4#04

4

Robert continued to gaze at me intently. "Isn't this ring precious to you? You never let anyone else touch it."

I glanced down and noticed a woman's wedding band in the garbage. It was the one Robert had given me when he proposed two years earlier. At the time, I thought it was special, but now it meant nothing to me.

"It probably slipped off by accident, Robert," I said nonchalantly, getting dressed and preparing to leave the bed. But Robert gently grabbed my arm.

"Angeline, why do I sense you've changed since coming back from Antarctica?"

A cold smirk played on my lips. 'Are you certain, Robert?', I thought to myself, 'The real shock is yet to come'. Later that day, as I was exiting the mansion, a vase suddenly plummeted from the second floor, striking me squarely on the head. Blood immediately began gushing out.

"Oh no, Ms. Angeline, I'm so sorry!"

Rebecca's worried face appeared on the second-floor balcony, quickly apologizing. "I have no idea how the vase slipped and fell, Ms. Angeline."

Hearing the commotion, Robert rushed out. "What happened?"

Robert's expression changed as he hurried to find a first aid kit to stop my bleeding. But the blood flowed like an unstoppable tap. He began to panic.

"Driver, quick! We need to get to the hospital!"

Robert nearly shouted. He swiftly picked me up and carefully placed me in the passenger seat. I smiled coldly; this seat had been a long time coming. The doctor worked on my head for a while before managing to stop the bleeding.

Robert's angry voice echoed from the hallway, "Rebecca, you've crossed a line this time. Don't you realize how dangerous it is to drop things from above? We're lucky Angeline is alright. If her life had been at risk, could you have taken responsibility?"

Rebecca's tearful voice responded, "I'm so sorry. I truly didn't mean to, Robert. I never thought the vase would slip. Please believe me, if anything happens to Ms. Angeline, I won't make things difficult for you. I promise, Robert."

Rebecca's delicate tone was designed to evoke sympathy. I knew these seemingly understanding words would make it harder for Robert to criticize her.

"Well, I didn't intend to scold you, Rebecca. But you did cause Angeline's injury. Go and apologize to her."

Rebecca knelt before me in Robert's presence. "Ms. Angeline, I'm so sorry. It's my fault you're hurt."

***

Robert went downstairs to buy some dinner. Rebecca's demeanor changed instantly. She unlocked the ward door and forcefully pressed my head against the hospital bed, applying pressure to my wound.

"Angeline, you're surprisingly resilient. How is it you couldn't die from this? I clearly underestimated you."

I stared coldly at Rebecca as she suddenly laughed.

"You don't realize the doctor was in my pocket, do you? He added something to your medicine. Even if you didn't die, this wound will torment you endlessly."

But I just looked at her in bewilderment. She was unaware of my condition. My entire body was numb, a consequence of falling into Antarctic waters. The spirit bound to the ice had revealed an ancient virus lurking in the glacier's depths. When I was drowning, I swallowed several mouthfuls of glacial water. Those ancient viruses had taken root in my body and mutated. I only realized my lack of sensation after returning.

I smiled coldly and seized Rebecca's wrist. "You've been tormenting me for so long, Rebecca. Now it's time for me to get even."

Rebecca's face drained of color. "Angeline, what are you doing?"

I slowly turned my head. My gaze fell on the vase on the windowsill. In an instant, the vase shattered against Rebecca's head.