Chapter 2

We drove back to the Chaney residence. Jeffrey ordered someone to take me to the bathroom. I refused the servants' help. But I asked them to bring me a long dress from my old closet.

After a while, they finally found a long-sleeved dress, similar to a student's suit.

No one defined what a student should wear. But as I looked at myself in the mirror, I did look more like a student.

Before I was kidnapped, I received an acceptance letter from a top foreign design college, and now, it had been three months since the reporting time.

"Thanks."

The servants were shocked, not expecting me to thank them.

After the kidnap, I was essentially the same as them. They were the servants hired by the Chaney family, and I was the daughter hired.

Pushing the door open, I saw Jeffrey standing on the stairway waiting for me. He half leaned on the railing and looked at me. He then snorted.

"Audrey, what’s wrong with you? Dressed like this?"

What? Jeffrey thought it was another childish act of me trying to get his attention, but I just wanted to cover the bruises on my body.

I followed Jeffrey to the dining room. It was silent until Jeffrey gestured for me to come forward. I saw the worried faces of Richard Chaney and Helen Drake sitting at the table.

As soon as Helen saw me, she got up and rushed over. She was unsteady on her feet and was supported by a woman next to her.

"Mrs. Chaney, don't worry. Isn't Ms. Houston back intact? Ms. Houston, Mrs. Chaney was so worried about you."

I knew this young lady. She was Jeffrey's secretary.

Joanna Wyatt was a beautiful blonde, wearing the simplest and plainest turtleneck sweater and jeans. There was a beautiful rose gold necklace hanging around her neck.

I was "intact". Joanna’s words made me become the Chaney family’s ungrateful daughter. In fact, I was a victim.

Helen held my hand, crying. Joanna on the side comforted her. But I could not cry. I looked at Jeffrey. From his eyes, I could see annoyance.

Finally, Richard interrupted, "Let Audrey have some food first."

Helen wiped her tears. "Sorry, I’m so sad. Audrey must have been through a tough period. Come on, they made your favorite fish."

Helen took me to sit between Richard and her. Jeffrey sat across from me, and Joanna sat next to him.

What a loving family!

I looked at the food. It smelt so good that I almost forgot what food looked like. What I wanted was to throw down my fork, grab it with my hands, and stuff it into my mouth.

The closer it got to the downtown of the city, the stricter the hygiene control was. Gradually, I couldn't find any garbage. It meant there was no food for me. I was almost starving for three days and had to eat leaves to fill my stomach.

Under the gaze of the family, I restrained myself and ate slowly. But I still felt Joanna ridiculing me. She used the fork and knife to eat elegantly.

Jeffrey saw this scene. He was more disgusted with me. But as Helen asked, he had to take care of me.

Now I could swallow a cow, but looking at the food he passed to me, I felt nauseous.

"Audrey, try it. Jeffrey knows you like sweet food and specially asked them to prepare it for you."

It was funny. Jeffrey didn't even know what I liked. On the contrary, I knew his preferences and his favorite color was rose gold.

Seeing my hesitation, Richard asked with concern, "What's wrong, Audrey? What happened between you two? Did he bully you?"

"Dad," Jeffrey interrupted. Perhaps he felt that Richard’s words made him embarrassed, especially in front of Joanna.

I shook my head without speaking, overcoming that nausea. I tried to eat it.

But the moment I swallowed it, I spat it out.

Jeffrey was stunned. I immediately stood up from the stool, holding my head and hiding in the corner.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'll eat it. Don't hit me!"

Everyone was shocked. Helen's tears flowed down again. She came over to hug me. "Did those people mistreat you, Audrey? Tell me."

Richard brought Jeffrey over as well. Richard looked anxious, worrying about me.

Jeffrey, however, frowned and did not say a word. His face darkened.

What did it mean? Didn't the kidnappers threaten the Chaney family, saying that if they didn't pay the ransom, they would never let go of their daughter easily?

Why were they worried about me now?

Actually, bad food wasn't an abuse. After all, I ate the worst.

I was afraid that my life was in the hands of Jeffrey.

The kidnappers had dealt with him, and he chose to abandon me. I never knew he hated me so much.

That was where my nausea came from, I guess.