Chapter 5

He didn't expect Mark to completely lose his mind. Mark tackled Sebastian to the ground, pinning him down and punching him repeatedly in the face.

Mark’s eyes were bloodshot, his face monstrous.

Sebastian was terrified. He looked at me, screaming, "Kate! Help me! Call the police! Do something!"

I stood three meters away, screaming in "panic." "Stop! Please stop hitting him!"

But I didn't take a single step forward, making sure I was completely out of harm's way.

Sebastian’s face was swollen, and he could barely speak. He weakly grabbed Mark's arm, mumbling, "Stop... stop... I'll make... I'll make Kate move into your place. She’ll take care of you twenty-four hours a day..."

Hearing this, Mark stopped. He stood up, wiping the sweat from his forehead, and stared at me.

His eyes ran up and down my body with a disgusting, slimy gaze that made me want to vomit.

Sebastian dragged himself up, trying to act like nothing happened as he patted the dust off his shirt.

"Kate, starting today, you do whatever Mark tells you to do."

"You have to take care of him perfectly. No slacking off."

"To make sure you do your best, you should start viewing yourself as Mark’s future wife."

"You know how a good wife is supposed to treat her husband, right?"

"Be submissive. Take care of his laundry, his cleaning, his meals. Everything."

I burst out laughing.

"I’m so sorry, Dad," I said, dripping with fake regret. "But I just got approved for the school dorms. I'm moving out tomorrow."

His face contorted with anger, but I cut him off before he could yell.

"The boarding fee is non-refundable. I already paid it."

"And if I suddenly back out, the school administration will want to know why."

"I can't exactly tell them that my dad is forcing me to drop out to be a live-in maid for a random eighteen-year-old guy, right?"

"If I say that, what would people think of you?"

Sebastian’s face turned a violent shade of purple. He pointed a trembling finger at me.

"Kate... you... you're talking back to me now?!"

I added with a sweet smile, "Dad, you'll have to take great care of Mark yourself. To show your ultimate devotion, maybe you should start acting like his real dad."

I meant it as a sarcastic jab, but to my horror, Sebastian froze.

A creepy, blissful smile slowly spread across his face, as if he was daydreaming about that exact scenario.

I was completely speechless. That very night, I packed my bags and moved straight into the school dorms.

As I walked out of the apartment complex, I noticed the door next door was cracked open.

In the shadows, Mark's hostile, snake-like eyes watched my every move.

Once I was at school, I threw myself into my studies. I wanted to change my destiny.

I put my revenge on hold for a moment. I wanted to build my own strength before destroying them completely.

But they just couldn't wait to deliver themselves to my doorstep.

The next week, when the homeroom teacher introduced the new transfer student on the podium, I saw Mark standing there.

I knew I couldn't wait anymore.