, you’re the most important person in my life.”
Moments later, hikers on the mountain suddenly let out a shriek.
“Help! Someone fell off the cliff!”
