Hating You to the Grave Chapter 3

Marcus held his breath, staring at me.

He was waiting for me to go crazy like I used to.

But I just slid the cake box across the counter. "Here is the dark chocolate cake you ordered. Enjoy."

Savannah rested her chin in her hands, stars in her eyes as she looked at Jules.

"Jules, taste it! Is it your favorite?"

Jules took a sip of coffee, running his thumb along the rim of the cup. He used a silver spoon to cut a piece of cake and put it in his mouth.

"It’s bitter. So bitter it’s astringent. Not very good."

His voice pitched up at the end, teasing Savannah.

Savannah looked confused. She took a bite. "It tastes great! You’re lying to me again!"

She didn’t see that while she looked down, Jules never took his eyes off me.

The doorbell chimed aggressively.

"Boss! Welcome home!"

A group of men rushed in laughing, but their smiles froze the moment they saw me.

They looked at me with suspicion and fear, then looked at Marcus.

I walked over with a pot of tea. They all flinched, raising their arms as if I were about to throw acid.

Over the years of torturing Jules, I had "taken care" of his goons too.

Just minor injuries, mostly. I didn’t expect them to have such deep muscle memory.

"Enjoy," I said, turning to leave.

Savannah grabbed my wrist. "Sister, can you take a picture for us?"

"No."

I brushed her hand off gently.

I tried to walk away, but a dark shadow blocked my path.

I looked up. Jules stood there, his expression gloomy and indifferent.

"I know you business people put a price on everything. Name your price. How much to buy you..."

He paused maliciously, waiting for me to explode. When I didn't, he finished coldly. "...to buy you taking a photo for us."

I looked him up and down. I didn't answer. I tried to step around him.

Suddenly, he pinched the nerve in my arm.

Pain shot through me. I collapsed to my knees.

A black credit card was thrown in my face. The sharp edge cut a line of blood on my cheek.

"The money in that account is enough to buy your life."

I forced myself to stand up. I touched the burning cut on my face, staring dead at Jules.

Savannah stepped between us, smiling sweetly. "Jules, don't be like that..."

"I'm sorry, sister. My fiancé must be drunk."

But he didn't smell like alcohol at all. He just wanted to cause trouble. Just like the last ten years.

I squatted down and picked up the black card. I stood in front of Jules.

His men snickered.

"Boss, this woman hasn't changed a bit. She still bows down for money!"

Jules confidently handed me his phone, seeming satisfied with my "obedience."

I grabbed his chin.

I used the black card to scrape a thick layer of frosting off the cake, and then I shoved it forcefully into his mouth.

I didn't stop until I smelled blood.

Then I grabbed two glasses of whiskey from the table and splashed them right in his face.

"Your mouth is dirty. Let me help you wash it."

In the same motion, I turned and slapped the guy who had spoken earlier.

"Filthy dog. Don't bark when you're not supposed to!"

It happened too fast. No one reacted.

Marcus sighed from the corner and downed his drink. "Why did you guys have to mess with her?"

Savannah snapped out of her shock. "Owner! We might have been rude, but this is too much!"

She raised her hand to hit me.

"Ah!"

Before she could swing, I caught her wrist and slapped her back, hard and clean.

Savannah screamed.

Jules spat out bloody frosting. His smile was terrifying. "Hitting me is fine. But touching my fiancée? That’s wrong."

He pulled the sobbing Savannah into his arms. "How about I smash this shop to make you feel better?"

Savannah covered her face, tears spinning in her eyes. She nodded.

Instantly, black-clad bodyguards poured in. Clubs swung. Glass shattered. The chandelier exploded.

Cold rain mixed with the wind, blowing into the ruined shop and wetting my face.

Jules grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up.

"You aren't wrong, Eva. But I have to give her justice. Think about what compensation you want. Write it down, send it to me, and I'll pay it all."

He looked at me like I was an old, discarded object.

I shook him off and started coughing violently. I scrambled through the debris.

A small white medicine bottle rolled out. My eyes lit up.

Jules bent down faster than me. He picked up the bottle and read the label.

"Six sedatives at a time? You really aren't afraid of dying."

He tossed the bottle into a puddle of dirty water and turned to leave with Savannah.

I knelt by the puddle, fished out the bottle, and swallowed two wet pills.

This medicine wasn't just for calming down. It was for the pain.

I started with half a pill. Now, eight pills couldn't stop the agony.

The medicine was running out.

And my life was coming to an end.