Chapter 5
773 Words
It was the end of summer and early autumn, and the night was chilling, making one numb both physically and psychologically.
Julieanna walked all the way home with blood blisters all over her feet.
She opened the door and entered the space where she was alone.
She took off her clothes and took a shower without saying a word.
She showered her with scalding water until her skin was about to be scalded off. Then she turned off the shower and rubbed herself with a bath ball hard.
While doing these, she thought, with a bit more force, those disgusting marks will go away.
She kept a poker face and did not cry from beginning to end. Yet when she looked in the mirror and saw the bruise on her neck, she stared for a long time at herself in the mirror with bloodshot eyes, and then she suddenly broke down and burst into tears.
She thought, since when did I make myself such a wimp?
"Loser."
The woman, with her reflection in the mirror, raised her hand and slapped herself hard.
One was not enough. She slapped herself again.
She figured that physical pain could clear her head.
She dried her eyes, went out of the bathroom, blow-dried her hair, and calmed down.
She thought, Louis is like an untimed bomb. I can never afford to meet him again. I won't be as lucky as I was today.
I'm not stupid enough to scheme against Mireya for real. No matter how annoying she is, I still won't ruin her life.
Maybe quitting is the best choice. I'll leave Washington, D.C. and bring my mom to a smaller city.
Adam is a generous man. He has given me two properties over the years, and I have saved up about 300 thousand dollars.
At the thought of that, she felt less stressed.
Without hesitation, she threw away the towel and sent her resignation application to the HR Department right away.
After she sent the email, she felt relieved. Yet such a feeling only lasted for a moment. Soon, she was overwhelmed by a frightening emptiness, as if her heart were dug out.
Julieanna leaned against the chair and covered her eyes, trying her best to calm down and collect herself.
She didn't know how much time had passed. Then she felt tired, got up, threw herself on the sofa, and fell asleep.
She was about to quit anyway. Therefore, when the alarm went off, she simply clicked the button and stopped the alarm from ringing.
She slept until late in the morning, and then she was awakened by the incessant ringing of her phone.
She fumbled for her phone and answered the call in a daze.
"Hello."
"Ms. Seymour, this is Terrell."
Julieanna opened her eyes impatiently and sat up. "Yeah?"
"Mr. Pruitt is in the hospital. Please come here now."
"The hospital?" Julieanna frowned and did not move. "I can't go over," she said.
Terrell Bafford was surprised. He paused for a second and then said, "Ms. Seymour, you know Mr. Pruitt. There is no need to be too serious. Otherwise, you should know the consequences."
Julieanna did not speak.
Terrell's tone was softer as he continued, "Ms. Seymour, I must remind you that the two properties in your name are gifts, and Mr. Pruitt can take them back at any minute."
Julieanna clenched her phone and tightened her jaw.
Terrell said, "I hear your mother is still in a nursing home. It's not cheap, is it?"
Julieanna took a deep breath and calmed down. "Send me the address."
"OK," Terrell said politely and hung up at once.
Julieanna was in a bad mood. She endured her anger and changed her clothes.
She was not in a hurry. She took a taxi and went over slowly while cursing Adam along the way.
She thought, I hope it's more than some minor ailment. It's better if you get a stomach ulcer or something, so you can be miserable.
When she arrived at the hospital, Terrell texted her and asked her to go to the second exam room on her left-hand side on the third floor.
Julieanna got out of the elevator, looked up, and found herself in the Gynecology Department.
She was stunned for a second. Unable to react in time, she knocked on the door of the examination room tentatively.
"Hello..."
There was only one female doctor in the examination room. She looked up at Julieanna coldly.
"Ms. Seymour?"
"Yes."
"You may lie down. I'll be with you in a second."
Julieanna was stunned, feeling that her feet were glued to the ground.
- Writer
