Chapter 7

Brooklyn kept banging her body against the door, begging for a way out. "Christopher! Christopher! Open the door!" Outside, Samantha chuckled lightly. "Stop banging the door, Brooklyn. It has three locks. Chris specially had the locks replaced this morning just for you. "No matter how loud you scream, Chris won't hear you. He's in the kitchen cooking salmon for me. He said he's never cooked for you before. "Is that true? Oh, and by the way, I've prepared a surprise for you. One of the snakes in there is poisonous. Want to guess which one it is?" Samantha stalked away, humming a tune. Brooklyn felt nothing but despair as she stared at the slithering creatures. At 11.00 pm, Christopher finally came to open the door. "Have you regained some of your empathy and tolerance now?" he asked. However, there was no response in the dark. Christopher turned on the light and saw Brooklyn collapsed on the ground. Her arm was covered in multiple snakebite wounds from sharp fangs. Panic washed over him, and he quickly rushed her to the hospital. Christopher felt like he had been struck by lightning when he found out that Brooklyn was poisoned by a venomous snake. "How is that possible? How could this happen…" He grabbed the doctor's collar and pleaded, "Save her! You must save her!" The next morning, his disheveled figure appeared before Brooklyn the moment she opened her eyes. Christopher rushed to her side and gripped her hand tightly. "How do you feel?" His eyes were bloodshot from worry. Brooklyn pulled her hand away from him slowly. She pressed the call button for her doctor and nurse to ask about her condition. The nurse spoke with admiration, "Fortunately, your husband arranged for antivenom from all over the city last night. He spared no effort or expense to save your life!" However, Brooklyn remained indifferent. She didn't even care to give a response. After the hospital staff left, Christopher explained hurriedly, "There shouldn't have been a venomous snake. I chose only hognose snakes. They are kept as pets and are harmless. I never meant to hurt you—" Brooklyn interrupted him, asking, "Could you stop talking? You're too noisy." Her polite but distant tone sent a wave of panic through Christopher. When Brooklyn was preparing for discharge, he quickly got up to pack her things and bring her a change of clothes. Christopher felt like something important was slipping from his grasp and through his fingers when he saw her indifferent and stony expression. Christopher hugged Samantha tightly and comforted her gently. His tone revealed a panic and alarm that he himself didn't realize. "I've found Samantha a new place to live. You and Robert can move back home. No, Robert is already home. We're only missing you now." However, Brooklyn remained silent. He continued, "How about we go on a family trip in the next few days? You've always wanted to go on a vacation, haven't you?" There was still no response from her. Christopher's phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Samantha. He hesitated for a moment, a flicker of impatience on his face. Then, he looked cautiously at Brooklyn's reaction. She finally said, "Answer it." On the other end, Samantha's crying voice came through. "Chris, it's all my fault for coming back. I caused all this conflict between you and Brooklyn. I'm leaving now, so you two will be well…" Christopher bolted out of the hospital ward immediately. Brooklyn didn't even bother to watch him leave. She picked up her bag and went downstairs alone. First, she went to the courthouse to get her divorce certificate. After that, she returned to that broken "home" to pick up her son. "Robert, your dad and I are divorced now. Do you want to come with me?" Brooklyn asked. Robert's eyes were red as he gently touched the wounds on her arm. "Dad did this, didn't he?" Large teardrops rolled down his cheeks as he shouted fiercely, "I don't want him anymore! I hate him!" Stroking his face tenderly, Brooklyn carried Robert into a taxi and headed straight for the airport. Brooklyn sent Christopher the audio recording she took at the hospital ward that day and then blocked his number. Moments before the plane took off, she received a call from the private investigator. "Samantha's private life abroad was quite colorful. She slept with pretty much everyone in the North Carimera's international student community. What's more, she might be linked to her adoptive father's death." Brooklyn sat up abruptly when she heard the news. "Send me the files."