Episode 13

She leaves, avoiding the blow, and I go back to the bathroom to finish my shower.

Outside the room, Ingrid leans against the wall, catching her breath. The image of naked Sebastian still forming in her head, and she can't stop thinking about it. Calmly, she goes downstairs to the room to call Luiza, who gets up and starts heating up the soup and also gets clean sheets. Both of them go up, Ingrid with the sheets and Luiza with the soup, but before they enter the room, Ingrid asks Luiza to give her the soup, and Luiza does as she's told.

When they enter the room, Sebastian is wearing sweatpants without a shirt. He sees Ingrid holding the tray and goes over to her.

Sebastian

Give me that, you'll end up hurting yourself.

Ingrid

It's alright.

But Sebastian still takes the tray and puts it on the table, then he takes Ingrid by the hand and leads her to the table as well.

Sebastian

Sit here.

A few drops of water fall on Ingrid.

Ingrid

Are you wet?

Sebastian smiles, gets closer to her, and speaks softly in her ear.

Sebastian

Yes, but don't worry, I'm not naked.

Sebastian's voice sends a shiver down her spine, but she moves away. She's worried because a few hours ago he had a high fever and now he's wet. When she reaches out to touch him, she realizes he's shirtless.

Ingrid

Are you kidding? Luiza? Get a towel and a shirt for Sebastian to wear?

Luiza

Of course.

She had already finished making the bed, so she grabs what Ingrid asked for and then leaves, saying they could call her if they needed anything. Ingrid hands the shirt to Sebastian and then starts drying his hair. Sebastian, on the other hand, observes her body in front of him and places one hand on each thigh of Ingrid, sliding them upwards.

Ingrid

What are you doing?

Sebastian

Touching my wife.

Ingrid

I know, Sebastian, but why are you doing this?

Sebastian

Because you're beautiful, and we haven't consummated our marriage yet. What, do you still think I'm fifty years old?

Ingrid

It's not about that.

Ingrid's hands are on Sebastian's head, sliding towards his face, but he turns, holding her hand, then lightly kisses her hand and wrist, feeling the very recent scar on her wrist. Ingrid quickly pulls her hand away, pulling down the sleeves of her shirt.

Sebastian

What happened to you?

Ingrid

It's nothing.

Sebastian

How is it nothing? Let me see, Ingrid.

Ingrid

No, this has nothing to do with you.

Sebastian

You're my wife, of course it has to do with me.

Ingrid

I'm not your wife, I'm your guinea pig, it's different.

Ingrid quickly leaves the room, and Sebastian, a little annoyed by the situation, throws everything off the table onto the floor, including the tray with the soup that Ingrid asked Luiza to prepare. He goes to his bedside table, grabs his cellphone, and leaves the room. He goes downstairs, grabs the car keys, and leaves.

Luiza was in the kitchen and saw Ingrid rush towards the room and now her boss leaving in the middle of the night and sick.

Luiza

What's going on with these two?

In the room, Ingrid sits on her bed and slides her finger over the scar that still hurts because it's recent. But even more painful would be people feeling sorry for her. People already thought she was useless because she couldn't see, but what would they think if they knew she was weak enough to try to give up on her own life?

In the car, Sebastian calls his secretary Jonatan.

Sebastian

I want the address of Ingrid's family.

Jonatan

Sir, it's only 6 in the morning.

Sebastian

I didn't ask you for the time, I asked for the address, now!

Jonatan

Of course, sir, I'll send it right away.

The secretary, not understanding anything, sends Ingrid and Sebastian's family address. When he arrives in front of the house, he opens the glove compartment and retrieves his gun. He is angry, but then remembers Ingrid's request not to hurt her family. Against all his instincts, he puts the gun back and gets out of the car, walking up to the front door and knocking. A housemaid comes to answer. She was preparing breakfast for the Bennet family, as she always does.

Housemaid: Can I help you?

Sebastian: Where is your boss?

I brush past the housemaid's futile attempt to stop me and enter, looking around. It's a big house, and I can see that Ingrid didn't have as bad a life as I thought.

Sebastian: Where was Ingrid's room?

Housemaid: Upstairs, but you can't go up there.

Ignoring her, Sebastian goes up the stairs. He opens the first door and comes face-to-face with Filippo, fixing his tie. The surprise is evident on Filippo's face.

Filippo: Mr. Jones? What are you doing in my house?

Sebastian: Hello, Mr. Bennet. I thought you'd be spending my money on some paradise beach right now.

The sound of Filippo swallowing is audible after Sebastian's words, along with Sebastian's cold gaze.

Filippo: Mr. Jones, if you came here because Ingrid is blind, I need to tell you that even though she's blind, she is very independent and a very smart girl. She's my oldest daughter, I love her, and it was very hard to let go of her. And you didn't specify anything in your marriage proposal.

Sebastian: And as far as I know, I didn't send a proposal to your family, so if your daughter is so beloved by you, why did you sell her?

Filippo: I didn't sell her.

Sebastian: Really? Then why did you receive a transfer of one and a half million in cryptocurrencies that says otherwise?

Filippo: Can we talk downstairs? Have a cup of coffee, and I'll explain why I allowed my daughter to marry you.

Sebastian: Really? That should be interesting, but I want to see Ingrid's room.

He leaves, opening the front door. Filippo tries to stop him, but it's too late. He opens the door and startles the couple in the middle of an act. Henrique shouts at them to close the door, but Sebastian ignores the scene and goes to the next door, not caring about the two. That's when he sees a simple, undecorated room, almost empty except for a bed, a couch, and a small table.

Sebastian: Don't tell me this was her room?

Filippo: It was, but it's empty like this for Ingrid's own good, so she can adapt better. It's better if we remove everything because she used to bump into things and hurt herself.

***This work has been signed with NovelToon, and piracy such as reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***