Chapter 6 Torment Me

Jemima was seated in the treatment room, having her wounds tended to, when the door suddenly burst open. A striking man stormed in with such a fierce demeanor it was as if he intended to commit murder. The doctor was startled by the unexpected entrance. Jemima glanced back. “It's all right. He's my... boss.” She had been on the verge of saying “husband” but replaced it with “boss.” Julius approached the doctor with a lump in his throat and asked, “How is she?” “It's nothing serious, just a superficial wound.” The doctor had no interest in meddling with their relationship. After treating Jemima's wounds, he prescribed some topical medication. Jemima expressed her thanks before she left. Julius followed closely, watching as she went to pay. He insisted on paying instead, and even when it came to picking up the medicine, he insisted on doing it. He was acting just like a devoted and responsible husband. Jemima couldn't be bothered to say anything. After leaving the hospital, she lowered her head to call for an Uber. But Julius snatched her phone away, firmly guiding her to the parking lot with his arm around her shoulder. He opened the passenger door and practically shoved her inside before sliding into the driver's seat himself. He slammed the car door shut with force, instantly blocking out the sounds of the outside world. The atmosphere was tense and oppressive. “Did you block me just to torment me by threatening to end your life?” He turned to look at her, his expression a mix of annoyance and fatigue. Jemima paused for a moment and looked back at him. His handsome face was clouded with gloom, and she couldn't help but burst into laughter. She had been feeling pretty down, but his joke managed to lift her spirits. He cheated on me, and yet he thinks I'm the one tormenting him by threatening to end my life? How can someone be so full of themselves? “You can relax. You won't have to deal with this. Give me back my phone.” Jemima reached out to take the phone he was holding. Julius dodged her hand. “I admit I deceived you today, but you made someone cry without thinking about the consequences. Don't you think that's wrong? She's just a spoiled child who speaks without thinking. There's no reason to hold a grudge against her.” Jemima listened to his twisted reasoning and the way he described the girl, catching the unintentional fondness in his tone. Julius, do you even realize you're the one who betrayed me? After a long silence, she finally spoke. Her voice was laced with the weariness that came after a deep disappointment. “I won't bother her anymore, nor will I care about what happens between you two. But in return, please keep her in check. Don't let her come to me whenever she pleases.” Julius furrowed his brows. “I see her as a little sister, not in the way you're imagining.” “All right, fine.” Jemima held back her urge to expose him and throw the evidence she had gathered right in his face. “I was impulsive, and I misunderstood. In that case, congrats on gaining a little sister. Let's go.” Jemima felt a bone-chilling cold seeping into her. She tightened her grip on the blazer, wrapping it tightly around herself. As her nose brushed against the collar, the warm, rich scent of sandalwood filled her nostrils once again. It was only then that Julius noticed the ash-gray men's blazer she was wearing, clearly a custom-made piece. “Whose blazer is this?” Jemima turned her head toward the window, a hint of mockery in her voice as she replied, “It's my big brother's.” With a stern expression, Julius yanked off the blazer she was wearing and threw it out the window. Jemima was shocked and furious. She got out of the car to retrieve it, knowing she had to return it. Seeing that, Julius pulled her back, leaned in, and kissed her passionately. Jemima bit her lip. Sensing her resistance, he used the crook of his thumb and forefinger to pry open her mouth, engaging her in a forceful and domineering kiss that left no room for argument. After he had kissed her enough, he pulled away, his heavy breath fanning across her face. “Don't push me like this. You need to consider the lives of others.” Jemima was left utterly speechless. In the end, the blazer was never recovered. I've already promised to return it after cleaning. What am I going to do now? After the weekend's tumultuous events, Jemima fell ill with a cold and fever by nightfall. Julius stayed at home and didn't venture out again. He busied himself with cooking risotto and feeding her, creating an illusion in her mind that perhaps, he still harbored feelings of love for her. By midnight, her fever had yet to subside, leaving her feeling groggy and uncomfortable. At that moment, Julius' phone on the bedside table vibrated. Jemima propped herself up, and together with Julius, they both turned their gazes toward the phone. The time displayed was twelve thirty-five. The name flashing on the screen was “Nadie-Bear,” an intimate nickname indeed. In the stillness of the night, the phone's vibration was particularly jarring, as if it weren't just rattling on the bedside table but unsettling their very nerves.