Morbid Possessiveness

"I don't want to be your brother anymore."

When Matthew Jones said this, he was exceptionally serious, even kneeling on one knee in a manner that matched my fantasy.

However, thanks to him, I became his brother's plaything.

1 My name was Jolene Jones, and I was an orphan, taken in by the Jones Family to be Matthew's companion since childhood.

I never aimed for anything beyond my reach. To my surprise, Matthew proposed to me.

After our engagement party, the news spread like wildfire, and the envious gazes from others made me feel that my happiness was somewhat unreal.

Happiness came quickly and left just as fast.

One morning, I woke up in Roger Jones's bed.

The hotel door was wide open, and reporters took countless photos, seemingly determined to ruin my reputation. At that precise moment, Matthew was standing at the door, his face full of disbelief.

2 Sure enough, after this, Roger lost to Matthew in the power struggle at the board meeting.

And I was the catalyst for Roger's failure.

"Guess."

Roger smiled as he coldly stared at me, raising an eyebrow and asking, "Do you think he'll come looking for you?"

I sat in the bathtub, looking at his features that resembled Matthew's, my eyes gradually becoming teary. The silent fear made me tremble, and I could only stammer, "I'm sorry."

Roger was stunned for a second. Then he threw away the showerhead and stood beside me, looking down as he said in a deep voice, "Come out after your bath."

3 Roger and Matthew were both immediate family members of the Jones Family, but they had different mothers.

Roger's mother passed away early, so he never had much presence in the family, whereas Matthew was the center of everyone's attention.

Roger never seemed to mind this, or perhaps he was simply a quiet person.

He finally got a chance to shine in the Jones Group, but Matthew plotted against him and thwarted him.

Since then, Roger seemed to have changed. The once aloof and silent man would occasionally make sarcastic remarks to me.

I didn't get angry or argue; I just listened quietly.

Because I knew too well that if I confronted him head-on, I would not end well.

"Roger."

After taking a bath and wrapping myself in a towel, I walked out. My legs were weak, but I forced myself to move. I looked at Roger, who was leaning against the bed, flipping through documents, and slowly crawled into the bed.

Under the light of the bedside lamp, I watched his Adam's apple bob, and then I lowered my gaze, curling up carefully to keep my distance from him.

4 With the light on, I couldn't sleep, but I didn't dare make a sound, so I just turned my back to Roger.

Before long, the room fell into darkness with a click. As his familiar scent approached, I suddenly felt myself being pulled into his arms, making me tense up.

He placed his hand on my waist.

I bit my lip, nervously clutching the corner of the blanket, not daring to move. I was already very tired and couldn't bear to go through it again... 5 Tense and exhausted, I gradually fell into a dream. It seemed that only in such moments could I find peace.

I dreamed of Matthew again, but this time, I didn't feel like crying as much.

I didn't remember when Matthew came to the door.

I only knew that when he pounded on the door heavily, I was being tortured by Roger inside.

"Roger! Get out here!" Matthew was furious.

But he couldn't get in. Roger never liked being disturbed. The servants in the villa knew this well and didn't dare to act rashly. Under Roger's strict rules, everyone was like a puppet.

I knew this was a Jones Family tradition.

With tears in my eyes, I looked at Roger, but I had to try my best not to make a sound until the sounds outside gradually faded.

6 Afterward, Roger wrapped me in a towel and took me to the bathroom. After a moment of intimacy, he got up and left the room.

Hearing the door slam shut, I stared at the slightly ajar door, dazed, remembering how I used to wait for Matthew to come and take me home every day...

Now that Matthew had really come, I felt that everything was beyond repair.

Ever since I was a little girl, I had always relied on the Jones Family to live. They adopted me out of kindness, and the most they taught me was to be obedient and to do everything Matthew wanted.

But no matter how dumb I was, I knew very well that when they framed Roger, they completely used me as a tool.

In their eyes, I was no different from the family's servants.

No, that wasn't accurate. Maybe I was worse off than the servants. At least the servants had the freedom to come and go, but I had nothing.

The people I interacted with, the words I said, and the places I went, all had to be monitored by Emily Jones, the mother of Matthew. She needed me to be completely loyal to Matthew.

7 "Mr. Roger Jones wants you to stay here."

The servant brought in the meal just as I finished putting on my pajamas. Looking at the messy bed, I responded but still couldn't help sneaking out the door, standing at the top of the stairs to peek.

Matthew was standing there, being restrained by several bodyguards. The servants in the living room had already started serving the meal. Roger, dressed in a bathrobe, leaned against a chair, holding a knife and fork with his hands, eating slowly. When his gaze swept over me, I instinctively hid.

"Come down here," Roger suddenly said.

"Jolene!" Matthew, with a stern face, suddenly pushed away the bodyguards and tried to rush toward me, but he was pressed against the table. "Damn it! I'm the head of the Jones Family!"

I bit my lip, looking at Matthew being restrained, not daring to make a sound. Then I endured the discomfort and stood by Roger's side.

"Sit down," Roger said.

I lowered my head and was about to sit on the chair next to Roger, and in the next second, he reached out and pulled me into his arms. I knew what he was going to do and stood up at once.

8 "Roger!" Matthew felt extremely displeased. He was used to being pampered, yet now, he was suddenly suppressed. He immediately scolded, "Who do you think you are to touch my woman?"

As Roger looked up at him, Roger smiled, his eyes clearly showing amusement.

Unlike Matthew, who had Emily to back him up and was therefore arrogant, Roger developed his ruthlessness through sheer perseverance.

"Matthew... Maybe you should leave."

For the first time in a long while, I called Matthew by his name. I hesitated for a moment but knew that he was no longer my brother nor had he become my husband.

9 "Jolene."

Matthew looked at me in surprise, probably not expecting me to call him by his name. He then said in a deep voice, "Come home with me."

Roger paused for a second and then glanced at me sideways.

My spine chilled, and I instinctively lowered my gaze, nervously clenching my fingers as tears welled up in my eyes.

From the first day I was locked up here, I knew that angering Roger would make me end up suffering.

"Roger! You're holding her against her will! This is illegal!" Matthew struggled, panting and shouting angrily. "Do you want to go to jail?"

Roger ignored him and stared at me, speaking slowly, "Tell him. Who sent you here?"

Tears streamed down my face. I felt like I was about to break my fingers, but I had to answer, "Mom."

It was Emily who sent me here.

Emily handed me over to Roger as if I were a pawn in her game, and then she left without a word. I became a discarded piece on her chessboard.

10 "No way! Jolene, is he forcing you to lie?" I lowered my eyes and shook my head.

The veins on Matthew's forehead bulged as he got agitated and tried to rush over, but the bodyguards lifted him and directly threw him out of the villa. From a distance, I could only hear his furious roars.

Roger raised an eyebrow, leaning against the chair, sneering, "The head of the Jones Family? Him?" Clearly, he was mocking Matthew, but he was looking at me. I was a bit scared and unconsciously took a step back.

11 Roger didn't make things difficult for me, but he did keep me confined. It wasn't until Roger's cousin, Madelynn Moss, came to visit that I finally got a break.

"Miss Moss, Mr. Jones instructed..." "Out of my way!" The bodyguards didn't know how to respond. In their brief moment of hesitation, Madelynn rushed in. Since she was Roger's mother's niece, the bodyguards were more polite to her than to Matthew.

They just said, "The person upstairs cannot leave."

Madelynn snorted and quickly ran upstairs, looking at me through the crack in the door.

I was stunned for a moment and didn't say anything.

She smiled, looking me over for a while before squinting and saying with a grin, "No wonder Roger traded company shares to get you. You're even more beautiful up close."

I was a bit dazed, not daring to guess the meaning behind her words.

"Hello there. I'm from the class next door."

Jolene looked sweet and adorable, her smile radiant like sunshine. She didn't mind my silence at all and immediately took out an envelope from her bag. I saw the letters on it. It was the admission letter from Meadows University.

12 I was taken aback, gawking at her as she handed me the admission letter. I said, "Is this mine?"

If I remembered correctly, it was Matthew who checked my SAT results.

He said the math exam this year was too difficult, and both of our scores were only enough to apply for Valley View Charter University. But Valley View Charter University didn't seem interesting at all, so he suggested we study abroad together and enjoy our time as a couple.

Looking at my name on the admission letter, I felt a bit dazed, but more than that, I felt sad.

"Hey, why didn't you fill out your application back then? Luckily, your head teacher reviewed it multiple times. He then called you several times, but you didn't answer. He even went to your house, but your family said you weren't there. I wanted to find you too, but that jerk Matthew wouldn't let me in.

Your head teacher was afraid you'd miss out, so he got approval from the administration to fill it out for you."

Jolene smiled playfully and patted my shoulder, "We're going to be schoolmates now." "Who let you in?" Roger's voice came from the doorway, slightly cold, but when he looked at Madelynn, there was more indulgence than anything else in his eyes.

Madelynn stuck out her tongue at him and said playfully, "I came to deliver the admission letter to your girlfriend."

Hearing her address me as Roger's girlfriend, I was startled and instinctively looked at Roger, wanting to explain that I didn't tell her to call me that. But he just walked over and casually took the admission letter from my hand.

I looked up at him, his scrutinizing gaze making my heart sink.

I didn't think I'd be able to attend school.

13 Madelynn grinned, reached out, and wrapped her arms around Roger's arm, leaning on his shoulder to look at my admission letter. She started to act cute, smiling, "Roger, I got in too. I'll be your junior from now on."

Roger didn't respond.

Madelynn snorted cutely, "Where's my reward?"

Roger glanced at her and then pushed her head away and said with a bit of annoyance, "You're so annoying."

Madelynn pouted.

Roger kept a stern face, pretending to be angry. After a second, he glanced at me and said flatly, his smile fading a bit, "Change your clothes. We're having a celebratory dinner tonight."

I pressed my lips and nodded, still confused, and Madelynn immediately got excited, hugging Roger and shouting, "Roger is the best!" 14 The celebratory dinner was at the most expensive restaurant in vecleuria, and Roger had booked the entire floor.

As Madelynn requested, Roger prepared a gold card for her as her reward, with a cute cartoon design on the envelope.

"Thank you, Roger!" Madelynn was overjoyed. After taking the gold card, she led a group of classmates to the other end of the floor, leaving just Roger and me, sitting face to face by the window.

Her classmates were obviously surprised when they saw me.

I stayed silent, lowering my head, knowing their stares were because of the news.

15 "You're not eating?" Roger slowly cut his steak, looking at me indifferently.

I obediently picked up the knife and fork, nervously rubbing the utensils with my fingers. After hesitating for a long time, I finally spoke, "Roger, I want to go to school."

He continued eating calmly, using his well-defined fingers to hold the wine glass as he took a sip, showing no intention of answering me.

I bit my lip, feeling anxious and unable to hold back my tears.

Displeased, he looked at me coldly and said in a deep voice, "Is crying the only thing you know how to do whenever something happens?" I lowered my eyes and didn't respond because I really didn't know what else I could do besides crying and pretending to be meek.

When I was little, if I disobeyed Emily, physical punishment was inevitable.

I had thought about running away, but if I got caught, the beatings would be even more brutal.

After enduring so many beatings, I gave up eventually.

If it weren't for Matthew always commanding me, I probably wouldn't even have the chance to go to school.

For me, school was both a curse and a blessing.

I envied my peers who expressed themselves freely and those who openly showed their dissatisfaction with things.

16 When Roger and I finished eating, Madelynn was still enjoying her time with her classmates. Through the rows of seats, I could clearly see her surrounded by people.

The warm yellow light fell on her, and both her smile and her eyes exuded confidence.

And I, in comparison, was like an ugly duckling.

Roger took me away without informing them. I leaned tiredly against the car window, looking at the lights on the street.

The admission letter was still in Roger's hand.

At night, I went to his study on my own, but I didn't ask for the letter. Instead, I said softly, "Roger, it's late."

Roger glanced at me, showing no intention of saying a word. I lowered my eyes and obediently returned to my room, waiting until he came in.

17 "Still awake?" Roger frowned at me and then lay down on the bed. I gathered my courage and moved closer, starting to massage his temples.

Roger stared at me with his clear eyes for a while and then closed them slightly, commenting indifferently, "Don't you think your way of pleasing people is a bit outdated?"

I stopped massaging and looked at his thick, black eyelashes. Then my gaze fell on his lips as if I could still feel the sensation of his lips and teeth. I tentatively leaned down.

Roger opened his eyes abruptly, got up, and pressed me down on the bed.

18 "I want to go out and earn my tuition fees."

I said tentatively again.

Roger held me, stroked my waist, and said in a deep voice, "I think my money is enough to pay for your education."

I looked at him in surprise, not knowing what to say for a moment. I wanted to tell him I'd repay him in the future, but I was afraid he'd disdain me and get mad at me, so I could only whisper, "I'll study hard and repay you in the future."

Roger leaned closer to me, smiling, "No need to wait. You can start repaying me now." I was stunned and fell silent.

19 Half a month later.

Maybe because the news about Roger and me had gradually died down, he actually took me out.

"Roger."

Roger turned the steering wheel, glanced at me, and said casually, "Selling you won't get me much money. No need to be nervous."

I felt a bit speechless and remained silent. I guessed he could do whatever he wanted as long as he didn't sell me like Emily did.

In fact, I was somewhat grateful to be with Roger. At least I could attend Meadows University, which was a dream for many people... 20 I had expected Roger to take me to some banquet or party, but he took me to a stationery store instead.

When we arrived, he said, "You have half an hour to buy all the stationery you'll need for the next four years."

I looked at him, feeling at a loss. Meeting his dark eyes, I quickly grabbed a basket and started shopping.

I picked up pens and rulers. As for the pretty accessories, I could only look at them. After all, I had never owned such things since I was a child.

In Emily's eyes, I should be grateful just to have food to eat. I shouldn't covet anything else.

Roger seemed to be getting impatient. He looked at me with displeasure and said in a deep voice, "What are those?"

I was taken aback, re-examining the items in the basket. Thinking he might think I took too much, I quickly put a few pens back.

But it seemed that after I put them back, Roger's face became even gloomier.

In the end, he clicked his tongue and said, "You must have buried your head 24/7 in studying before being enrolled in Meadows University." Being mocked, I was speechless.

21 Probably unable to stand it anymore, Roger had me carry a basket and follow him around the store. I watched as he picked out sticky notes, notebooks, and pens in various colors.

Then he chose two of each type of hairpin, headband, and even hair ties and wigs from the store's accessories section.

"This is... too much."

I was slack-jawed and looked at Roger awkwardly. He just glanced at me and said coldly, "Don't stutter when you speak.

Now is not the time for that."

I fell silent, wondering if I was overthinking it. I felt there was a deeper meaning to his words.

22 We shopped at countless places, buying clothes, shoes, stationery, and even... lingerie.

Roger remained deadpan the entire time, but I had a bad feeling.

A month before school started, Madelynn began visiting me frequently.

Once, just as Roger was holding me, she came knocking on the door non-stop, saying she had bought roast chicken to share with me. Roger was practically livid with anger.

After that, he forbade her from coming over again.

She could only come to see me behind his back.

23 "Is Roger a dog or what?"

Madelynn looked at the purple hickeys on my neck, leaned in close, and whispered, "Do you guys do it every day?" I bit my lip, instinctively covering my neck, and replied softly, "Let's eat."

She couldn't help but laugh out loud, saying, "A virgin finally experiencing intimacy can go crazy indeed."

I blinked, looking at her in shock, completely unable to believe it.

Seeing that I didn't believe her, she laughed and said, "In our family, kids aren't allowed to date early. Don't be fooled by Roger's handsome looks; his personality isn't charming, so he never had much success with dating.

The Jones Family always gives the best resources to that punk Matthew, so Roger has focused on his career and stayed single."

"Who are you calling a punk?" Matthew's voice suddenly rang out.

I looked over in surprise only to see Matthew pushing open the glass door...

As our eyes met, Matthew quickly walked over and, before I could run upstairs, he grabbed me around the waist.

"Jolene, don't be afraid. It's me." I lowered my eyes, wanting to say that it was precisely because it was him that I was afraid. But eighteen years of deference made it impossible for me to say anything disrespectful to him.

"I'm taking you home."

Matthew grabbed my hand and wanted to leave, but as I looked at his back, I instinctively stepped back, trying to break free from his grip. I knew very well. If I went with him, I wouldn't be able to attend Meadows University.

24 "Let go! You punk!" Madelynn jumped up and hugged me, glaring at Matthew with dissatisfaction. "She's Roger's girlfriend!" Matthew tightened his grip, glared at Jolene, and pushed her away. Then he carried me over his shoulder and strode toward the door.

"Matthew..." I struggled to get down, but he held me tightly.

"Take him down."

Roger's voice suddenly rang out.

Before I could react, Matthew put me down and rushed toward Roger, throwing a punch.

I knew Matthew had been practicing fighting. Being punched by him, Roger's mouth started to bleed.

Roger didn't fight back. He turned his head slightly to look coldly at Matthew, who was being held by bodyguards. Then he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his hand.

The next second, a bodyguard kicked Matthew's leg, trying to make him kneel, but he refused to submit, saying coldly, "Roger, if you have the guts, kill me. Or I won't let you off..." Before he could finish, Roger punched him, kicked him in the abdomen, and grabbed his collar, hitting him hard.

"Matthew..." I was terrified and instinctively tried to stop Roger.

"Don't go over! Matthew deserves it!" Madelynn pulled me back. Seeing Matthew being beaten until he spat blood, I rushed over and grabbed Roger's hand. Facing Roger's fierce expression, I felt that my mind went blank. I trembled and no longer dared to beg him to stop beating Matthew. I just whispered, "If you hurt him, the Jones Family will give you a hard time."

Especially Emily. If she knew Matthew was beaten up by Roger, she would probably skin Roger alive.

25 Roger let go, and I felt a bit relieved, but then Roger grabbed me and said coldly, "You're worried about me? It seems you've grown attached to me after sleeping with me."

"You bastard... Roger, one day, I will..." Matthew was clearly out of breath, but his tone was still defiant.

Facing Roger's dark eyes, I quickly knew what he was thinking and gave the best answer, "I don't want you to get hurt.

Let him go."

We looked into each other's eyes for a while, and then Roger pulled me into his arms and used his firm hands to grip my waist tightly.

I shivered, pressing my hands against Roger's chest, and said, trembling, "Roger..."

Roger leaned close to my ear as if to kiss me, but he didn't. He whispered with a chuckle "I know you're pretending. I advise you to keep it up. Otherwise, I'll chop him up and feed him to the dogs."

26 Roger was warning me, yet he still had a smile on his face. I instinctively clenched the hem of my clothes, not daring to speak again. Matthew, unable to control his emotions, was dragged out by the bodyguards.

Roger sneered.

He moved away from me, tilted his head to look at me, and said in a deep, cold voice, "Jolene, I didn't realize you could endure so much."

I bit my lip, not knowing how to respond. Roger was unpredictable, and any careless words would make my night miserable.

"Well... Roger, you look like the bad male supporting role in a soap opera."

Madelynn suddenly said.

Roger's expression changed instantly, and he looked at her impatiently, scolding, "What did you say?"

Madelynn grinned, walking over quickly and pulling me, speaking softly, "Don't be so mean. You're a grown man. Don't pick on us young ones."

If anyone else had said that, Roger would have probably beaten them up, but when it came from Madelynn, he was instantly not that angry anymore.

27 Roger moved his lips slightly and gave me a cold look without saying a word.

He didn't return to the room that night. I didn't dare to sleep before he came back, so I sat on the sofa waiting.

With a bang, the door was suddenly kicked open.

I stood up in fright, looking at Roger as he entered. Avoiding his gaze, I got up, poured him a glass of water, and carefully handed it over.

He didn't take the glass. He just started undressing piece by piece until his toned, fair abs were exposed. Then he took the glass.

I lowered my gaze, remaining silent.

After he drank the water, he put his distinct hand on his waist and clicked his tongue. Then he said indifferently, "You actually didn't poison it."

I was used to his constant sarcasm and didn't want to respond, so I kept my head down.

He turned around and walked to me, his fresh scent instantly making me nervous. I looked up, noticing the bruise on his mouth.

He raised an eyebrow, leaned down slightly, and looked at me with a mischievous smile in his dark eyes. He moved closer, and before I could step back, he grabbed the back of my head and whispered, "He broke my lips, so I'll punish him by kissing his girlfriend's lips till her lips are broken, too. What do you think?"

28 "I..." The sound of a glass shattering rang out before I could say anything.

I was once again pressed onto the bed by Roger. Instinctively, I pushed against his shoulders, but the more I struggled, the more urgent he became.

As our breaths intertwined, I gave up struggling, feeling like I was being enveloped by him on the bed.

It wasn't the first time we had sex, but I was extremely nervous every time.

Roger wasn't satisfied to see me just lie there.

He wanted me to be more active and move with him, sinking in the sea of lust together.

29

Roger had never lost control like this before.

I didn't know how many times I cried. My lips seemed to bleed, but Roger kept sucking on them.

"How I wish he could see you like this."

He laughed softly in my ear, like a victor. Caressing my skin, he said in a deep voice, "But now, you are mine..." Finally, he added, "And you will still be mine in the future. Understand?"

30 In the future, too?

I was dazed, my eyes watery. Clutching the pillow beneath me, I tilted my head, letting my hair cover my face.

In a daze, I could still remember the ruler in Emily's hand.

The Jones Family had high standards. Everyone thought I was lucky to be part of the Jones Family, but they didn't know how many times I was punished to learn the so-called strict Jones Family traditions.

Even though it was Matthew who did something wrong, I would be the one punished.

I knew, the "mom" I cried out for wasn't mine. She was Matthew's mom.

But besides her, I didn't know who else I could call "mom"... "Hey! Wake up! Jolene? Hey!"

31 When I opened my eyes, I was lying on a bed with an IV drip, my throat a bit dry. I heard Madelynn talking to Roger.

"Is this how you treat your girlfriend? Her lips are broken!" "You're so annoying! Get out!" Roger frowned, impatiently pushed her out, and locked the door.

I looked at him secretly. Noticing him turning around and walking toward me, I quickly closed my eyes.

He stood by the bed and kicked it in frustration. My heart skipped a beat, and before I could react, he grumbled discontentedly, "Aren't you supposed to be taking care of me? Why is it the other way around?

How come you get sick so easily?

That old gal must have sent you here to scare me on purpose.

That makes sense. If she thought highly of you, she would have kept you for Matthew.

She took my shares and then dumped you on me. Nicely played! She kills two birds with one stone and gets all the benefits!" I held my breath, almost certain that the "old gal" Roger was referring to was Emily.

Roger's complaints made me feel awful, but I didn't dare open my eyes or say anything. I couldn't afford to offend either Emily or Roger.

As Emily's stepson, Roger had always been taken care of by the Moss Family and only returned to the Jones Family during holidays. Of course, he'd feel bitter.

In some ways, I was his punchbag, so the smart move for me was to avoid provoking him.

32 The room gradually quieted down. Just as I wondered if Roger had left, I felt a cotton swab dipped in water being applied to my lips.

A faint, refreshing scent lingered in the air.

I clenched my hands under the blanket unconsciously and tried hard to stay calm until Roger moved his hand away. Only then did I breathe a sigh of relief.

In the following days, Roger had become much more restrained. Although we slept in the same bed at night, he kept his distance and didn't say much.

I was quite relieved, but at the same time, I felt helpless due to the fatigue from the fever. With the new semester starting soon, there might be exams, but I only reviewed some materials Madelynn had brought me. I was afraid my preparation wasn't thorough.

Around eleven at night, I turned my head to look at the already sleeping Roger. Then I quietly sat up, planning to go through the content I had read during the day once more.

The small lamp in the bedroom emitted a warm glow, and aside from Roger's gentle breathing, the only sound was me rustling papers.

33 The day before the semester started, the servants packed three suitcases and then unpacked them for me to check. I saw clothes and some daily toiletries, and I was surprised to find several boxes of condoms. Feeling embarrassed, I quickly threw them back.

"Jolene, are you done packing?" I heard Madelynn's voice and hurriedly covered the condoms with clothes, and then I saw Roger leaning against the door frame, looking at me. He only looked away when Madelynn bounced into view.

"Jolene, you only have three suitcases? That's so little!"

Madelynn tugged on Roger's arm and looked at the suitcases spread out on the floor. "What about the dorm curtains? What color are yours?"

I blinked, hesitating whether to check. Then Roger spoke up, "She won't be staying in the dorm. She'll be staying with me." I looked at him in surprise but couldn't say anything. I just lowered my head and hid the condoms well.

Madelynn laughed at his words, saying, "You've been immersing in work so much that you're hallucinating. Don't forget that first-semester students at Meadows University must stay on campus."

I bit my lip and looked at her, finding it hard to believe her words. As my emotions went through great changes, including both ecstasy and disappointment, I met Roger's scrutinizing gaze, which made my ears burn. I quickly looked away.

He graduated from Meadows University, so, of course, he knew that first-semester students must stay on campus.

33 "How are you going to school tomorrow?"

Roger casually asked Madelynn, "Have you decided?"

She bit her lip and giggled, "I want to ride with Jolene."

Roger said, "No." I glanced up at him and then obediently lowered my head, listening to their conversation. I didn't know how I would get there actually, as I didn't have any money... Madelynn changed her approach and said, "Then you can drive us."

Roger didn't respond.

I was stunned. Meadows University was at the border between the local and out-of-town areas, but it still took two or three hours to get there by car. To my surprise, Roger handed Madelynn over to the housekeeper and personally drove me.

Even though one car would have been enough, he insisted on using two. I had a bad feeling and carefully checked that I was dressed conservatively before daring to get in his car.

35 "Roger, this is so not fair!" Madelynn protested. "Keep it up, and I'll have the gold card back," Roger said, instantly silencing her.

Madelynn obediently got into the housekeeper's car, and I hesitated and sat in the back seat. Roger sat in the driver's seat and casually tossed a box next to me.

"Open it."

His tone was arrogant, and right after he touched the steering wheel, the car shot forward like an arrow.

I lowered my head and slowly opened the box, finding a phone inside. I took it out and saw a missed call on the screen.

Roger's cold voice rang out. "That's my number."

I nodded and saved the number under Roger's name. When I looked up, I noticed him looking at me through the rearview mirror.

I sat up straight and was about to put the phone back in the box only to find an envelope underneath.

If I wasn't mistaken, it was identical to the one Madelynn had received.

Roger snorted, "The password is the first six digits of your Meadows University student ID."

I was a bit stunned. Recalling the previous news, I obediently nodded. However, I had no intention of using the money he had given me at all, and neither did I dare to. I carefully put the envelope away. Meeting Roger's probing gaze, I said, "Thank you." I meant it when I said this.

Roger glanced at me indifferently and, while turning the steering wheel, said slowly, "Don't just say it verbally. Prove it." I clutched the box tightly, suddenly realizing that I was starting to understand the implications of his words more and more quickly.

36 The first day of school went smoothly, but when I arrived at the dorm, I found that one of my roommates was Madelynn, who hadn't arrived yet... "Roger, Madelynn..." I said. Roger leaned back on the sofa, his long legs crossed, casually flipping through the school newspaper. "That's not your concern."

I was speechless. He put down the newspaper and looked at me, slightly loosening his collar. "Come here."

I was startled and stammered, "The dorm..." Roger's gaze turned cold. Clearly, he didn't want to say more. I felt a bit panicked and glanced at the closed apartment door before obediently sitting next to him.

As soon as I sat down, Roger seemed to sneer, "You don't think I'm only interested in that kind of thing, do you?" I was left speechless again.

37 Roger picked up a pen from the table.

With his hand resting on the newspaper, he circled a few teachers' names and began explaining each one's area of expertise. Finally, he looked at me and said, "If you plan to pursue a master's or Ph.D., ask them for recommendation letters. Make sure to attend their classes often. Don't just stay cooped up in the dorm."

I listened in a daze. Meeting his deep, dark eyes, I blinked and said quite foolishly, "Alright." He gave me an exasperated look. "You react slower than a snail."

I didn't know what to say. Probably annoyed by my slow response again, he propped his chin on his hand, tapping the newspaper with his pen. He stared at a photo of a male student in the alumni section and suddenly said, "You'd better perform well in your studies.

I don't want people thinking I have nothing but eye candy."

I blinked, feeling that Roger and Matthew had very different ways of thinking.

If it were Matthew, he would only advise me not to work so hard, saying he was the only one I needed, and I didn't have to make any effort. If I spent my time studying, it would be a waste of energy, and I'd end up with dark circles under my eyes, making me look ugly. A girl who wasn't pretty was worthless.

I never dared to contradict others, especially Matthew, so all I could do was silently disagree in my heart and try not to study or read in front of him.

"OK, I'll study hard," I replied earnestly.

Roger glanced at me. There was a smile in his eyes, but his face showed a helpless expression. "You're so obedient?" I bit my lip.

He leaned back on the sofa, reached out, wrapped his arm around my back, and leaned in closer, his gaze wandering over my face. "Open your mouth." I blinked, terrified that he might try something here. If Madelynn suddenly walked in, it would be so awkward...

But Roger said, "It's just a kiss."

I tentatively parted my lips, and the next second, I felt his lips press against mine. Nervously, I clutched his collar, even becoming cautious when breathing.

38 To be honest, Roger taught me all my kissing skills. Because Emily was very strict, Matthew and I could only hold hands in secret occasionally. It was only on the day he proposed that we had our first kiss, which was so brief.

I opened my eyes slightly, gazing at Roger's face, lost in thought. I had comforted myself countless times, but my heart still ached from time to time.

I had never experienced the outside world, and the content in books couldn't fill the emptiness of my life at all.

Before I turned eighteen, Emily, Matthew, and Emily's ruler occupied my entire life. When I was eighteen, Emily expelled me from Matthew's world and let Roger take over my life.

"Did you bring the condoms?" Roger's voice was somewhat hoarse as he asked softly.

I pressed my hands against his body and quickly said, "You said it would just be a kiss..." His eyes darkened slightly as he licked his lips and wrapped his arms around my waist, clearly restraining his emotions.

39 I pushed Roger, wanting to call him a liar but not daring to. I could only whisper, "Roger, not here, please..." He loosened his grip slightly, leaned back on the sofa with his eyes closed, and said in a deep voice, "Go fetch some water."

I immediately got up and ran to get water, not daring to hesitate at all, and then I respectfully handed him the water.

Roger used his slender hand to grip the glass and glanced at me.

He was probably angry. Without saying a word, he just sipped the water. Finally, he slammed the glass down on the table hard and left.

I let out a sigh of relief and began to tidy up the apartment methodically.

Around nine in the evening, Madelynn finally arrived. She looked very upset, and when she saw me, she exclaimed.

"That punk Matthew blocked my car on the road, making me late! I even got scolded by the supervisor! I'm so pissed off!" I said nothing and felt a pang in my heart. Instantly, I understood why Roger had arranged for us to ride in two cars to come to the school.

40 Perhaps as compensation, Roger ordered lobster takeout to the apartment. Madelynn ate with relish while ranting about being blocked on the road earlier.

I listened. Inwardly, I instinctively wanted to defend Matthew, but outwardly I remained noncommittal.

Madelynn suddenly said, "Jolene." I was eating the takeout Roger had ordered and looked at her in confusion. "What?" Madelynn, with sauce at the corners of her mouth, ate while frowning. "I seriously suspect that Matthew was behind the news about you and Roger."

My hand holding the spoon paused as I felt utterly nervous. I gripped the spoon tightly and said in a low voice, "There's no proof."

I knew I had been set up, but I preferred to believe it was someone else with ill intentions rather than Matthew... I still remembered Matthew's incredulous expression...

Madelynn pouted, frowning at me while saying persuasively, "Matthew has got the most to gain from this! If he wasn't the heir of the Jones Family, would he dare to be so arrogant today?

He even pushed me last time! I'm so pissed off! So what if he's the heir? When Roger's company takes off, we'll crush him!" I lowered my head, eating slowly. After all, I had been with Matthew for over ten years, so I didn't want to engage in the topic Madelynn wanted to discuss.

Noticing my silence, she huffed, puffing her cheeks, "He doesn't look like a nice guy at all! Without Emily, he's nothing!" I didn't make any comments. I poured her a drink and changed the subject. "This is a bit spicy. Have some water."

Madelynn sighed, unable to hold back anymore, "I didn't want to tell you, but I can't help it now."

I was a bit confused.

She leaned forward with her elbows on her knees, and with a bossy posture, said slowly while staring at me, "Matthew is now dating Rena Barrett, the girl from our school who's a year ahead of us. Someone even took photos of Rena celebrating with him!"

41 I stared at the food on my plate, dazed, pretending not to hear. Yet the next second, I choked on my food and then got up and ran to the bathroom.

"Jolene..." Madelynn hurried over. She whispered, "Are you OK? I just wanted you to know Matthew's true colors..." I clutched my chest, speaking slowly, "I'm fine."

As the night deepened, I lay on the bed, scrolling through the school's forum on the phone Roger bought me. Finally, I found a photo of Matthew and a girl by the Dragonventures in the comments of a gossip post.

Matthew's hand was on the girl's slender waist. He dressed in a sharp suit, looking every bit the successful man, smiling at the camera.

The photo was posted on the third day I was locked in Roger's villa.

Just looking at it, I burst into tears.

It was quite funny, actually. All my connections to the outside world were controlled by the Jones Family. Even the passwords to my social accounts were set by Matthew, and I could only log in with the phone he gave me.

Now that phone was confiscated by Emily, all my contact with Matthew had been cut off.

Might as well. I indeed... wasn't qualified to question anything.

After all, I couldn't even control my own freedom.

It was said that seeing was believing, and now that I had seen it, I should be at peace. But I just couldn't stop crying at all, and my tears blurred the phone screen...

42 Just as I was feeling down, I received a message.

It was sent by Roger.

He sent nothing but a period.

I bit my lip, not in the mood to guess what it meant, threw the phone aside, and cried while getting under the blanket.

"Mr. Jones, which laptop should we choose? Miss Jones majored in design..."

Roger tossed his phone aside, resting his chin on his hand, thinking for a moment before choosing a mid-range, not-too-heavy one. He then asked the housekeeper, "Do you know how to apply a screen protector?"

The housekeeper was dumbfounded.

The corners of Roger's mouth twitched, and he remembered how Madelynn was always picky when buying things, saying girls loved pink ones. He then said, "Any leftover pink screen protectors from Madelynn's last shopping spree? Put one on, or it looks so ugly."

The housekeeper smiled awkwardly, "I don't know how to apply a screen protector." Hearing that, Roger fell silent.

43 "Well, well. Roger said my taste was bad, but now he's chosen my screen protector."

When the housekeeper came to deliver the laptop, I was sleeping in bed. Hearing the noise through the door, I groggily got up to listen.

Madelynn was almost in tears from laughing, repeatedly asking the housekeeper, "Was it really Roger who applied this screen protector?"

The housekeeper chuckled. "He got frustrated while applying it and ruined several."

She burst out laughing, curling up her lips. "You should have taken some photos then so I could show them to Jolene."

"Wait." The housekeeper quickly put on a serious face. "You can't tell Miss Jones that. Just give her the laptop and don't mention anything else, or Mr. Jones will throw a fit, and we definitely can't handle that."

Madelynn raised an eyebrow, still laughing, "What's the matter? Is the tough guy too shy to admit it?

He wasn't so gentle when bullying Jolene."

The housekeeper didn't say anything. Meanwhile, I slightly opened the door, looking at the pink laptop with a peach pattern on the table, nervously picking at the door lock, not knowing what to do.

44 Sometimes, I felt like Roger was like a wholesaler because every time he sent things to Madelynn, it was in bulk. During physical training, Madelynn and I became the envy of many in our training formation.

Soon, a group of people surrounded Madelynn. She made friends easily and quickly became friends with them, and we rarely hung out together, except for chatting about our day while washing up in the apartment at night.

I spoke little, so mostly, she did the talking.

The physical training had only been three days, but the sun was getting harsher. I felt like I was going to pass out from the heat, but the instructor didn't call for a break, so I had to keep standing in formation.

"Please get Jolene Jones from your class here."

Just as we were standing in line, a classmate came over. The instructor glanced at me and called me out of the line. I was a bit confused but followed the classmate anyway.

"Who wants to..." "Come here."

Before I could ask, I saw Roger. I bit my lip and only cautiously walked toward him after the classmate had left.

Today, Roger was wearing a white tracksuit, with a black headband on his head. The bridge of his nose was high, and his features were sharp.

If it weren't for the fact that I knew his eyes always carried a hint of allure mixed with disdain, and if I hadn't heard his voice, I would have found it hard to recognize him from afar.

45 "Roger..." Roger leaned down to look at me, reached out, and pinched my face. I looked at him in shock. "Roger."

Roger sneered, "Oh, you still recognize me?" I could tell there was more to his words, but I couldn't recall when I had offended him. I could only silently look at him.

Roger pressed his tongue against his teeth, looking like he was about to get angry. He stared at me with a stern face.

Hesitant, I said tentatively, "Roger, the food in the school cafeteria is good... I..." He interrupted me, "You don't have to tell me that." I lowered my eyes, not daring to say more. Suddenly, he leaned in close and said, "You're so hopelessly stupid."

After saying that, he walked away as if he had come over just to tell me how stupid I was.

46 But that day, he came over several times. The instructor finally couldn't help but ask, "Who is that?" Feeling a bit embarrassed, I stood up straight and replied, "It's my brother."

The instructor looked sternly at the student who had come to find me and scolded, "Tell her brother to wait."

I was dumbfounded. Meanwhile, Madelynn chuckled, but the instructor's glance made her stand up straight immediately.

Every year during orientation camp, seniors from the previous year would bring food to greet the freshmen. Today, three senior girls and one senior boy came to our department.

It was a small world. I immediately recognized the girl from that photo with Matthew.

It was Rena.

47 "She's not even from our department. What's she doing here?"

A few female classmates gathered around me. I watched as some male classmates flocked to the senior girls, unscrewed the bottle cap, took a small sip, and watched quietly.

Having endured years of being punished by the ruler, I wasn't fragile, but my mental toughness still needed improvement. The moment I saw Rena, I felt like I was nothing.

It wasn't inferiority; it was a clear understanding of reality.

Looks would fade with time, but temperament wouldn't. Rena was a girl with a great temperament.

"Hey there."

I looked up abruptly, seeing Rena squatting in front of me with pastries in her hand. My gaze fell on her slightly deep-set eyes. I was stunned for a moment before saying, "Hello."

Rena smiled, "Hello."

I nodded awkwardly.

She smiled gently and handed me the pastries, saying softly, "Have some pastries."

I looked down at the pastries and immediately recognized that those were the ones Matthew often ate. I was stunned for a second before carefully taking them. "Thank you."

Rena smiled gracefully and walked toward the other girls.

48 I took a small bite of the pastry and could immediately taste mango. I quickly got up to find a trash can to spit it out.

My tongue was a bit numb.

Holding a bottle of water, I found a place to rinse my mouth, feeling quite uncomfortable. Turning around, I saw people gathering on the field. I figured it was time to assemble and hurriedly ran over.

"She's having an allergic reaction. Call the school doctor."

"She ate quite a bit."

Amidst the murmurs, I looked at the girl who had collapsed and instinctively glanced around, only to find Rena looking at me with a shocked expression.

My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly looked away, focusing on the girl whose lips were gradually swelling. I pursed my lips.

I was allergic to mangoes, so I usually took small bites of unfamiliar food to avoid an allergic reaction. What if I did have a reaction, and there was no one to help me?

49 I didn't know if the girl was OK.

The school forbade any discussion and canceled all subsequent greeting activities. Even the end time of the orientation camp was much earlier.

"Yay! We're dismissed!" Madelynn swung her hat in her hand and quickly headed to the cafeteria with a group of people.

The cafeteria was really crowded at meal times. I didn't want to go...

I was about to return to the dorm alone, but when I turned around, I saw Roger standing outside the field fence. I didn't know when he had arrived. He just kept staring at me intently.

Feeling uneasy, I noticed that there were quite a lot of people on the field. Feeling that perhaps I could blend in to isolate myself from his gaze, I walked among them and headed toward the cafeteria.

"Line up!" The lady at the entrance called out, and I was immediately pushed out of the line.

Just as I expected, Roger followed me. He pulled me into his arms.

"Were you running away from me?"

He sounded displeased and tightened his grip slightly.

I quickly whispered, "I'm hungry..." He said, "I'm hungrier than you."

50 "If you're hungry, why aren't you lining up?"

The cafeteria lady suddenly spoke, pointing to the line and signaling for Roger and me to join.

Seeing the growing crowd, I reached out, gently pulling Roger to line up.

When he followed, I looked up at him and belatedly asked, "Is cafeteria food OK for you?"

Roger looked down at me, seemingly sneering. He wrapped his arm around my waist and asked in a cold voice, "What if I say no? Will you give me something else?"

51 In the past, I would have obediently said yes, but now I didn't dare.

I was afraid Roger would get handsy... "What... do you like to eat?" I asked softly.

Roger took the cafeteria card from my hand and used his slender fingers to hold it, glancing at the ID photo on it.

"Roger..." Instinctively, I reached out to grab it, but he just held me and moved forward with the line.

"Roger, the card!" The ID photo was taken in my sophomore year of high school. It was embarrassing for him to see it now.

Roger patted my waist, frowned slightly, and casually handed the card back to me, saying in a low voice, "Why are you so anxious? I haven't seen you anxious before. What haven't I seen of you?"

His words rendered me speechless, and my face flushed with shyness. I turned away and obediently lined up, not wanting to say more.

52 "They're a couple." "They're holding each other!" Suddenly, there were murmurs around us.

I bit my lip, looking down at Roger's slender, elegant hand on my waist. Before I could think of what to say, he withdrew his hand.

I breathed a sigh of relief and followed the line to the front.

"Order your own.

I don't eat this."

What would you eat then?

I didn't ask out loud. I ordered my food and found the most secluded spot to sit down.

Roger didn't follow. He just stood not far away, watching me sideways.

Feeling uneasy, I got up and walked over, tugging at his sleeve hesitantly.

Then he followed me.

I was speechless. He was acting more childish than a three-year-old, but I didn't dare to complain.

53 Under immense pressure, I finished my meal under his watchful eyes. Hesitantly, I got up and walked out of the cafeteria.

"Roger."

I clasped my fingers together, nervously looked at Roger, and said in a low voice, "I have to attend orientation camp this afternoon."

He glanced at me indifferently, not saying a word, his face stern. He then walked ahead of me, heading toward the apartment Madelynn and I lived in.

Seeing him standing at the apartment door sulking, I mumbled and quickly walked over to open the door for him.

Roger went straight to my room. I stood in situ, not daring to follow, and soon heard the sound of a door slamming. After a while, he came out wrapped in a bath towel.

I stopped drinking water, shifting my gaze from his fair, narrow waist, and stammered, "Roger."

He asked coldly, "Where's the hairdryer?" Biting my lip, I hurriedly went to find the hairdryer and handed it to him.

Roger sat on the sofa, his bangs still dripping water. He stared at me with his dark eyes, seemingly surprised by my actions.

"Roger, do you need me to dry your hair?"

Roger's face darkened. Before I could say more, he said directly, "If Matthew sat here, would you ask him the same?"

54 "No..." I bit my lip, staring straight into Roger's eyes. Then I instinctively said, "I've never dried his hair..." Emily didn't like me having close contact with Matthew, and this kind of thing was usually done by older servants.

If Matthew didn't want them to, he would have to do it himself.

Roger's expression froze for a second, and then he lowered his head.

I cautiously stepped forward, reaching out to tousle his hair, and started drying it on medium. Before long, Madelynn barged in.

"Oh my!"

Roger turned his head and glanced over, and she giggled and quickly ran back to her room. "Continue."

I bit my lip, watching her stern expression, and became even more careful when drying his hair.

"Hey." "What?" I blinked at Roger, meeting his unfriendly gaze, and instinctively shrank back.

He asked, "Do you have a new toothbrush here? I need to brush my teeth."

I was a bit confused. "What?" He explained, "I had a mango earlier."

55 Why would eating a mango necessitate brushing his teeth?

Roger gave me the answer after he finished brushing his teeth.

The afternoon sun was warm.

"Roger..." I felt my face flush, my messy hair against the pillow. Suddenly, I thought it might have been better to just eat the mangoes...

My mouth would end up being numb either way...

Roger sighed, used a finger to lift my chin, and whispered, "Stay away from Rena. She's a nuisance. Got it?"

Then he leaned in till the tip of his nose touched mine and stared at me. Seeing that I didn't respond, he added, "Don't expect me to offend the Barrett Family for you."

My mind was a mess, and I felt like my ears were on fire. My eyelashes trembled uncontrollably as I softly replied, "OK." I never thought anyone would stand up for me anyway.

For someone like me, to survive, I had to be cautious and humble. To avoid getting hurt, I had to keep a low profile. These four years of college might be my rare chance to seek some freedom...

56 "OK what?"

Roger asked.

I was speechless. I was just responding to him. Why did he ask me? He ignored me, turned over, and lay down on the sofa to rest. I hesitated and then got up to fetch a blanket to cover him.

Roger opened his eyes briefly, turned over, and wrapped himself in the blanket, looking like I had harassed him.

I was speechless again. Roger's temper was very strange and unpredictable. But during my orientation camp, he hadn't done anything outrageous.

Maybe it was because we had done all sorts of unspeakable things back at the villa, so now, his kiss wouldn't make me as nervous, though I was still tense.

With only a week left of orientation camp, I was looking forward to the end of these long, hot days under the son, but at the same time, I didn't want it to end so quickly... In the last week of orientation camp, it rained heavily after just one day of training.

The rain poured down in front of the door, almost forming a small pond. When the door opened, a cold wind mixed with the rain blew in, hinting at the early autumn chill.

Madelynn started playing games leisurely, but I was uneasy. I kept glancing at the door, afraid that Roger might suddenly appear.

"Jolene, what are you looking at?"

Madelynn yawned, holding her phone and starting to order takeout. Then she chuckled and said, "Are you waiting for Roger?"

I snapped back to reality, feeling a bit embarrassed as I pressed down on the pages of my book.

"I'm afraid he probably won't come recently."

Madelynn scrolled through her phone, tilting her head as she continued, "That punk Matthew went to tattle. As soon as Roger's dad came back from his business trip, he started giving Roger trouble."

57 I pressed down on the corner of my book, feeling a bit relieved.

Although I rarely had serious conversations with Jaycob Jones, from our brief interactions, he seemed like a kind person.

I heard he often did charity work and was recognized as a good man.

Madelynn snorted and chuckled, "Roger is probably going to get beaten."

I was stunned for a moment and then whispered, "That shouldn't happen..."

She shrugged, tapped her phone screen a few times, and said nonchalantly, "Unless he fights back."

I was speechless. It didn't seem that serious to me, but Madelynn didn't seem to be joking either.

Staring at the period Roger had sent in his message for a while, I tapped the screen. I didn't dare to send him a message. I was really afraid of provoking him.

58 It was past three in the night, and the rain was still pouring down.

Feeling drowsy, I shifted my position, always feeling that there was a faint scent of freshness drifting in the air, but when I opened my eyes, there was nothing there. I sat up, wanting to get a glass of water.

With a clicking sound, the bathroom door opened, and I froze in fear. Turning to look, in the dim light, I saw a glimpse of abs, like a white petal floating in a pond.

"You're awake?"

It was Roger's voice.

Holding the glass, I opened my mouth but didn't know what to say. In the end, I just nodded.

Roger dried himself with a towel, walked straight to the bed, lay down, and covered himself with the blanket, giving me a sidelong glance. He then curled up under the blanket without saying another word.

I bit my lip, planning to take the glass and sleep on the sofa.

"Come here," he said.

59 I said nothing and just walked over slowly. Roger made some space for me, turning over to sleep on the inside. I exhaled a little, grateful that the bed provided by the school wasn't too small.

Lying on the edge, I didn't dare to fall asleep, afraid that Roger might do something. But that night, he was unusually well-behaved, not even hugging me once.

In the early morning, the rain still hadn't stopped, making orientation camp unlikely.

I lay on the bed, looking at Roger's sleeping face, and only then did I notice a red mark on his temple.

"Roger?" I tentatively called him. Getting no response, I didn't dare to wake him directly. I could only wait, but this waiting lasted until noon, and Roger still showed no signs of waking up.

"Madelynn, he..." Madelynn, unlike me, directly lifted the blanket when she saw Roger still asleep and slapped him on the body, shouting, "Hey! The sun's up!" Roger kept his eyes closed, not reacting. Madelynn was stunned for a moment, and then she reached out to touch Roger's forehead and immediately cursed, "Damn! He's got a fever."

The next second, Roger frowned, raised his hand to push her hand away from his forehead, pulled up the blanket, turned over, and said in a deep voice, "Get out."

Madelynn snorted, "Why do you have a fever? Did you get scolded yesterday?" Roger covered his ears with a pillow, completely ignoring her. She pouted and turned to look at me.

I didn't say anything. I actually wanted to be a bystander because I knew Roger was in a bad mood. If I went over, it would just be asking for trouble. So, I used Roger's card to call a doctor and habitually cooked some soup.

After the fever-reducing injection, Roger still lay in bed, looking unwell.

"What's this?" he asked, looking at the soup I brought and biting his lip with a hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes. He said in a deep voice, "This is what you're giving me to eat?"

"Well... Roger, what do you want to eat..." I could clearly feel Roger's displeasure and realized belatedly that he was different from me. He wouldn't find this soup delicious just because he was sick. I hurriedly picked up the bowl, ready to leave.

"Roger!" Madelynn walked in with a bento box. She opened the box layer by layer, took out the fine food inside, and put it on the table.

"Oh, Jolene, you made soup?

Stay. I bought some food. Let's eat together."

"No... No need." I shook my head awkwardly, holding the soup as I left the room and sat in the living room, slowly eating it by myself.

Soon, Madelynn brought two plates of food over and sat beside me. "Jolene, don't just eat soup. Have some of this. These are house specialties, and they're really delicious."

I bit my lip and nodded at her. "Thank you."

She grinned and ran back to my room. I glanced over, seeing Roger with a sullen face, slowly eating the food, while she played on her phone as she ate.

After a while, Roger glanced over at me. I stiffened for a second and then lowered my head to continue eating my soup.

When Madelynn was around, it was OK. But when she wasn't, I always felt the room's atmosphere was heavy, so I pretended to be calm while reading.

The rain outside continued, with no sign of stopping. The head teacher in the class group chat didn't mention orientation camp anymore, only notifying everyone to attend classes on time next week.

"Roger! Where did you hide Jolene?" Matthew's angry voice suddenly broke the silence. I instinctively looked over, seeing Roger sitting with his legs spread, elbows resting on his knees, listening to the phone with a calm expression.

Compared to Matthew's agitation, Roger was unhurried. He said, "I can't hear you."

I was speechless. Matthew's voice trembled, and it seemed he was at the peak of his anger. He said each word clearly, "She's just a servant. Do you really want to fight me for her?"

Even Roger was taken aback for a moment, and he instinctively looked at me. After a pause, he retorted, "The servants at home and those from the Barrett Family together aren't enough for you?"

"Roger, you're so desperate that you aren't picky at all." "Right back at you."

I sat woodenly by the sofa, noticing Roger's glance in my direction. I immediately averted my gaze and sat on the sofa, listening to them argue over the phone, neither willing to back down.

Staring at the text in the book, I put on my headphones to block out the noise.

63 After I stared at the book for a while, my eyes became a bit moist, which was perhaps because of the soreness, but I had no tears.

"Are you crying?"

Roger suddenly walked over.

I kept my head down, pretending not to hear him. Then he casually took off one of my headphones and put it on himself, saying indifferently, "The volume is too low."

I reached out to adjust the volume on my phone, turning it up bit by bit.

Roger glanced at me and then suddenly pulled me into his arms. His cool hand held mine, giving it a few squeezes, and he snorted, "I don't see you as a servant."

A bit surprised, I bit my lip and looked at him with reddened eyes.

He clicked his tongue, casually picking up the book from my hand and flipping through it. He said nonchalantly, "I wouldn't sleep with a servant."

I was speechless. He cleared his throat and looked at me, shaking the textbook in his hand. He raised an eyebrow and said, "Make me something delicious tonight, and I might teach you this."

I looked at him, my mind buzzing, and mumbled, "Don't you hate the soup I made?"

Roger was momentarily stunned and then couldn't help but laugh. "You consider that delicious?

Forget it. I'll fix something myself."

I pressed my lips.

Roger's thin lips moved slightly as he leaned in closer to me. My eyelashes trembled instantly, and before I could react, he kissed me.

64 "Just as I thought."

Madelynn grinned, sneaking up beside me. She looked at my swollen lips and teased, "People nearing thirty have a strong appetite." I instinctively raised my hand to cover my mouth, blinking at her.

She grinned and said, "Jolene, be careful. Or you may be a mother before you graduate."

I didn't know what to say.

"Madelynn." Roger's slightly cold voice came through.

She immediately shut her mouth, smiling sweetly at Roger.

Roger glanced at her indifferently and placed the chicken wings he had made on the table. He said calmly, "You talk too much."

I looked at the chicken wings on the table and then watched as Roger brought dish after dish to the table. I was a bit surprised; I had thought he was just joking when he said he would cook, but he actually knew how to make so many dishes.

"Fried fish!" Madelynn exclaimed, picking up a piece of the crispy, tender fish with the fork and dipping it in the cooked sauce.

Roger sneered, looking at her disdainfully, then turned to me.

I hesitated for a second, then picked up my fork, took a piece of fish, dipped it in the sauce, and took a small bite.

To be honest, I was amazed by Roger's cooking skills.

Roger pulled out a chair and sat next to me and poured me a glass of juice. He curled up his lips and said, "Now you know what delicious means?"

Madelynn nodded enthusiastically.

Roger said, "I wasn't asking you."

She was speechless. I obediently nodded, unable to stop myself from smiling. Roger smiled, too, and pinched my cheek.

I was a bit shy. I bit my fork gently and lowered my head slightly, feeling a cool sensation on the cheek he had pinched.

65 Late at night, the bedside lamp was on. I nervously flipped through a book, occasionally glancing at the bathroom. "Still reading?" Roger pushed open the bathroom door, drying his hair with a towel as he got into bed.

He casually pulled me into his arms.

"Roger..."

The faint scent of body wash wafted over me.

He glanced at the book in my hand, wanting to laugh. He then casually took the book and tossed it onto the bedside table.

As the book fell, the room seemed to become more cramped, the air thinner, leaving only the sound of our breathing.

"Roger..." "Don't move."

I knew there was no escaping tonight, so I instinctively grabbed the pillow, but Roger did nothing but kiss me.

66 "Roger?" I looked at Roger's deep, dark eyes in confusion, feeling a strange familiarity that made me want to shrink back.

Roger leaned in, holding me tightly. Then he reached up to turn off the light, kissed me for a while longer, and whispered, "Make it up to me during the break."

I was speechless. Seeing no response, he said, "Speak."

I hid under the blanket, feeling Roger's hand tighten around my waist. I whispered quickly, "OK."

Roger snorted, held me closer, and closed his eyes.

I had no idea how much time had passed when he suddenly gripped my arm and said in a deep voice, "If you can't take it, just tell me. Don't end up with a fever again."

I said nothing. I nervously clutched the edge of the blanket, closed my eyes, and pretended to be asleep and therefore heard nothing.

67 Roger kept his word. During my classes, he didn't touch me. Sometimes, he would show up in the evening to have dinner together. That was all.

Life went on smoothly, and I passed the entrance exams without a hitch. It should have been a hopeful day, but after class, I saw Rena with Matthew.

It was dusk, and the sky was painted with hues of sunset.

Amidst the bustling crowd, I saw them chatting and laughing. I lowered my head, put on my mask and hat quickly, and followed the flow of people.

"Hey, wait for me!" Madelynn's voice came from afar.

I froze for a second before she caught up and put her arm around my shoulder. As I looked up, Matthew glanced over too, but his focus was mainly on Madelynn. He gave her a disdainful look.

Jolene wasn't one to back down, rolling her eyes while saying, "Punk."

I didn't know what to say. As if on purpose, Madelynn linked arms with me and walked past Matthew, bumping into him with her shoulder deliberately.

"Jolene, are you nut?" "Yeah. Why don't you get your dad to hit me?

You Daddy's good boy."

"You..." Madelynn snorted and chuckled, dragging me away quickly. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rena staring at me. I lowered my head to avoid her gaze.

68 "Hey, Roger!" Madelynn suddenly called out.

I snapped back to reality, looking at Roger who was in a suit, and awkwardly greeted him, "Roger."

Maybe because Roger looked striking in his suit, passing students couldn't help but take a second look. Madelynn seemed to notice too and immediately clung to Roger's arm.

"Roger, let's take a walk around the campus.

And tomorrow, I'll be the school's star."

Roger said, "Do you think I'm a dog to be walked?"

She giggled and said, "Roger, I just realized you suddenly have self-awareness... Hey!"

Roger, with a cold expression, handed her a piece of paper that looked like a ticket. She immediately shouted "You're the best, Roger!" and ran off.

I was speechless. Watching Madelynn run away, I felt awkward. Thinking about Matthew and Rena still being nearby made it even worse. I whispered, "Roger, let's go eat."

He glanced at me and said indifferently, "Have some cake first."

69 In a private room.

Roger opened the cake box. I glanced at it and saw a cartoon princess on the cake, which made me want to laugh, but seeing him sitting across from me, I didn't dare.

The cake was large and pink, and everything else, including the decorations and the style, was completely childlike.

It was hard to imagine this was to Roger's liking.

"Roger."

He started to open the bag of candles. Watching him struggle, I got up, found the tear strip along one corner, and opened the bag. Curious, I asked, "Is it your birthday today?"

Roger looked at me like I had lost my mind, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly, and frowned. "Jolene, are you serious? It's your birthday today."

"What?" I was stunned, looking down at the bag. The number on these candles was "19" indeed. I bit my lip in embarrassment as my mind was blank. I had no idea it was my birthday today. All my birthday memories were of Matthew's birthday parties, where I was busy in the kitchen cutting fruit or out serving dishes.

Roger took a deep breath, seemingly frustrated by me. But he didn't get angry. He just muttered, "Are you sure you're a girl?"

I was speechless. He tilted his head to look at me. "Forget it. Just because you don't remember doesn't mean I don't. Remember, today is your birthday according to your ID card."

Seeing his displeased expression, I nervously twisted my fingers together and nodded.

Although I was scared of Roger right now, when the lights in the private room went out, and the candles were lit, I couldn't help but be a bit dazed as I looked at the little princess in the candlelight. What was more, I felt valued, which was a kind of feeling I'd never experienced before.

Looking at Roger in the light, I bit my lip.

Roger curled up his lips and said, "Why are you looking at me? Make wishes to the candles.

Make three."

I nodded, faced the candles, and was about to speak when Roger gasped and chuckled. He used his well-defined hand to prop up his chin as he tilted his head and quietly observed my expression.

I pursed my lips, looked into the princess's eyes, and started to think of auspicious words, whispering, "I hope everything goes smoothly for me, and all my wishes come true... I hope Roger lives a long life... I hope..." Maybe my wishes were a bit funny, as Roger couldn't help but grin. I didn't know what his grin meant, but thinking that it was Madelynn and him who got me into college, I whispered, "I hope Madelynn and Roger stay safe and healthy."

Roger was taken aback, and then he snorted and chuckled, "Didn't expect you to have a conscience."

I was speechless.