The rain grew heavier, pounding the city as if to drown it, the sound of raindrops on the floor-to-ceiling windows creating a cacophony that made it impossible to find peace. In the courtyard, a cluster of roses was covered with a plastic sheet to protect the petals from the rains assault.
Wynn Wen looked up at the wall clock, noting it was already half past one in the morning. The large house was empty except for her. She was dressed in clothes she had just changed, and if the roses in the courtyard were beaten by the rain, he would definitely be angry.
"He probably wont be back today..." she murmured, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she watched the rain intensify. This was the fourth year.
Wynn had planned to retire for the night, but instead of moving away from the window, she stood there, transfixed by the downpour.
Suddenly, the sound of a car pulling up outside made her pause. She quickly snapped to attention and rushed towards the door; he was back!
Grant Gu was drunk, and the driver had left him at the doorstep, handing him over to her with a look that was complicated, tinged with mockery and contempt. Such looks were something Wynn had grown accustomed to; she paid them no mind as she helped Grant inside, fearful that the rain would soak him.
"Yuan... Yuan..." Grant mumbled, and at the sound of the name, Wynns brow furrowed, but she only said, "Grant, lets go inside."
Hearing Wynns voice, Grant looked up, his usually sharp, almond-shaped eyes blurred with intoxication, his high nose bridge and chiseled, thin lips pressed together. Upon recognizing her, his eyes turned cold, and he wrapped his arm around her waist, lifting her up.
Wynn was startled. "Grant, what are you doing?" she asked, but he seemed not to hear her, carrying her horizontally towards the second floor.
Wynn was thrown onto the large bed, a wave of panic washing over her as she looked into Grants frosty gaze. She pleaded, "Grant, youre drunk, can you rest first?"
Ignoring her, he pounced, tearing at her clothes. Wynn felt a chill on her chest and couldnt help but scream. At the sound of her scream, Grant looked up at her face, a mocking smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Wynn, what are you screaming about? Isnt this what you wanted? You drove Yuan away, didnt you expect me to do this? Why are you pretending to be pitiful now?"
Wynn tried to cover her chest, but Grant grabbed her hands and pinned them above her head, leaving her exposed. "Grant, I didnt, I really didnt!" she insisted.
Grant was strong, and Wynn couldnt break free. Whether it was the pain in her arms or the ache in her heart, tears began to fall from Wynns eyes.
"Why are you crying? Dont you love money the most? You even made Yuan marry someone else to pay off your debts for money. Why are you pretending to be pitiful in front of me now?" Grant said, releasing her hands suddenly and pulling out his wallet, his eyes filled with ridicule and disgust. "Dont worry, Ive prepared this for you."
With that, he took out a stack of bills from his wallet, held them between two fingers, and threw them at Wynn.
"Snap!"
Seeing the red bills fall onto her body, a sense of shame slowly crept up from the depths of Wynns heart, churning in her stomach, making her feel dizzy with nausea.
"Whats the matter? Are you too happy to speak at the sight of so much money?" Grants delicate face curled into a cold smile. "Since youre happy, you should make me happy now."
"Rip!"
The sound of fabric tearing reached Wynns ears. She snapped out of her nausea and tried to struggle, "Grant, no, Grant!"
"No... please... dont..."
Wynns brows were furrowed, tears streaming down her face like a broken string. Grants body pressed down, his warm, alcoholic breath hitting Wynns face. At this point, Wynn had given up struggling, allowing Grant to brutally violate her. They were separated by his cold clothes and the coppery stench of money. A sense of humiliation crashed within Wynn, but her eyes were hollow, staring at the ceiling, allowing tears to flow freely, waiting for the invasion to end.
"Yuan... Yuan..."
Grants murmurs sent a tingling sensation through Wynns ears; it was that name again. Yuan Wen, her own sister.
"Yuan, I love you..."
A bitter smile appeared at the corner of Wynns mouth. I love you, those three words, were only spoken by Grant at times like this, but she knew they were not meant for her.
A wave of nauseating coldness crept up her spine, and she suddenly widened her eyes, trying desperately to push Grant off her. "Grant Gu, get up! Get up!"
Her voice was almost hysterical, her tears competing with the rain outside. But she couldnt move Grant; in her struggle, he grabbed her hair.
A fiery pain spread across her scalp as Grant looked up at Wynn, her tear-streaked face and disheveled hair. "Heh, Wynn, what are you pretending for now? When you told Wen Yuan that you liked me and let Yuan replace you to pay off the debt with her body, why didnt you have this expression? Havent I satisfied you now? The money and I are both here. Why are you still crying pretentiously?"