I clenched my teeth and resisted until, in the end, he let out a sigh.
Holding my gaze, he tilted his head back and took a sip of the milk himself.
Then, gripping my chin, he kissed me.
My teeth were pried apart, and the liquid slid past my lips, invading my mouth.
The cloying sweetness of milk was mixed with the recklessness of a drunk man who had lost all restraint.
It made me feel sick—like something was stuck in my chest, suffocating me.
I couldn’t hold it in any longer.
Tears welled up and spilled over as I sobbed, and only then did he finally stop.
The night was silent and merciless.
I stared at the vase of dried flowers by the entryway for a long time.
Eventually, his voice broke the stillness.
Low. Hoarse. Fractured.
He pulled me into his arms, his body always unbearably warm, burning against my skin.
Over and over, he murmured apologies in my ear.
“Don’t cry. I was wrong, Alice. It’s my fault…”
“Please, stop crying… okay?”
At that moment, I almost believed that, all along, I had been someone he cherished.
…
A man who was satisfied was always easy to reason with.
I tested his limits by saying I didn’t want to see Lily again.
The next day, I saw her tearfully packing her suitcase.
I couldn’t understand Ethan anymore.
He wasn’t the kind of man who obeyed my words so easily.
And besides, wasn’t Lily his first love?
When something didn’t make sense to me, I usually just asked.
But all he did was narrow his eyes and ruffle my hair—his usual way of brushing me off.
“Alice, you were never anyone’s replacement.”
See? Men always knew how to spin pretty words.
As long as he didn’t want to, he would never tell me his real intentions.
The only one being played here was me.
…
Maybe it was the stifling summer heat, but even the housekeeper’s best meals hadn’t tempted my appetite these past few days.
Forcing down the last bite of pork chop and pasta, I rushed to the bathroom and threw up, gripping the toilet for support.
At that moment, my heart suddenly skipped a beat—fast and erratic.
I hadn’t had my period in months.
…
