The next morning, Elowen woke up very early and rushed out of the house before Lucien could catch her. She took the bus to school, ate the breakfast Adrian had prepared for her, then took out her books and started studying like any other day.
Today seemed to be a rare peaceful day for Elowen. Her classmates were not gossiping about her, Vanessa and her followers did not come looking for trouble, and even Lucien did not force her to obey him.
That peace lasted until she heard the news that Brianna, Vanessa's best friend, had died, and that the main suspect was the student council president, Nathan. Only then did panic slam into her.
Students poured into the hallways to watch the commotion. Ambulances and police cars rushed into the school grounds one after another. Before long, the students saw the police carrying a stretcher toward the school gate. Just then, an arm slipped out from beneath the white sheet. Several students close to Vanessa's group immediately recognized it as Brianna's arm, because she wore a very expensive black pearl bracelet on her wrist.
Soon after, Nathan was taken away by the police. He shouted frantically, "I didn't kill anyone! I'm innocent!"
His screams echoed across the schoolyard. Terrified girls clutched each other tightly. Elowen was also shaking with fear. She never imagined that the girl who had beaten her just yesterday was now dead. Everything felt so unreal that it left everyone stunned.
Adrian quickly placed a hand on her shoulder and rubbed it gently in comfort. His gaze flicked toward Lucien, who was standing not far away. At that moment, the corner of Lucien's lips lifted slightly, his eyes cold and merciless, like a bloodthirsty killer.
A sudden shiver ran through Adrian. He remembered how, just yesterday, when that brat Nathan had acted close to Elowen, Lucien had been furious.
Could it be…
Adrian had spent many years rolling around the business world, mingling even with the criminal underworld, so he had encountered plenty of murderous lunatics. Still, Lucien looked far too young to have killed someone and then framed another person so flawlessly. Only then did Adrian realize that Lucien might truly be a devil, a pervert with an exceptionally high IQ.
This type of criminal was the most dangerous of all. If he could not be killed, the only option was to stay as far away as possible.
Adrian suddenly felt worried for Elowen.
"No, I have to get back to the hospital and return to my body as soon as possible. If that brat Lucien dares to kill and even frame others with such professionalism, then I cannot rule out the possibility that he will harm Elowen. I must return to my body and pull Elowen out of this hell as soon as I can."
Time passed, and the weekend arrived. Elowen sat obediently in her room doing her homework, while Adrian disguised himself as the air conditioner, cooling her down. In reality, the old man was touching here and there on her body. Even though he could not feel the softness of her skin, he was still deeply satisfied.
Thinking back on it, it all felt rather strange. He had lived nearly forty years without ever having any desire for sex. Many times, he had wondered whether he liked men, but the thought of getting into bed with another man always made his skin crawl.
In the end, the psychologist concluded that he belonged to the Asexual community, meaning people who felt no sexual interest toward any gender.
Adrian believed that too, until the moment he developed desire for Elowen, a girl seventeen years younger than him.
It turned out that it was not that he disliked sex, but simply that he had never met someone who awakened that desire in him.
Knock knock knock.
There was a knock at the door. Elowen startled and looked toward it in fear, but quickly calmed down. If it were Mrs. Rothschild or Lucien, they would have barged straight in instead of knocking.
With that thought, she cautiously stood up and opened the door. When she saw Mrs. Brown outside, she immediately let out a long breath of relief.
"Auntie Brown, are you looking for me?"
Elowen politely invited Mrs. Brown into the room. After her true identity had been exposed, the only person in the house who still treated her kindly was Mrs. Brown. Although she was just a maid and could not protect Elowen, she would occasionally buy disinfectant and some food to make Elowen's life a little more bearable.
Auntie Brown slipped a few plump grapes into Elowen's hand and told her to put them away. Elowen obediently placed them in her desk drawer, then turned back to listen.
Mrs. Brown gently stroked Elowen's hair. As she looked at the bruises on Elowen's face and body, her eyes grew moist.
"You have suffered so much lately. Hang in there. As long as you get into university, you can leave this house and live a life of your own."
Elowen's eyes reddened as well. All her pent up grievances spilled out with her tears. She sniffed and said in a choked voice, "I know. I will not give up."
She was only seventeen years old, and she wanted to keep living, strong and unbroken.
Mrs. Brown nodded, then her expression turned serious. She said, "Around seven tonight, Lucien will bring his friends back to the villa for a party. He asked me to tell you that he wants you to join."
Elowen pressed her lips together tightly, her resistance written all over her face.
She truly did not want to have anything to do with Lucien. He would definitely find some way to humiliate her.
"Auntie… Auntie Brown, can I not go?"
Elowen's eyes filled with fear. Mrs. Brown could not bear it either, but this was not something she could decide.
As night slowly fell, Elowen grew more and more uneasy. Her instincts told her that something truly terrifying was going to happen to her tonight.