Chapter 14

“Did you think that it would be Aidan?” the figure scoffed, “Well, too bad for you - what makes you think that he would even come for you in the first place? Let me tell you now that he won’t come to see you - after all, he resents and detests you to the core…” It was Laura - here to taunt and provoke Eliana, yet again. Laura hovered over Eliana as she looked down at her contemptuously and disdainfully, as though the latter was nothing but a pile of filth on the ground. “Tsk, tsk - are you the most beautiful socialite in all of Mallstrick City? Hmm, it seems to me that you’re more like a shameless and dirty bitch - how did you get so pathetic, hmm? How is it that you still have the nerve to act all high and mighty even after committing all of your sins?” Ignoring the sharp glare that Eliana shot at her, Laura continued, “Oh, that’s right - Aidan won’t let you die for my sake...because...because…” She then squatted down and dug a fingernail into Eliana’s lower abdomen as she said, “...because I need - no, because I want your liver. I can have any liver, but I only want yours - and Aidan will help me get it.” Eliana gritted her teeth, trying her best to calm herself down and not lose it at Laura - after all, this vicious and evil woman was not worth her time and effort. She growled, “You’d better get out of my sight this instant!” Laura scoffed, “Oh, don’t worry, I’m not here because I want to - heck, I’m only here because I wanted to give you a present…” She then got back up, walked over to the door, and produced a bag - she smirked at Eliana, “Do you want to take a guess what’s inside, my dear cousin?” Eliana’s eyes narrowed as she realized that whatever was inside the bag was moving. Just then, Laura pinched the bottom of the bag and tipped it over to reveal what was inside - it was a huge rat. Eliana immediately flinched back by reflex - she couldn’t help but think about what happened two years ago… ...ever since that incident, Eliana couldn’t help but start to sweat profusely and hyperventilate whenever she saw a furry animal - she felt as though she was being gripped at the throat, as though she was drowning or suffocating in some way… The rat wandered about the room for a while before it darted right out of the door. Laura couldn’t help but guffaw at just how frightened Eliana look. “Eliana, oh, Eliana - didn’t you hail from such a good and pristine family background? What happened to you? I was the one who had nothing, but look where I am today! You still lost to me in the end - how embarrassing for you! Aidan is all mine now - I won.” Still shaken from the sight of the rat, Eliana tried her best to hold herself together as she spat back in the least quivering voice that she could manage, “F-Fuck off, Laura.” … Aidan came home early from work as he was in no mood to work. Robert rushed forward to greet him as soon as he walked through the doors, “Second Young Master, you’re back.” “So, did she admit to her mistakes?” Aidan asked. “...” Robert did not say anything in reply. Aidan’s face instantly darkened at this. “Second Young Master, Miss Harvey lost quite a lot of blood last night,” Robert tried to speak up for Eliana, “I’m afraid that if this goes on, she...she might not be able to take it.” “So what? It serves her right - she asked for it.” Aidan shot back coldly before walking into his study. Just then, a servant entered and whispered something into Robert’s ear. As soon as he heard what the former had told him, Robert informed, “Second Young Master, Miss Collins had just gone down to the basement.” Aidan immediately stopped in his tracks, “What is she doing down in the basement?” Naturally, Robert did not know. Aidan paused for a moment before deciding to head down to the basement to find out for himself - Robert followed closely behind him. Laura exited the basement just as they approached - as soon as she saw them, the former hastily hid the things that she had in her hands behind her back. Aidan asked her coldly, “What were you doing in there?” “Me? Ah...I was just...checking to see if my dear cousin was alright.” Unconvinced, Aidan eyed where Laura had hidden her hands behind her back for a moment before he continued, “What’s that in your hands?” “Huh? Oh, uh...n-nothing.” Laura stammered in response. Aidan exchanged a look with Robert - the latter then stepped forward and warned, “Miss Collins, you’d better hand whatever you have in your hands by yourself.” And so, Laura bit her lip and lowered her head before she slowly handed the bag over to Robert, who opened the bag and peered inside - he then passed it to Aidan. Inside the bag were a few snacks. “Who said that you could come down here?” Tears started to well up in Laura’s eyes as she explained stutteringly, “I-I...I just wanted to...check up on my dear cousin...I was afraid that she wasn’t eating well, so I...I just wanted to send her a few snacks...I was concerned that she might be hungry…” “Did she eat?” Laura shook her head, “No, she didn’t want to eat anything that I offered her because she felt that everything that had happened today was all because of me…” She then clung to Aidan’s arm as she pleaded, “Aidan, please, it was all my fault...Ellie has nothing to do with all of this. Won’t you please spare her? She didn’t do anything wrong…” Aidan shook Laura off before turning to Robert and instructing him, “Robert, take Laura back to rest.” And so, Aidan walked into the basement by himself. The door of the basement creaked open again - Eliana thought that Laura had returned. Alas, her head felt so heavy that she didn’t even look up - she remained sprawled across the floor. Just then, Aidan took a step forward and kicked Eliana in the side - only for her not to respond. Infuriated by her lack of response, the former knelt and grabbed the latter roughly by the scuff. Eliana squinted, trying her best to see who it was - alas, she passed out from exhaustion before she could do so. Aidan scoffed, “Eliana, oh Eliana - you’re so headstrong and arrogant that you’re not even willing to admit your mistakes. You know what? Fine - fine! I want to see just how long you can hold on…” He then shoved Eliana aside, such that the latter crumbled like a rag doll - she hit the wall before sliding onto the ground, still and unmoving.