Chapter 3

After I fell asleep, I might have drunk too much water and woke up needing to pee.

Though my body felt completely weak and powerless, I definitely didn't want to wet the bed.

Using my last bit of strength, I opened my eyes.

I found Dylan was gone. Then I heard voices from the hallway. I listened—it was Dylan.

I opened the door and walked out. When I reached the corner, I heard Dylan's words.

"Ten times," "promotion," "tomorrow night."

Each phrase stabbed into my heart like a knife, leaving me devastated.

I pressed my hands over my mouth, my limbs going cold, my thoughts in chaos.

The overwhelming hatred nearly consumed me.

I needed to figure out what the hell was going on. With difficulty, I returned to bed and lay back down, pretending nothing had happened.

Moments later, Dylan came back.

I felt Dylan kiss my forehead, murmuring, "I'm sorry, Lila. Just one last time."

I kept my eyes closed, desperately suppressing my body's urge to tremble with hatred...

The next morning, Martha returned from the countryside.

Today, I noticed many things I'd never paid attention to before.

Like how the health drinks at night and in the morning only appeared when Dylan and I were intimate.

Like how Martha had to watch me drink a full bowl.

Like the delighted expression on Martha's face after I drank the health drink each day, and Dylan's unnatural attitude.

Like... how every time Dylan stopped mid-way, saying he was getting condoms, but I'd never seen used condoms anywhere in the house.