“Eleanor, don’t be so dramatic. Take a pill if
<
you’re not feeling well. The doctor said a foot
soak will help Sarah’s immune system. Hurry
up and go get ready!”
I reluctantly led Sarah to the bathroom.
I patiently adjusted the water temperature,
but she kept saying it wasn’t hot enough.
Finally, she grabbed the shower head and
sprayed scalding water right onto her thigh.
Her pale skin turned bright red, and Sarah
screamed in pain.
Ryan and Brandon charged into the
bathroom.
She shoved the shower head into my hand
and looked at me with tear–filled, innocent
eyes.
く
“Eleanor, I know you don’t want me here. You
could just say so, you didn’t need to turn me
into a cripple! I don’t have long to live
anyway…
دو
I was stunned. I hadn’t expected her to be so
ruthless.
Brandon was the first to snap. “Eleanor, how
could you be so evil!”
“You can feel it, the water in the tub isn’t
even hot!” I argued.
But Ryan kicked over the tub.
“Sarah just got here, and you can’t even
stand her! You run this house!”
The two brothers scrambled to carry Sarah
く
into the bedroom.
As they reached the door, they tripped over
my pet turtle.
Brandon kicked it into the corner and hurried
after them.
I gently picked up my turtle and placed it
back in its tank, tearfully apologizing to it.
That night, Sarah couldn’t take care of herself
because of her burnt leg, so Ryan gave her a
bath.
Brandon stood guard right outside the door
with a towel.
Ryan didn’t come back at all that night.
I booked a flight and scheduled a moving
company.
In a week, I’ll be gone.
The next morning, Ryan came back to the
room. Seeing me, eyes red from staying up all
night, he deliberately pulled up his collar to
hide the hickeys.
“I see Sarah as a sister. Don’t overthink it.
Brandon was there, too.”
I just smiled and continued packing.
Ryan saw my reaction and thought I was
sulking again, so he flipped over my neatly
folded clothes.
“You’re pulling that runaway act again, aren’t
く
you? Are you really going to compete with a
sick woman? Can’t you be more like Sarah
and be more understanding?”
I remained silent and calm.
That really ticked Ryan off. He pushed me
onto the bed and tore my dress.
His familiar body heat enveloped me, but I
just stared at the ceiling, not closing my eyes
and responding like I usually did.
Ryan punched the pillow, furious, and
stormed out.
I mechanically put my clothes back on.
Thank goodness he didn’t touch me. The
smell of Sarah on him made me sick.
I left early to buy food for my turtle. By the
time I got home, it was night.
I opened my bag to get the new turtle food,
but my turtle, the one I’d had for years, was
gone.
This turtle was our pet, the thing that made
Ryan and I get together.
When I was twenty, I passed out in my
apartment from malnutrition. Ryan broke
down the door and carried me to the hospital.
When I woke up on his back, I told him he
was carrying me like a big sea turtle.
After I got out, Ryan helped me eat
nutritiously every day, and gave me foot
massages.
く
All those massage skills of mine, I learned
them all from him.
When I got better, he bought me a turtle.
“Turtles live forever. Eleanor, you have to be
healthy. When you’re a hundred, I’m still
gonna carry you around and watch the
sunset!”
The memories flooded back. I searched every
corner, but couldn’t find my turtle.
The kitchen was filled with a smell I’d never
noticed before. I had a bad feeling and ran
over.
Maria looked away from me, worried.
“Eleanor, Miss Sarah said your turtle could
<
help cure her illness…‘
I struggled to not say anything and lifted the
lid of the pot. In the boiling broth, my turtle
had been butchered into pieces, mixed with
ginseng and goji berries, and cooked for who
knows how long.
I smashed the lid.
Filled with rage, I ran up to Sarah and yelled,
“You wicked woman! Who said you could do
that!”
Sarah was in the living room turning the shell
of the turtle, laughing so hard.
“Eleanor, look! It’s a good sign. Your turtle is
a treasure!”
く
I couldn’t take it, I pushed her away and
slapped her in the face.
I carefully protected the shell, hating Sarah.
Controlling myself, I broke a vase, releasing
my anger.
“You bitch! I swear, I’m going to kill you!”
Sarah looked at me, horrified. “Are you crazy?
It’s just an animal!”
Ryan got home at that moment, rushed in,
and pulled me away, tightly holding Sarah.
I fell to my knees, cutting myself on the
broken shards.
Duen looked worried
worried starting to bein me un
く
Ryan looked worried, starting to help me up,
but Sarah clung to him.
