Eulalia breathed a sigh of relief when it became quiet outside her door. Percival must have gone to Evadne's room. She was glad she had arranged for Evadne's room to be far away, or she might have heard sounds she didn't want to hear.Without Percival, she should have been able to sleep peacefully, but Eulalia found that she couldn't sleep at all. Her body ached everywhere, and her head was uncomfortable. She got up and took two sleeping pills from the drawer before finally drifting off.Percival woke up early, but when he went downstairs, he found that someone had risen even earlier. As he approached the dining room, he smelled the fragrance of porridge.The kitchen had a frosted sliding door, and through it, he could see a hazy figure inside. A classic line suddenly came to his mind:— Who has a soul touched by mountains and rivers, yet finds themselves bound by the daily grind, the kitchen’s warmth, and the complexities of love?A warmth spread through his heart, soothing every par

Eulalia was shaking all over, leaning against the wall to keep herself upright. She had suspected that her father's death had something to do with Percival, but she never knew the truth could be so brutal."Sacrifice," she thought, the word echoing in her mind. The price was too high. She had gambled everything on an unknown outcome, and now she had lost it all.Evadne, taking pleasure in Eulalia's misery, sneered: "Eulalia, admit it, you're a losing bargain! You deserve this! Without the Clearwater family, you're worse than a beggar, just a stray dog!"Eulalia looked at her with disdain, then raised her hand and slapped her hard across the face. The sound echoed through the empty living room. She used all her strength, and Evadne, caught off guard, fell to the ground."You hit me? Do you believe I'll tell..." Evadne began, but Eulalia slapped her again before she could finish."Hit you? I should have slapped you twice yesterday. You made me suffer for nothing," Eulalia said, her eyes

Eulalia had thought of many outcomes, but she never expected Percival to mock and ridicule her so openly to defend Evadne.Her heart was numb with pain, but the discomfort was unbearable. Eulalia coughed twice, wiping the blood from her hand on her clothes, thankful that she was wearing a black jacket that wouldn't show the stain.“If you can’t keep your mouth shut, you deserve a slap, right? That’s what you always told me, Percival. Don’t even talk about two slaps; you’ve hit me way more than that. What I did to her doesn’t even compare to a fraction of what you’ve done to me.” Eulalia leaned back against the bed, struggling to push herself up. Her body wobbled, but she managed to stay on her feet.Percival’s slap had been harder than ever, leaving her bleeding from her nose and mouth, her head still spinning.Percival ignored Eulalia’s pale face. He knew her tricks, always playing sick to gain sympathy. He’d fallen for it once, but not again!People are like that; once deceived, the

Percival got back at ten in the morning, his mind heavy with worry about Eulalia. He didn't dare lock her up for too long, haunted by the memory of what had happened last time.Once home, he played out various scenes in his head: Eulalia tearfully apologizing, or maybe still stubbornly refusing to admit she was wrong. But what he found instead was a nightmare he hadn't even considered—a floor splattered with blood and no sign of Eulalia anywhere.A strange panic seized him, his heart feeling like it was missing a piece. It was like losing a favorite childhood toy and never finding it again.The villa was eerily silent. He shouted Eulalia's name, his voice echoing through the empty rooms, answered only by silence.He stepped over shattered glass on the balcony, bending down to remove the blood-stained handcuffs still attached to the railing. They felt rusty, like old iron.When had Eulalia disappeared? There were no security cameras in the villa. The quickest way to find her would be t

Eulalia was like a broken tape recorder, speaking in fits and starts. Maybe even she didn't know what she was saying. Her mind was a mess, but her heart was even messier.Her words were like pebbles thrown into Percival's calm lake of a heart, causing ripples that quickly smoothed over.For some reason, Percival's heart ached. He looked at Eulalia but saw Evadne's face in his mind. What was Eulalia compared to that? Why should he be afraid of her hypothetical scenarios?The room was warm, bathed in bright sunlight that seemed to sweep away all the shadows in the corners. Despite the warmth, Percival broke into a cold sweat.He suddenly stood up, gripping Eulalia's thin chin. "Trying to gain my sympathy? You think a few words can make up for your past mistakes?"Eulalia paused for a second and then smiled. "You saw through me, huh?"Half of her face was in shadow, making her expression elusive.So it was true! Percival felt relieved to have his suspicions confirmed. He wanted to scold