Chapter 60: Twisted
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Haia lay back down on the bed. Her long hair was loose, shedding the cold hardness of the day, appearing soft and thin in the hazy moonlight.
“I know everything.” Herlkin stopped in front of the bed, trying to find a flaw in that overly calm face. “Treating so many people! Where did you get the money?!”
Haia subconsciously squeezed the corner of the quilt. After a moment, she put on an even more forceful posture to disguise herself. “My clinic, I’ll treat whoever I want. Whether I charge or not, what’s it to you? As for where the money comes from, I certainly don’t need to report it to you. You can leave now.”
“Do you take me for a fool?” Herlkin’s voice trembled. “Why do you help me and then say such nasty things to me?”
Haia avoided her gaze, lay down directly, and wrapped herself tightly in the quilt. “I’m tired. I need to rest.”
This evasive and denying attitude completely broke Herlkin’s reason. The grievances that had accumulated for many years, and those emotions that had been forcibly suppressed, which even she herself was unwilling to delve into, all gushed out at this moment.
“You told me to get off the mountain back then!” Herlkin grabbed the edge of the quilt and threw it open with force. “And now you’re chasing after me to be a good person?! What are your feelings for me!”
Haia let out a startled cry, snatched the quilt back, and said in a panic, “I just can’t stand to see everyone get hurt! I’m happy to be a good person myself. It has nothing to do with you! Stop trying to take credit for it!”
“It has nothing to do with me?” Herlkin repeated her words, her lips trembling. She said “good” several times, and the next second—
Under Haia’s astonished gaze, Herlkin took off her coat, then her trousers, and then her long boots.
A red-and-white fluffy tail drooped between her two fair, slender legs, swaying gently.
“What are you doing!” Haia tried to shrink back, but the single bed had no space.
There was nowhere to hide.
Herlkin climbed directly onto the bed. Haia wanted to get up but was held by Herlkin’s waist, unable to move.
“I’m sleepy. I want to sleep.”
Haia struggled for a moment but couldn’t break free at all. Her impression of Herlkin was still from her girlhood. Only at this moment did she deeply realize that the person who was holding her tightly from behind was no longer a girl, but a woman.
A woman who had made a name for herself in a chaotic place like the docks.
The fact that she could grab Herlkin and beat her, could bully her, was purely because the latter was willing…
A warm breath brushed past the nape of her neck, bringing a shiver. Haia’s voice trembled. “Let go! Herlkin! You… it’s not convenient! You’re grown up now!”
“But you’ve already seen everything of me!” Herlkin tightened her arms. “You have to be responsible for me!”
“You were still young then! And I was just taking care of you!” Haia was held even tighter. Herlkin’s body heat was continuously transmitted through the thin pajamas, making her heart race in a panic.
Just as the two were in a stalemate, and the atmosphere was gradually changing—
“You two?”
Aomo had returned and appeared at the door.
The two people in the room froze at the same time.
Aomo was holding the supplements she had bought for Haia, staring blankly at the two people entangled on the bed.
Haia’s mind went blank, as if she had been caught in the act. She used all her strength, pried Herlkin’s arms open, and shot up. “I…”
Herlkin was almost thrown off the bed. She looked at Haia’s panicked appearance, and a wicked thought suddenly came to her.
Since that’s the case, then no one will get their way!
She also climbed off the bed and, one step ahead of Haia, threw herself into Aomo’s arms. “Teacher, I was almost injured on the docks. I was so scared. I couldn’t find you, so I came to find Senior Sister…”
Aomo thought of Haia’s words again.
“I want to sleep with you.”
She didn’t know how to face Haia, so she avoided her gaze and turned to comfort Herlkin.
Herlkin glanced back at Haia and said, “Teacher, then I’ll go with you. I won’t disturb Senior Sister’s rest…”
“Tonight!” Haia suddenly spoke, her voice urgent. “No one is allowed to leave!”
Aomo and Herlkin were both stunned and looked at her.
“You’re always like this! Always leaving me alone! Why!” Haia took a deep breath, unable to control her tears. “All of you, stay!”
It had been a long time since she had lost her composure like this.
Herlkin, seeing her cry, was the first to step forward. She wanted to speak but held back. After a moment, she lay down on the bed directly.
Aomo let out a long sigh and also walked closer. She took off her outer garment and lay down as far to the outside as possible, her back to Haia, who was in the middle.
Three people were squeezed onto the narrow single bed. Their bodies inevitably touched.
Their breaths were just inches away.
In the darkness, all three of them were wide awake.
The last time they had slept together like this, it seemed to have been in a previous life…
Aomo was reminiscing about the past when a cool hand gently rested on her waist.
Aomo trembled and reached out to grab the restless Haia.
Just then, Herlkin also hugged Haia’s other arm.
The person in the middle could not move.
Everyone was trapped in this twisted relationship, destined to be entangled forever.
*
Lina had been spanked in the basement and, because of the leak, had been “fixed” by Adele for half a day.
A wolf is not a professional repairman, after all. In the end, when the rabbit fainted, her eyes also began to leak water.
The two of them ended up in bed and slept until the middle of the night.
Lina had a dream in a daze:
The magnificent palace was filled with royal guards with swords. And she was kneeling on the cold floor, surrounded by gloating people.
Huaguang was high above, leaning against the throne, her voice as cold as an ice pick, falling word by word:
“Lina… in consideration of your past merits, you are spared the death penalty… stripped of all authority, immediately expelled from the royal family, never to be used again…”
The moment Huaguang’s voice fell, someone immediately stepped forward and demanded that Lina take off her gorgeous palace gown and hand over the waist token that symbolized her supreme status.
In the blink of an eye, her future was ruined.
Lina was thrown out of the royal palace, driven away by the guards like a beggar. Her body was covered in dirt. She stumbled back to the manor, but the gate was already sealed.
Her home had also been confiscated.
Dilys was carrying a leather bag, with the insignia of another family on her body. As she passed by her, her expression was distant. “My lord Lina, I’m sorry. I’ve already found a new employer. I can no longer serve you.”
After speaking, Dilys strode away, her back resolute. Then, the other servants, as if avoiding a plague, lowered their heads, held their simple luggage, and quickly left.
No one gave her a second glance.
The once lively manor quickly became deserted. Lina watched everyone leave in a daze, unable to react.
Then, she saw Adele.
But Adele was also holding luggage.
Was she going to leave too!?
Lina grabbed her hand and said, “Adele, you won’t leave me, right? You said… you would always be by my side!”
Adele threw her off and said coldly, “Lina, you have nothing left.”
She paused and said the most cruel words, “I’ve found someone better. Sorry.”
Adele left without hesitation, as if she didn’t want to stay with her for another second.
“No… don’t! Adele! Come back! You’re not allowed to go! I won’t let you go!” Lina cried out hoarsely, “Someone! Grab her! Come…”
But no one listened to her anymore.
Lina could only chase after her herself, but Adele walked faster and faster. She couldn’t catch up at all.
“Don’t leave me!”
“No…”
Lina’s eyes snapped open, waking up from the nightmare.
She froze in bed, her ears ringing. She could only hear her own chaotic, frantically trembling heartbeat. Her pupils constricted in the darkness. Cold sweat soaked her pajamas and also the bedsheet.
The feeling of having nothing, of being abandoned by everyone, made her tremble uncontrollably.
So terrifying.
After a long while, Lina finally regained her five senses.
She heard the steady and long breathing of the person beside her.
Adele was still lying by her side, had not left her.
Lina cautiously moved closer, staring at her sleeping face without blinking. The depths of her gaze were no longer the usual dependence and obedience, but a viscous possessiveness was gradually seeping out.
The scene from the dream flashed repeatedly. Adele’s departing figure made her heart ache. Even though she knew it was fake, she was still terrified.
Their hands were still locked together.
But could a silver chain really stop someone who wanted to leave?
Lina’s gaze fell on Adele’s neck. She suddenly felt a strong urge to bite.
To bite through that fair neck, scalding blood would gush out. She would swallow it all, and then the flesh, the bones…
She wanted to eat her, to swallow her.
That way… that way Adele would never be able to leave!
They could be together forever!
Lina’s throat moved. She forcefully swallowed the twisted desire.
No… I can’t hurt Adele…
This was her bottom line.
No one could hurt Adele, including herself.
So, in the night, Lina stared at Adele, her eyes wide open. A horrifying obsession, along with tears, flowed out, rolled down her cheeks, and dripped on the bedsheet, spreading a small wet patch.
How could she keep Adele?
If the curse really took effect, she would have no power.
From then on, she could only rely on love.
But how long could Adele love her?
This favoritism and indulgence, would it be like a gorgeous dream, fleeting? After she woke up, would there only be coldness and loneliness left?
Lina couldn’t find an answer.
She began to get anxious again, began to tremble. She unconsciously raised her own hand and bit down hard on the flesh of her thumb!
Her teeth sank deep. The sharp pain instantly came, diluting the panic in her heart.
She bit down hard, until her taste buds were stimulated by the salty and bloody taste. Only then did she slightly come to her senses from the edge of losing control.
Lina let go of her mouth. The clear, blood-tinged teeth marks on her thumb were extremely obvious.
The pain made her clear-headed, and also instantly made her feel guilty.
She had promised Adele… not to hurt herself…
Lina wanted to hide her hand in the quilt, to pretend that nothing had happened.
Just then, Adele, who had been fast asleep, suddenly trembled violently. It was as if she had felt Lina’s injuries and had woken up from her sleep.
“Lina?!”
Adele’s first thought was to look at Lina. “Are you alright?! You…”
Her words came to an abrupt end.
Because she met Lina’s tear-filled eyes and also caught her guilt.
The smell of blood floating in the air made her heart sink. All her sleepiness was gone.
Adele grabbed the hand Lina was trying to hide, pulled it to her eyes, and her eyes widened in an instant.
A circle of fresh, still-bleeding teeth marks was simply shocking!
“Why did you hurt yourself again?!” Adele’s voice instantly rose, with an irrepressible anger.
She was angry that Lina didn’t cherish herself!
Lina was already on edge. Suddenly being yelled at, she became even more aggrieved. But she didn’t throw a tantrum. She choked and explained, “I just… I just had a nightmare. I was so scared, scared you would leave me… scared you wouldn’t want me anymore… I didn’t mean to, really! I won’t do it again. Don’t be angry. Don’t find me troublesome…”
She was incoherent, her words growing more and more flustered. Her tears fell even more fiercely, afraid that Adele would find her annoying because of this.
Adele was stunned.
She understood the cause and effect and instantly wanted to slap herself twice.
She immediately softened her voice and gently caressed Lina’s cheek. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I spoke too harshly… I was just worried about you! Does it hurt?”
Lina silently shed tears and said in a good voice, “It’s fine.”
She would not blame Adele.
Even if she was really scolded, she wouldn’t.
She just wanted Adele to get tired of her a little later… to be with her a little longer… a little longer…
If possible, even if she was a little wronged, it was fine.
Adele threw back the covers and got out of bed. “Don’t move. I’ll get the first-aid kit.”
She hurriedly brought the medicine and, while treating the wound, her brow was furrowed, her face full of pity.
Lina looked at her worried appearance, and a twisted, morbid satisfaction quietly grew.
She secretly let out a sigh of relief.
Alright.
Adele still cared about her.
She was so nervous. She probably wouldn’t leave for the time being.
To verify the other’s feelings by self-harm was stupid to the extreme. It was neither cherishing oneself nor respecting one’s lover. But she couldn’t help it.
She liked the way Adele was completely focused on her. At this moment, she was completely cared for, firmly watched.
This feeling was addictive.
The bite on her thumb was still aching faintly, but in Lina’s mind, a thought had already begun to appear uncontrollably—
If she had no power, then she would use self-harm to keep Adele…
Next time, a little more serious, and Adele would be even more nervous, right?
As long as her injuries didn’t heal, a kind person like Adele would definitely not leave her. Even if there was no love, she wouldn’t just stand by, right…
This thought made Lina feel extremely guilty, but she couldn’t resist this temptation.
She couldn’t hurt Adele, so she could only hurt herself.
She was like a drug addict with no way back. Even though she knew there was a cliff and a deep abyss ahead, she still took the step of hurting herself for a moment’s satisfaction.
Adele finished treating the wound and held her in her arms. “Now you’re covered in wounds.”
She pinched the “wound” she had left. She thought she was playing a BDSM game with Lina, but little did she know that pain was about to become a necessity for Lina.
Lina kissed her ear and said, “Kill me.”
Kill me.
That way, the last second before I die won’t be lonely…
I don’t want to go back to the past. I don’t want to be all alone again.
Adele didn’t understand her “plea for help” and said, “Don’t talk nonsense.”
Lina gave a bitter smile, buried her face in the crook of Adele’s neck, and said silently—
I’m sorry. It must be hard to be in love with someone like me.
I don’t know why I always suspect you’re going to leave. Maybe it’s because I’ve never been loved before. I’m really afraid that this time is also a long dream.
I’m sorry.