Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
Already annoyed in the first place, Jennifer’s attitude lit the flame of anger in Jethro. “What are you doing? She’s our guest, not someone you can show your attitude to.”
“Guest? You’ve never been so nice to any guest before.” Jennifer was infuriated seeing them so close together. He has never been so gentle to anyone before. Not even me.
“That’s because she’s going to be my wife.”
Jennifer’s world shattered as soon as the words came out of his mouth. “You want to marry her?” She clenched her fists in fury, her eyes gleaming with anger. “I won’t agree to this. I won’t let you date her!” What’s so good about her? She’s pretty, yeah, but other than that, she’s not friendly. I bet she’s a witch. Jethro’s mine. Mine alone!
He shot his cousin a look. “You don’t get to dictate whom I marry.”
“I’m your cousin.”
“Yeah, so? What makes you think you can control me?”
Jennifer said in disbelief, “You’d lecture me for an outsider?”
And that erased what patience Jethro had left. “She is not an outsider. She’s going to be my wife.”
“You want to marry her? Fine, let’s see what’s so good about her.” She took a deep breath and approached Elspeth. Then, she grabbed Elspeth’s chin.
Not good. Elspeth took a step back and broke away from Jennifer’s grasp. Then, she slapped the girl. It was a heavy slap, thanks to her training. Jennifer’s cheek swelled up, and she lost her balance and fell.
The searing pain from her cheek alone told Jennifer that her face must have swollen up. Nobody has ever done this to me before! Nobody slaps me! At that moment, something within her snapped, and she roared, “Look at her! She slapped me. You can’t let her do that!”
Oops, that was a little heavy-handed. Elspeth swung her hand and looked at Jethro. “Do what you want.”
The man frowned, seemingly worried. Elspeth thought he would slap her or teach her a lesson, at the very least. She did hit his cousin, after all. And Elspeth wasn’t even his family. She thought he would at least come to Jennifer’s defense, but instead, he held her hand and looked at it. Then, he blew on her hand, trying to lessen the little swelling on it. “That was a hard slap. Did it hurt?”
Jethro’s ‘misplaced’ concern made Jennifer look like a joke. “Are you mad, Jethro?” He never cared about anyone but me. However, now that she had seen how he treated Elspeth, she realized Jethro’s special treatment for her was just a figment of her imagination. It was nothing but her delusion.
Jethro’s ‘misplaced’ concern made Jennifer look like a joke. “Are you mad, Jethro?” He never cared about anyone but me. However, now that she had seen how he treated Elspeth, she realized Jethro’s special treatment for her was just a figment of her imagination. It was nothing but her delusion.
“She’s my girlfriend and the woman I will marry. She’s going to be part of my family one day. If anyone here is the outsider, it’s you.” Jethro smiled calmly. “I tolerate you because you’re my cousin, but if you speak rudely to my lover, I will punish you.”
He was smiling, but what he spoke sent shudders down Jennifer’s spine. What happened to him? What happened to the Jethro I know? He’s scary.
This is not good, Elspeth thought. He might be defending me, but he’s telling everyone I will be dating him. If this gets out, it’d be bad for me. She cleared her throat and said, “Don’t listen to him. We’re just friends.”
Jennifer didn’t believe her words at all. She thought they were already dating, and Jethro didn’t come to her defense because of that. “Shut it, you witch!” The young lady buried her face in her hands, crying. “His ex is coming home, witch! Aldea won’t let this slide. She’ll go after you!”
Elspeth had no idea who this Aldea was, but seeing Jethro tensing up was enough to tell her that this woman was not one to be trifled with. Yet, she didn’t care. Jethro wasn’t Callum, and Aldea wasn’t Emma. She cared for none of them. Elspeth bent over and looked into Jennifer’s eyes. Then, she smiled. “Don’t drag me into your messy relationship, or you’re getting it.”
Jethro’s ‘misplaced’ concern made Jennifer look like a joke. “Are you mad, Jethro?” He never cared about anyone but me. However, now that she had seen how he treated Elspeth, she realized Jethro’s special treatment for her was just a figment of her imagination. It was nothing but her delusion.
Jennifer met Elspeth’s gaze, and her heart skipped a beat, but she snapped out of it quickly. I’m Jennifer Qistrin. I’m not scared of some random b*tch. “You don’t scare me, woman!” She dusted her rear off and stood up. With her hands on her hips, Jennifer said, “I don’t know who you are, but you’d best stay away from Jethro and my home.”
“You think I wanted to come?” Elspeth approached the girl and sneered. “If your cousin hadn’t begged me to come, I wouldn’t have stepped foot in this place. Besides, this isn’t your home. It’s Jethro’s.”
Jennifer was red with fury. “No, this is my aunt’s home! That makes it my home, too!”
“The credits don’t transfer. You need to change that attitude of yours.” Elspeth dusted her hands off and turned around. “I see I’m unwelcome here. I should leave. Goodbye.” Then, she left without saying another word.
I spent so much time and effort to invite her here, and this idiot girl just ruined it for me! Jethro was angry but didn’t stop Elspeth, in case he left a bad impression on her. So, he vented on Jennifer. “Do you really think you can do anything you want here?”
Jennifer, who had been smiling smugly when Elspeth left, froze upon hearing his words. “I-I didn’t mean that.”
The man shot her an icy look. “Do not try to anger her. You do that, and I will destroy you, understand? I don’t care even if you’re my cousin.” With that, he left, leaving a pale Jennifer behind.
After the both of them were gone, Jennifer felt like she was nothing but a joke, and she shivered in fury. I’ll show you, Elspeth!
…
Elspeth stormed off, feigning fury, and nobody stopped her. When she finally got out of the residence, she remembered that she should text Jethro. So, she unlocked her phone, and the first thing that met her eyes was his apology texts.
‘I’m sorry.’
‘I didn’t mean it. I’ll make sure she never shows up around you ever again.’
‘Elsie, please say something.’
‘Please don’t be mad. You’ll get wrinkles.’
‘I apologize on her behalf.’
…
Elspeth stopped in her tracks. She was upset, but she knew this wasn’t Jethro’s fault. Jennifer was the one who got on her nerves. Oh, no. The texts are piling up. I need to text back.
‘I’m fine. I need to go home now.’
‘Not even an emoji? You are mad.’
‘I am not.’
‘That’s what you say when you’re mad.’
‘Fine. It’s still the weekend tomorrow, but you’re working overtime.’
‘Please, no!’ Jethro attached a crying emoji to the message.
After that, Elspeth locked her phone with a smile curling her lips.
It’s the weekend. I have nothing to do. Might as well meet up with Yelena and see if I can get some of her extras to work with me. Not long after she came back, Yelena made her return as well. She kept asking for a meetup, but Elspeth didn’t have time for that. Not until now. Yelena was moving up in her career and would be an A-lister soon. I should give her some reward.
About a few hundred yards later, Elspeth realized the Wilstone Residence was located in a remote area. My goodness, there’s probably no taxi for miles. She checked for some Uber rides, but there were none around. Dammit, I should’ve borrowed a car from Jethro.
Figuring that it would be awkward to call him now, Elspeth had no choice but to wait for a car to pass by. I wonder if there is any that could take me to town. A circle of woods surrounded the Wilstone Residence. Only a narrow path extended across the area. Elspeth walked down the road, but after only taking a few steps, she heard the faint cries of someone asking for help.
“Help… Is anyone there? Help…”
It was barely a whisper, but it was clear in a remote area like this. Elspeth wanted to stay out of it, but the voice was getting weaker. They’re dying. I can’t let that happen. “Who’s there?”
Delighted by getting a response, the person raised their voice. “I’m here!”
Delighted by getting a response, the person raised their voice. “I’m here!”
The sound came from the southeast. Elspeth went in that direction and looked around. Eventually, she found someone on the ground. She had blood all over her body and face. Elspeth couldn’t make out her looks, but what was more horrifying was that her stomach was sliced open, and her insides were tumbling out. She could barely make out that it was a woman.
The woman extended a trembling hand, trying to hold Elspeth’s shirt. “Please, take me to a hospital. I don’t want to die…”
“Calm down. I don’t have a car at the moment. I can’t take you to any hospital. Give me a second. Let me see if there’s any car around.” Elspeth checked the woman. Her injuries look serious, but she can still hold on for a bit. Feeling a bit relieved, she quickly sent her location to Harper on WhatsApp. ‘Get me a car ASAP.’
‘Miss Elspeth, your location is too far.’ Harper pouted. ‘It’ll take at least 20 minutes.’
‘Can’t they come any faster?’
‘I have no idea where you are. It’s like the middle of nowhere. It’ll have to take at least 20 minutes.’
Elspeth sighed. ‘Fine. Just tell the driver to go faster.’ She hung up and hunkered down. The air was filled with the stench of blood, and she frowned. “Who did this to you?” She talked to the woman to get more information about her wound and keep her awake. If she were to fall unconscious, her bodily functions would slow down, and she might die faster.
The woman shook her head. “I don’t know. I was just going to get some greens, and-” She saw something behind Elspeth, and her eyes went wide. “Look out!”
Delighted by getting a response, the person raised their voice. “I’m here!”
Elspeth swiftly turned around and saw a man pouncing at her. She moved away quickly, but the man kept his eyes on her, his gaze filled with murder.
“That’s him. He tried to kill me.”
He seems familiar. Elspeth frowned. He looks like someone I know. “Who are you?”
The killer ignored her question and charged at her, holding his bloody knife. Guess we’ll be doing this the hard way. Elspeth kicked his knife away and twisted his arm to his back. The man roared in pain from having his arm turned. Then, Elspeth slammed her foot into him again. “Answer me. What are you trying to do?”