The Day of Choosing a Wife Chapter 5

At the dinner table, Ryan was busy serving Susan food and pouring her water.

His efforts to create the appearance of a pleasant relationship between them really made him look like a clown.

Halfway through the meal, Susan couldn't stand being in close proximity to Ryan any longer. She smiled and made an excuse to visit the garden.

Mom immediately said she'd been wanting to see it too—actually trying to use this opportunity to build their relationship.

The meal ended because of Susan's few words.

As I stood to leave, Ryan blocked my path.

"Where are you going?"

His tone was full of malice.

"Let me tell you, don't try to get close to Susan. She's mine!"

"Don't worry, I won't fight with a dog over things!"

"You!"

He was so angry his eyelids twitched.

Watching him lose his composure, I felt quite satisfied. But just then, my head suddenly became dizzy.

Then I heard Ryan's sinister laugh.

"Ha, the rice on the table was specially prepared for you!"

When I opened my eyes again, I was locked in a pitch-black room.

My heart raced, and my breathing became increasingly rapid.

I clenched my fists, telling myself over and over not to panic.

But I couldn't control my trembling, cold sweat breaking out in waves.

When I was seven years old, I was kidnapped and developed claustrophobia.

I had seen doctors, but it didn't help.

In my previous life, under Susan's torment, this condition only grew worse.

My muscles wouldn't stop spasming. I curled up pathetically in a corner, fear consuming my entire being.

I felt like I was dying. My fingernails dug into my palms, but the pain couldn't ease my difficulty breathing.

Just when I felt I couldn't hold on any longer.

The door burst open with a bang.

"Clayton!"

Gina rushed over and held me.

"It's okay now, I'm here, I'm here..."

In the moment before I lost consciousness, I felt wetness on my neck and a strangely familiar sense of warmth that dispelled my inner fear.

"Oh my, Gina, we're about to be family, and Ryan is your younger brother-in-law. He's just been spoiled and wanted to play a joke with Clayton..."

When I woke up, I heard my parents making excuses for Ryan.

My disgust for them deepened, even finding them revolting.

They were always so blatantly biased.

Gina said coldly, "I was just joking with him too. Why are you so worked up?"

Ryan had been locked in that dark room by Gina, without any food or water.

"But... Gina, Ryan's body won't be able to take it."

They even called Susan over.

"Susan, please speak up for Ryan. After all, you two are going to be together..."

I looked at Susan standing in the doorway with a forced smile. With just one glance, I could tell she was struggling to control her urge to lose it.

I remembered that at this time, the Cole family had a project they wanted to collaborate on with the Yates family. Her visit to our house today was more about wanting to see Gina, to use the pretext of soon being family to discuss the collaboration.

But now Ryan had ruined her plans, and my parents were foolishly asking her to plead for mercy.

The atmosphere was awkward when Mrs. Zhang rushed in, saying Ryan was shouting and screaming in the dark room.

"The young master seems... to have lost his mind!"

Mom fainted on the spot.

Dad, noticing I had woken up, rushed over and said through clenched teeth, "Clayton, your brother was wrong this time. I'll have him apologize to you, okay?"

Before I could speak, Dad continued, "Good, I know you agree. Mrs. Zhang, quickly bring the young master over to apologize to Clayton!"

I...

When Ryan was brought over, his arms were covered in scratches.

I knew why—being locked up had brought back those suppressed feelings from his previous life, and he couldn't control himself from self-harming.

As soon as he saw me, he looked like he wanted to strangle me.

Dad noticed something was wrong and quickly slapped him.

Only then did he calm down.

"Apologize to your brother!"

Ryan, through gritted teeth and unwillingly, half-knelt before me and apologized.

But when we were alone, he showed his claws again.

"You're lucky this time, but I still won't let you off!"

I smiled.

"You'd better think about how to get Susan to let you off!"