Chapter 4

He suddenly smashed the phone hard on the floor. The screen shattered instantly.

Then he reached out and gripped my throat tightly, with so much force I couldn't breathe.

"Let me tell you, you'll never escape me in this lifetime!"

"Even if you're blind for life, you have to stay by my side. You can only die in front of me!"

The suffocating feeling engulfed me like a tide.

In my ears was his crazy roar. My vision was turning black.

My hands flailed at his arm, but I couldn't muster any strength.

The fear of death seized me instantly. I jolted awake.

I can't die like this. I haven't cured my eyes yet. I haven't completely escaped from him.

I used my last bit of strength to squeeze words from my throat.

"I... I won't run anymore..."

Ethan's hand suddenly loosened.

I fell back onto the bed, gasping for air.

"Really won't run?"

His eyes were sinister, still disbelieving.

I nodded forcefully.

"Really. I won't leave you. I can't live without you..."

I had to stabilize him first. Only then would I have a chance.

But he didn't believe my submission at all, only taking it as false compliance.

The next second, he roughly pulled me up and dragged me toward the door.

I couldn't see the way and stumbled, being forcibly dragged by him downstairs to the apartment complex.

There weren't many people in the evening, but there were still quite a few people walking around, their gazes all turning toward us.

Ethan pushed me into the middle of the crowd, his voice as cold as ice.

"Say it loudly: I can't live without Ethan Bennett. I'm a worthless person who can't live without him."

I stood frozen in place, my blood running cold.

Years of inferiority, humiliation, and scenes of being laughed at by others all flooded back in an instant.

I bit my lip hard, refusing to speak.

"Won't say it?"

He suddenly gripped my wrist tightly.

"Say it!"

The surrounding chatter grew louder. Curious, contemptuous, and spectating gazes densely pierced into me.

Just like all those gazes that had mocked me for my eye condition in the past---glaring and scorching.

I practically shouted it out through tears, shame and humiliation completely drowning me.

My whole body went limp. I could barely stand. I just wanted to escape from here as quickly as possible.

"I can't live without Ethan Bennett... I'm a worthless person who can't live without him..."

Passersby pointed and whispered, laughing, shaking their heads, talking amongst themselves.

I felt like I was standing naked in front of everyone, my dignity trampled and ground to dust beneath his feet.

Only then did Ethan let go with satisfaction, watching my disheveled, tear-stained appearance with pathological satisfaction in his eyes.

When we got home, I was like someone whose soul had been extracted, sitting blankly on the sofa all night.

In a daze, I recalled the past---how I knocked over shelves in the supermarket because I couldn't see clearly, and was cursed at by staff who called me blind.

How children in the neighborhood surrounded me, threw pebbles at me, and laughed at my crooked walk.

Even distant relatives, when they saw me, would privately say I was a burden, a useless invalid.

Back then, I always thought my eye condition had ruined everything.

That Ethan was kind enough to take me in and care for me.

He wouldn't let me go out, so I obediently stayed home.

He wouldn't let me interact with outsiders, so I cut off all social contact.

He said to take medicine on time, so I never dared miss a dose.

He would watch me being mocked by others, then hold me in his arms.

Saying "Don't be afraid, I'm here," making me increasingly dependent on him, obedient to him.

He gradually cut off all my social connections and confiscated my documents.

I became his possession, without self, without dignity, with only him filling my heart.

But now I understand---his protection wasn't love, it was to cage me into being more obedient.

His gentleness wasn't tenderness, it was to make me more devoted in my dependence.