It was a stormy night a week ago and Wendy suddenly craved wild game from the mountains.
Jonathan demanded that I go get it right away.
I refused because I wasn't feeling well and as a result, the bodyguards dragged me out of the house and dumped me on a deserted mountain in the pouring rain.
I walked home step by step, only to fall down the mountainside halfway there, nearly losing my life.
Thinking of that night made me tremble. I crouched down and gently picked up the little cat. She thought I was playing and purred happily in my arms.
"Be good to her," I said to Wendy softly.
Jonathan seemed pleased by my obedience and said in a rare gesture of alms, "It's best if you are sensible. After all, the baby in Wendy's belly will also call you mom in the future. You should know she is giving birth to a child for you."
Just as he finished speaking, Wendy suddenly shrieked. It turned out that as soon as the cat was in her arms, it got scared and quickly ran away.
Wendy clutched her stomach and cried out in pain. Jonathan immediately picked her up anxiously and shouted at the housekeeper to call a doctor.
Wendy's mother looked at me mockingly as if finding me utterly ridiculous.
Indeed, it was ridiculous.
The day before yesterday, I had a high fever of 104 degrees Fahrenheit and Jonathan was about to take Wendy home.
When he saw me, he cursed me for being bad luck and told the housekeeper to move me to the storage room for isolation.
"Disinfect every corner of the house thoroughly. Don't let her out until she's completely better, in case she infects Wendy!"
No meds. No blankets. I curled up in a corner and survived two days on my own.
Now, Wendy just got spooked and he's ready to move heaven and earth.
I tightened my grip on the suitcase and tried to leave, but he grabbed my wrist.
"Kneel." His voice was icy, sharp as glass.
The dull thud of my knees hitting the marble floor blurred my vision.
Sharp fragments of decorative stone dug into my skin. The gasp of pain I let out only earned me a disgusted flick of his hand, as if he had touched something filthy.
"Your wild cat scratched Wendy. Today, either you apologize on its behalf, or … "
He turned to the housekeeper and said sternly, "Bring that beast here and get rid of it in front of her!"
"I was wrong, I was wrong! Don't hurt the cat!"