Perhaps because Adrian's demanding look for a gift was so frightening, Christine dread of him again that night.
In the dream, he lood over her, raising his hand to grip her throat. Christine desperately slapped at his hand, begging him to let go. His other hand slid up her thigh, touching her swollen belly. She choked out a plea about the baby inside. His dark eyes raked over her body before he roughly spread her legs and forced himself inside her.
The sudden thrust left Christine dizzy. Through her spinning vision, she noticed he wore the cufflinks she had given him, the tal catching what little light there was in the darkness.
She got out of bed, taking deep breaths to steady herself. She reminded herself that her arrangent with Adrian was over - there was no need to be afraid anymore.
This would be her last dream of Adrian.
Ethan's first phase of chemotherapy lasted two weeks. This phase, called induction therapy, aid to reduce the number of leukemia cells. Overall, it was successful - Ethan's condition stabilized enough for him to move from the sterile isolation ward to a regular private room.
Family mbers could now visit daily, and the head doctor made a special arrangent extending Ethan's visiting hours to two hours per day with no limit on visitors. This was incredible news for both Christine and Rebecca, who had been so worried. The hospital also arranged counseling sessions for Ethan - much gentler than traditional therapy sessions that often felt overwhelming.
On Ethan's first night in the private room, Christine never left his bedside. After the nurse helped clean him up and turn him over, Christine insisted on sleeping in the room to stay with him overnight.
Ethan tried to make her leave, but she wouldn't budge. With her eyes firm, she held his hand tightly and said stubbornly, "I just want to stay here with you."
Ethan looked at her face - the face he cherished and loved so deeply - and sighed, saying nothing more.
Perhaps from exhaustion, Rebecca caught a high fever soon after the weather turned cold. Though not serious, she didn't dare visit Ethan's room for fear of infecting him. She wouldn't let Christine visit her either, staying in the room next to Ethan's for several days.
She ssaged Christine, asking her to take good care of Ethan and telling her to ask their housekeeper or Sophie directly if they needed anything to eat or use - money wasn't a concern at all.
So Christine naturally beca the most hardworking caretaker. After Ethan moved to the private room, she managed all his daily als and care while also hosting visiting relatives and friends.
But no matter how busy she was, she made sure to spend ti each day sitting by his bed, holding his hand and softly sharing little stories about ho.
During this period, Christine worked late into the nights and returned ho late. Partly because she was truly busy, but also because deep in her subconscious, she feared running into Adrian, that frightening man, at ho.
However, two months passed without a single encounter with Adrian - as if he'd completely vanished from her life once their deal ended.
Except for that day in early November, when Ethan celebrated his birthday in the hospital. Many friends and family ca to celebrate, bringing cakes, flowers, and gifts. Halloween had just passed, and so children even brought balloons, clapping and singing birthday songs. The usually quiet hospital room filled with joy and laughter.
Christine was unusually happy and recorded a vlog. Later at ho, while editing the video to show Ethan in a few days, she noticed Adrian had briefly appeared in an inconspicuous corner.
While people celebrated inside the room, outside stood a man in a black suit, watching Ethan from afar for a few minutes before leaving - a stark contrast to the festive atmosphere inside.
Two months passed quickly. By mid-November, as temperatures plunged suddenly, the city entered its cold winter.
Christine had already put on her down jacket and fuzzy hat. The winter wear made her cheeks rosy, her eyes curved in gentle crescents, and her sleek black hair flowed over her shoulders. She looked graceful and delicate - from a distance, she had a tiless sort of beauty.
Perhaps due to the pregnancy, her skin had beco remarkably smooth and radiant lately. She'd noticed while showering and thought about using herself as a case study to docunt the physical changes during pregnancy.
That day, after dinner at the hospital cafeteria, she went to the nearby supermarket to buy so daily necessities for Ethan. While pushing her cart through the toiletries section looking at toothbrush cups, she ran into Marcus.
"Isn't this Chrissy?"
Marcus spoke first. His cart was empty and he was still in his suit, looking nothing like soone out shopping: "What a coincidence eting you here."
"Hello, Marcus."
Christine nodded politely. Since the dical check-up incident, she'd grown wary of Victor's family and Marcus, but without any concrete evidence and everything being just a feeling, she couldn't say anything.
The man smiled, his eyes cold behind his gold-rimd glasses as they road over her face: "It's been months, and you're looking more beautiful than ever."
There was sothing suggestive in his tone. Christine hoped she was just imagining it, forced a smile, and tried to leave with her cart.
But Marcus eagerly followed, walking beside her with exaggerated enthusiasm: "What are you buying? Let see."
Without waiting for an answer, he took the cup from her hand. His movents were deliberate as he got uncomfortably close, their hands briefly touching, making Christine's skin crawl.
"...Nothing special."
She tried to take the cup back but didn't want to get closer to Marcus, her hand awkwardly hovering in mid-air.
Marcus squinted, placing the item back in her cart with a nod. "Haha, take your ti shopping."
Christine pushed her cart away without looking back.
After checking out and leaving the supermarket, she was about to call a cab since her driver had taken the day off. Then she noticed Marcus standing outside, his silver Bentley parked nearby - had he been waiting for her?
Before she could decide how to handle this, he stepped forward, reaching out. His fingers deliberately brushed against hers, making Christine flinch as he took her shopping bags.
"That's too much to carry in a cab. It's freezing out, and we're heading the sa way - let give you a ride."
Before Christine could respond, he'd already opened the car door and put her bags inside. Refusing now would seem rude - they were relatives after all, and she couldn't openly antagonize him, especially since he hadn't done anything explicitly inappropriate.
With no other choice, she muttered "Thanks" and reluctantly got into the back seat.
Marcus got in too. In the confined space, his eyes t hers through the rearview mirror, growing increasingly bold.
"Your skin looks lovely," he remarked with an ambiguous smile before starting the car.
Christine instantly regretted getting in.
Instead of turning right toward her ho, Marcus claid the hospital entrance was too crowded and turned left into an alley. It was late, the alley completely deserted with dim streetlights.
The car slowed to a stop. Alarm bells rang in Christine's head as she nervously reached for the door handle.
That's when she realized it was locked.
Her scalp tingled with fear, her breathing quickened as panicked thoughts raced through her mind. But Marcus turned around, still wearing his signature smile.
Only this ti, his perfect mask finally cracked, revealing the look of a predator who had caught his prey: "Why such a hurry?"
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