Chapter 5

Freya's POV

Two servants immediately walked over and grabbed me from both sides.

My legs had no strength at all. I could only let them drag me.

Every movement intensified the pain in my knees, hurting so much I nearly passed out.

I looked back at Blake, watching him return to Lena's side, gently comforting her. I watched Lena sneak a glance at me, her eyes full of undisguised smugness.

The grievance and hatred in my heart surged up like a tide.

I clearly hadn't done anything. I was clearly also a victim of this tragedy. But why did I have to bear all the pain and torment?

Why couldn't Blake believe me just once? Why could he never see Lena's true face?

The servants dragged me into the storage room in the villa's backyard and casually threw me onto the cold floor.

They shut the door and locked it.

The storage room was dark and damp, filled with the smell of dust and mildew.

There was no light, only a faint ray seeping through the crack under the door.

I curled up on the ground. The pain in my legs grew more and more severe, and the wounds felt like they were getting infected.

My whole body was cold, and my consciousness began to blur.

I could feel that my legs might really be broken.

Just like Lena, I would never be able to stand up again.

Blake said he would make me experience everything Lena had endured. He did it. He really did it.

I lay on the cold floor, tears silently falling, my heart filled with despair.

Mom was still in the hospital waiting for me, waiting for me to earn money for her treatment.

But now, I'd become like this. I couldn't even take care of myself. How could I take care of Mom?

The storage room was very quiet. No one would come to save me.

I could only let the pain devour my body and let despair drown my heart.

The person who made me endure all this suffering.

My consciousness grew more and more blurred, and I gradually fell into a semi-conscious state.

The wind in the storage room came through the door crack, carrying bone-chilling cold that made my whole body freeze.

My consciousness began to blur. In my ears, I seemed to still hear sounds from inside the villa.

The guests' discussions, Lena's painful crying, and Blake's cold reprimands.

My body grew hotter and hotter. My head was dizzy, and hallucinations began appearing before my eyes.

One moment I saw little Emily holding me, gently calling me Freya.

The next moment I saw Blake holding my hand, flying kites with me in the yard.

Then I saw the wreckage from Mr. Jenkins and Emily's car accident, saw Lena's smug face, saw Blake's cold eyes.

I wanted water, wanted to call for help, but my throat couldn't make any sound.

Just as my consciousness was about to completely fade, I seemed to see the storage room door being gently pushed open a crack.

A familiar figure stood in the doorway. Against the faint light, I couldn't see his face clearly, but I could feel the outline of that figure. It felt strangely familiar, like Blake, but also not.

The confusion from the high fever and the severe pain in my body made me start rambling deliriously.

My voice was weak: "Blake... I'm sorry... I didn't... I really didn't harm your parents. Please forgive me... please..."

That figure just stood in the doorway, not moving, not speaking either.

I don't know how long passed before I slowly opened my eyes.

The harsh white light made me instinctively squint.

A faint smell of disinfectant lingered at my nose—the distinctive smell of a hospital.

I moved my body and found my legs were immobilized.

I looked around. This was a single patient room with simple furnishings, just a hospital bed.

Just then, a nurse came in to change my dressing.

Seeing I was awake, a warm smile appeared on her face: "You're finally awake. You've been unconscious for a day and a night. People were so worried."

My throat was dry, and my voice was hoarse as I asked: "How did I get here? Who brought me?"

The nurse measured my temperature while answering with a smile: "A very handsome man brought you. Last night he rushed in carrying you, looking completely panicked. But he left right after dropping you off, only paid the fees and didn't leave his name."

A handsome man?

My heart filled with confusion. The first figure that came to mind was Blake.

Besides him, I couldn't think of anyone else who would save me.

But he hated me so much. He personally injured me, locked me in the storage room, and forbade anyone from getting me medical care. Why would he suddenly save me?

I didn't dare think too deeply or ask, afraid that knowing the truth would make me even more desperate.

Maybe it really was him.

Maybe in his heart, there was still a trace of old feelings. Even if just a little bit, it was enough to let me catch my breath slightly.

Following the doctor's instructions, I needed to rest for three days. I recovered alone in the hospital room. No one came to see me.

No one came to call me back to the villa to work as a servant either.

Only the nurse occasionally came to change my dressing, bring water, and deliver meals.

These three days were terrifyingly quiet.

Every day I just lay in the hospital bed, staring at the ceiling in a daze.

My mind kept replaying images of Mom in the ICU.

I didn't know how Mom was doing now, didn't know who that man was.

On the third afternoon, the hospital room door was suddenly pushed open.

Aiden walked in with no expression on his face.

He even looked somewhat impatient, holding discharge papers in his hand and tossing them on the bedside table: "Freya, get up quickly, process your discharge, don't waste time here."

I looked at him, my heart turning cold.

Aiden was Lena's trusted follower, and also the person who personally accused me at the engagement party that day.

Him coming to discharge me, as you can imagine, was definitely Lena's idea.

I struggled to prop myself up. My legs were still somewhat weak, and every movement brought a wave of soreness. Aiden stood to the side, impatiently urging: "Hurry up, don't drag your feet. Ms. Johnson is still waiting at the villa. No time to waste with you."

I didn't say anything.

I silently got out of bed, supporting myself against the wall, and followed Aiden out of the hospital room and into the car back to the Jenkins Manor.

The car slowly pulled into the Jenkins Manor. Walking into the living room, it was empty without a single servant, so quiet you could hear your own footsteps.

Aiden brought me to the living room sofa and said coldly: "Mr. Jenkins flew abroad for business three days ago. He'll be gone for a week before returning. Ms. Johnson said all the household servants are on leave. During this time, it'll just be you and her in the villa. Take good care of her and don't upset her again, or else you know the consequences."

After speaking, Aiden turned and left the villa, leaving me alone standing in the empty living room.

Only Lena and I were left in the villa.

I looked at the spacious living room, looked toward the staircase, my heart filled with unease and fear.

With Blake gone, Lena would only be more unrestrained in making things difficult for me and tormenting me.

I didn't know what I would face in the coming days.