Chapter 115 She Surrenders
“B-Big bro…”
Ultimately, she gave in.
So what if I did? Does he think that by having me call him that, he can erase all the harm he’s caused me and pretend like nothing ever happened? What on earth do you want, Eric?
He smiled. She knows full well that she’s asking for trouble by going against me. Why doesn’t she ever learn? She just has to make me teach her a lesson.
“Don’t let me hear you say that a second time. I can’t deny those things, but I don’t like hearing about it! Understand?” he said.
Eileen remained silent.
Eric pinched her chin, forcing her to lift her head and meet his eyes. “Answer me!”
Eileen had no intention of yielding. If the issue wasn’t resolved comprehensively, the status quo would persist, and the same problems would likely recur in the future.
“Big bro… I’m just reminding you, what you want is to ruin me, unlike what you’re doing right now. You’re committing indecent, lewd acts with a teenager.” Eileen chortled, her eyes filled with icy resentment. “You used to not let me touch you. Don’t tell me that your actions. toward me now mean you’ve fallen for me.”
Eric’s gaze grew even more unfathomable.
In the end, Eileen still didn’t go to school. Eric made a phone call to apply for leave on her behalf.
Around four in the afternoon, Eric pulled her into the car. They had run out of gauze from the medical kit at home, so he drove her to the hospital.
Eileen occupied the pa*senger seat, having changed back into her usual clothes. Her school uniform, stained with blood, had already been sent for dry cleaning.
Gazing out of the car window, she remarked, “I don’t want to go to Serene Hospital.”
She harbored a distrust for Zachary, the effeminate man who was Eric’s accomplice. I might just die if we go to his hospital.
Eric didn’t say a word, but at the upcoming traffic light, he changed lanes and took a different direction.
Upon reaching General Hospital, he queued up for registration.
Eileen then proceeded to the consultation room to have her wound treated. The blood had already coagulated, sticking to the stitches. As the doctor removed the stitches, the pain caused her to furrow her brows.
“Don’t move. It has solidified. I’m going to clean it with alcohol, and it might hurt a bit, so bear with it.” The doctor picked up a cotton ball soaked in alcohol with a pair of tweezers and said, “Hold your girlfriend steady. Don’t let her move around.”
Eileen explained indifferently, “We’re not in that kind of relationship. He’s my brother.”
The doctor chuckled. “You young folks sure love joking around. No brother would bite their own sister’s mouth till it bleeds. You’re no better than her, young man.”
Eric, wearing a harmless smile, looked every bit the gentleman. He said with a laugh, “She’s still mad at me, so don’t mind her.”
The doctor seemed to only believe Eric’s explanation.
Eileen really didn’t get it. They stubbornly choose to believe in their own a*sumptions rather than the truth I just told.
The sun was already setting, casting a dusky hue outside when they left the hospital.
The car began to move, and on the road, Eric picked up a call. “What’s up?”
“Eric, the fridge is out of strawberries. Could you get some? I feel like having some.”
“I got it. Anything else you want?”
“That’s all! Thank you, Eric. The teacher’s here. I have to hang up now.”
“Okay.”
The phone wasn’t soundproof, allowing Eileen to hear everything clearly. There was a noticeable contrast between the way Eric treated her and the way he treated Vera.
Eric made a quick trip to the supermarket, but Eileen chose not to leave the car. He called her name, but she ignored him, steadfast in her refusal.
Seated in the car, she adjusted the rearview mirror. From her backpack, she retrieved the concealer gifted by Yvette, exactly what she needed at the moment.
Although she couldn’t find the same concealer anywhere online, the price of this particular brand was exorbitant.
It seemed custom-made, unavailable in regular stores. The one she held in her hand likely started at least in the four figures.
She dabbed some concealer on her l*ps to cover the swollen and reddish parts. Then, avoiding the wound, she applied another layer of l*pstick. Otherwise, it would be hard to explain when she got home.
Half an hour later, Eileen grew impatient from waiting.
Finally, the man emerged from the supermarket entrance, carrying two large bags brimming with items. He stowed all his purchases in the trunk of his car, then took the pa*senger seat and headed home. Vera had also returned home, perhaps alerted by the sound of footsteps; she hurriedly opened the door.
“Eric, let me take it,” she offered.
“No need. It’s a bit heavy.”
“All right then.”
Eileen had no interest in witnessing their display of sibling affection. In the presence of others, it would be immediately apparent that she was the one who was out of place.
Eric moved to the refrigerator to put the things away, with Vera trailing behind him. “Eric, did Sharon take a day off today? What are we having for dinner? I can cook.”
“I’ve ordered takeout, and it’ll arrive soon. Go do some homework. I’ll let you know when it’s here.”
Eileen, with her backpack on and dressed in a fresh set of clothes, emerged from her room and was about to leave when Vera stopped her. “Eileen… are you leaving? It looks like it’s going to rain outside. Take an umbrella with you.”
Eileen replied, “I brought it.”
Eric took out a box of fresh milk from the bag and put it in the refrigerator, asking in a deep voice, “Where are you going?”
“To an extracurricular cla*s. Be back by ten. Go to sleep and don’t wait for me.”
With that, Eileen closed the door and left, leaving Vera and Eric alone.
The atmosphere once again stiffened.
She had only been gone for about two minutes when the meal they ordered from Fancy Parlor arrived.
The portion was meant for three people and occupied almost the entire dining table.
Vera had been attempting to lose weight recently, and the two of them simply couldn’t finish all the food. Initially, they had planned to eat the leftovers the next day, but the refrigerator was already filled with snacks and fruits Eric had purchased from the supermarket.
In the indoor golf course at Primas Plaza, after an hour of practice, Quinton handed Eileen a bottle of water. They settled in the rest area, where the air conditioner softly hummed. Feeling a bit warm, Eileen took off her jacket. Underneath, she wore a black, semi-high collar sweater that hugged her b*dy, accentuating her perfect curves. She exuded both the vibrant beauty of a young girl and the allure of a mature woman. In short, she was a stunning beauty.
“It’s uncommon to see a figure like yours at your age.”
Eileen was surprised, then belatedly understood what he had just said. “What did you just say?”
Quinton gave a slight smile. “It’s nothing. You seem preoccupied lately, is there something on your mind? Did you have a disagreement with your boyfriend?”
Eileen furrowed her brows. “Do you think that’s what happened, too?”
Quinton raised his hand and pointed to the same spot on his own l*ps where her wound was and said, “Here. It’s hard not to think that way.”
Eileen felt comfort and peace when talking to Quinton. He was the kind of friend with whom she could have deep heart-to-heart conversations.
“So… it’s not?”
Eileen looked down. “It’s swelling because of inflammation. It’s not what you’re thinking.”
“I’m sorry.”
Eileen didn’t understand why he was apologizing, but she still replied, “It’s okay.”
This cla*s was added by her on a whim, a deviation from Quinton’s usual schedule.
Eileen made this spontaneous decision solely to avoid encountering Eric.
Today, she found it difficult to concentrate; her mind wandered no matter what she did.
At nine o’clock, Quinton drove her back to Euphoria Condominium.
Eileen checked the time but instead of rushing back, she chose to sit at the base of the apartment building.
She didn’t feel like going back.
