Chapter 13: You Slept With Him?

Chapter 13: Chapter 13: You Slept With Him?

I didn’t go home that night.

I slept curled up on a hospital bench all night long.

When I woke up the next day, I had a high fever.

My phone had been silent all night. Julian Fletcher hadn’t even called me once.

Sitting on the bench, I called Frank. "Frank... about what you said, about studying abroad... I’ve made up my mind."

"Cece, do you have a cold?" Frank asked worriedly, probably noticing my voice sounded off.

"Yeah, I got caught in the rain yesterday. I have a bit of a cold today."

"Where are you? I’ll bring you some cold medicine," Frank said, sounding anxious.

"Frank, if I submit my application today, what’s the soonest I can go abroad?" I asked, a sense of urgency in my voice.

’I had a premonition back then. If I didn’t leave soon, I might actually die.’

’Die at the hands of Julian Fletcher.’

’I want to live a good life. I want to get away from Julian Fletcher.’

’Once I leave, everything will be over.’

"If you apply now, you could get the review notice in two months. I’ll ask my professor to expedite it. The moment we get the notice, I’ll help you book a flight," Frank said, still concerned. "Is your cold serious? Should I come pick you up?"

"It’s okay, Frank... I’m at the hospital. Thank you."

I thought that in two months, I could leave Meridia forever. I could escape this place, escape Julian Fletcher for good.

After hanging up, I left the hospital.

Walking through a small alley outside the hospital, I suddenly felt lost, with no idea where to go.

My parents died in a car crash. The house was sold, and the death compensation was used to pay off debts. Besides the Fletcher family’s house, I didn’t even have a place to stay.

I didn’t even know where my own home was anymore.

I was so dizzy. I found a corner to sit down in, leaned against the wall, and drifted back into a daze.

I don’t know how long I slept. When I woke up, I found a jacket draped over me. It was worn out, but I could tell it had been washed with care.

I looked around. The alley was empty. There was no one there.

As I got up, I saw two bread rolls in a plastic bag next to me.

I gave a bitter, helpless smile. ’Some kind soul must have mistaken me for a beggar...’

’A beggar?’

’I guess I am.’

Julian Fletcher once said, "You live in my house, eat my food, and use my things. What’s the difference between you and a beggar?"

’No difference at all.’

I neatly folded the kind person’s jacket and placed it on a clean spot, leaving the two rolls with it.

’If that kind person comes back, they’ll probably take them.’

I steadied myself against the wall and took a few steps. I felt a movement behind me, and when I turned, I caught a glimpse of a tall, thin figure in a hoodie disappearing in a flash.

I didn’t think much of it. I walked straight out of the alley and hailed a taxi by the roadside.

「...」

When I returned to the Fletcher family’s home, Julian Fletcher was there.

"Julian, where’s Cece? Why isn’t she back yet? She was gone all night," Mrs. Fletcher said, sounding worried.

"She’s a grown woman. It’s not like she could have dropped dead, could she?" Julian retorted, clearly annoyed.

I stood outside the door, sighing as I watched Julian’s impatient expression.

"Miss Cece," the housekeeper said, seeing me by the door. "There’s someone at the gate for you. He says his name is Frank Walsh, your senior."

I froze for a second, then turned and ran out.

’Why is Frank here?’

"Frank..." I ran to the gate and saw Frank Walsh waiting for me, holding a bag of medicine.

"I bought you some cold medicine," Frank said with a smile.

I felt a surge of gratitude and reached out to take the medicine.

"The Fletcher family isn’t so poor that we need you to deliver cold medicine." Julian Fletcher’s voice, cold as ice, came from behind me.

I didn’t know when he had come out, but as soon as he got close, my entire body tensed up.

"Julian Fletcher, Cece has a cold. There’s no need for your snide remarks," Frank said with a frown.

"Hah. She has a cold. What’s that got to do with you? Who are you to her? Why so concerned? Have you two slept together?" Julian Fletcher said, deliberately trying to disgust me.

My eyes welled with tears as I looked at Julian Fletcher. "And what am I to you? What gives you the right to talk to my friend like that...?"

Julian Fletcher frowned, probably not expecting me to talk back. "Hah. Cecilia Caldwell, you’ve gotten bold, haven’t you? You ask what we are to each other? Should I tell him in front of everyone that I’ve slept with you, or that you’ve been living in our house like a beggar for all these years?"

My breath came in hot gasps as I stared at Julian Fletcher, my vision trembling with despair.