Chapter 270 Unworthy of the Title "Dog"
Upon regaining consciousness, Victoria found herself lying in a sterile hospital bed.
"Victoria, you're awake," a familiar voice greeted her.
"Jason?" she questioned, her voice weak.
"Yes, it's me. You're safe now," he assured her.
---
After being discharged from the hospital, Jason escorted Victoria home. Her injuries were external and she was deemed fit enough to recuperate at home. The house was just as she had left it, but the sight of her bed brought a wave of nausea. Her bandaged wrists tightened as she took in the dark red stains on the sheets. The memories of the previous night flooded back, leaving her dizzy with confusion. 'Who was that man? Why did he treat me like that?' she wondered.
Jason too, had noticed the bed. In fact, he had seen it the previous night. He was genuinely taken aback to discover that after years of marriage to Alexander, Victoria had remained untouched.
"You're safe now. Think of it as a dog bite," Jason tried to comfort her.
Victoria managed a faint smile at his words. Perhaps she was just bitten by a dog. She used to console herself with similar thoughts when Alexander kissed her. But dogs were loyal and endearing. The masked man from last night was far from deserving of such a comparison. Yet, Victoria felt helpless to change anything.
"Last night, I wanted to call the police, but..." Jason's voice trailed off as he moved to help her strip the bed. Holding the stained sheets in his hands, he turned to her, "Do you want to call the police?"
Victoria sat on the edge of the bed, considering his question. "If I don't report it, can I check the surrounding surveillance?"
"You know my parents' profession. If you want to find out who that man was, they would be willing to help," Jason offered.
Victoria turned to look at him, her eyes searching his face.
"They're just worried that you'll bring misfortune to your husband and elders. As long as you don't marry me, it's fine," Jason replied with an awkward smile.
"And, in truth, they've always regretted refusing your proposal. They were such good friends with your parents," he added.
"Then please ask them to check," Victoria requested.
"Of course, don't worry. I'll ensure they keep it confidential," Jason reassured her.
"Okay," Victoria agreed, trusting Jason's words.
But Jason was concerned. Her face was swollen from the slaps, her body covered in bruises, and red finger marks marred her neck.
---
After a night of drinking, Jason had felt a strong urge to see Victoria. He hadn't planned to disturb her, merely to catch a glimpse of her from outside her house. However, he had noticed her door ajar in the middle of the night. A figure had darted out from the back door. Alarmed by the sight, Jason had rushed upstairs to find Victoria looking weak and exposed on her bed.
"Victoria, are you okay?" he had asked, his voice choked with worry.
"I'm fine. Go and take care of your matters. I'll wait for your message," Victoria had responded.
"It's too dangerous for you to live alone. Why don't you move in with us?" Jason had suggested, but stopped when Victoria smiled. It was a smile that revealed a harsh reality. His parents were superstitious. Seeing her occasionally was one thing, but living with her was out of the question.
"I'm really fine," Victoria reassured him softly. She felt dizzy and disoriented.
Alexander had once mentioned something about acquaintances committing crimes. It had scared her then, but this was different. Victoria wondered if the man from last night was someone she knew. She remembered his eyes. She was certain he wasn't.
---
After Jason left, Victoria's gaze fell on a belt lying on the floor. A memory sparked and she quickly donned disposable gloves. Returning to her room, she picked up the belt and sealed it in a plastic bag. This belt might prove useful in the future.
Her phone rang, pulling her from her thoughts. She sat on the floor, leaning against the bed, and unlocked her phone. A WhatsApp message from Alexander awaited her.
Alexander: [Jasmine made a fatal mistake today. She will probably be fired.]
Victoria stared at the message, imagining Alexander's serious expression as he typed it. A wave of longing washed over her. He was so far away.
She quickly scrolled through his profile picture and regretted her past decisions. If only she had agreed to sleep with him back then, she would have fewer regrets now.
'Goodbye, Alexander,' she thought, a sense of finality settling in her heart.
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