“Why is this ugly woman still here? Mr. Fuentes, if she stays, I’m afraid I’ll lose my appetite for discussing business with you.”
Robert walked over to me and said quietly, “Amelia, please go home first. I’m sorry, but I have to close this deal today. I’ll explain everything to everyone later, alright?”
Before turning away, he hesitated, but he still continued, “From now on … it’s better if you don’t wear clothes that show your arms or neckline.”
I saw the faint look of disgust in his eyes. It was almost funny to me. Didn’t he realize that every scar on my body was his doing?
That night, I woke up to the sound of someone kicking my door. Robert burst in, furious. He dragged me out of bed.
“Just because I didn’t acknowledge you today and gave Gloria that necklace, you had to hurt her like this?!”
Before I could respond, he pulled me straight to Gloria’s room. Under the torn quilt, dozens of leeches writhed and twisted. Their sticky bodies were glistening in the dim light.
“Amelia … ”
Gloria whimpered, “I never meant to steal your necklace or your place. It was Robert’s decision, not mine. I couldn’t explain it. But how could you do something so cruel, stuffing blood-sucking leeches into my blanket?”
She touched her belly and sobbed.
“I’m pregnant with Robert’s child. Luckily, I found them in time… I’ll return the necklace to you, but please just let me go.”
I looked straight at Robert.
“I didn’t do this. If you don’t believe me, check the cameras.”
But he didn’t even hesitate to not trust me.
“There’s no need. I know your vengeful nature too well. I thought prison had changed you, but you’ve only gotten worse. You should’ve stayed there a few more years!”
He glared at me coldly as he threatened me, “No matter what, I’ll teach you a lesson tonight. You’ll never dare touch Gloria again.”
Half an hour later, Robert’s men came in, covering their noses as they carried a large barrel half their height. The tub was full of leeches, writhing in dark water.
“Dump them into the bathtub,” Robert ordered.
“Then push Amelia in.”
I looked up at him sharply as I told him, “Robert, you’ll regret this.”
“If I don’t teach you a lesson, I’ll be the one who regrets it!” he shouted.
They forced me into the tub.
Hundreds of leeches clung to my skin, wriggling wildly as they sucked my blood. Within seconds, the water turned deep red. My body went numb. After that, everything went dark.