Chapter 4
Being around these lunatics for even one more second made me sick to my stomach.
Behind me, I could hear Irma's soft sobs and Janosch's comforting words tinged with suppressed anger.
I headed straight to my room without breaking my stride and closed the door firmly behind me.
Even with the door closed, I could still hear Liesl's tirade downstairs. "Janosch, you mustn't condone this kind of behavior! You have to kick her out!"
"Mom, take Irma home first." Janosch was heard saying.
"I'm not leaving! You must kick her out today!" Liesl screamed.
"I said, go home!" Janosch's voice left no room for argument.
Soon, the noise downstairs faded away. That was when I knew they were gone.
I walked to the window and watched discreetly as the black Bentley exited the villa's gates.
However, I didn't see Janosch in the car. It seemed like he was staying behind to "settle the score" with me.
I looked upwards at the timer on the control panel suspended in the air: [Exit Countdown: 16 days.]
By the looks of things, ending things peacefully was no longer an option.
I had to figure out another way to get out of this damned place quickly.
*****
Deep into the night, I woke up to the sound of the door opening.
Janosch walked in, reeking of alcohol and an ominous chilliness.
He sat down on the edge of my bed without saying anything. He only stared intently at me with his dark eyes.
In the darkness, his gaze was like a beast lurking in the shadows, brimming with menace and danger.
I didn't move or say anything. I only returned his gaze placidly.
After a long pause, he suddenly reached out and gently caressed my cheek.
His fingertips were cold, and I could feel his fingers trembling a little.
"Corine, you didn't really mean what you said today, did you?" he asked in a broken voice that exuded a sense of vulnerability I had never encountered before.
"You were just... just jealous, weren't you? You still love me. You were just throwing a tantrum." He seemed to be trying to convince me, yet also trying to convince himself.
I didn't answer him. Instead, I asked in return, "Do you believe her, or me?
His hand, which was stroking my cheek, paused.
"She's carrying my child," he answered after some time.
"Are you sure it's yours?" I asked again.
This time, Janosch did not reply. He knew the answer to that question better than anyone.
However, he couldn't bring himself to admit it.
Admitting it would be the same as admitting he was a failure.
"Corinna…" He suddenly rolled over and pressed down on me, sandwiching me between his arms. "We can have a child of our own too.
"As long as you behave, as long as you love me like before, we can have many, many children."
His hot breath, exuding an overpowering stench of alcohol, sprayed on my face.
His eyes were ablaze with a manic, passionate intensity.
I knew what he wanted, and it made me feel sick to my stomach.
"Janosch, get off," I told him firmly.
"No!" he shot back, staring at me stubbornly like a defiant child. "Not until you tell me you still love me."
"I told you, I don't love you anymore," I replied with a stony look.
"You're lying!" With that, he suddenly pressed his face down to kiss me.
I swiftly turned my head to evade his mouth.
His lips ended up against my ear instead.
I felt his body go rigid. This was the first time I had resisted his advances.
Back then, I always gave in to his every whim.
"Corinna..." He sounded very hurt.
At this awkward moment, his phone rang.
He tried to ignore it, but the phone kept ringing nonstop.
Finally, he got up in annoyance and fished his phone out of his pocket.
When he saw who was calling, he frowned at once. It was Irma.
He went outside to the balcony to answer her call. Though he kept his voice low, I could still make out a few words. "...Don't cry... I'll come see you tomorrow... Yeah, just try to get some rest..."
When he ended the call and returned to my bed, his face had reverted to his usual cold, distant look.
"Something urgent cropped up. I need to go back to the office," he said tersely.
As he spoke, he tidied up his disheveled clothes.
I watched him for a while before speaking up. "Janosch, let's make a deal."
He turned to look at me doubtfully. "What deal?"
"Let me go. And in exchange, I will cure your ailment," I said crisply.
His eyes widened abruptly. "What?"
"I said, I can treat your oligospermia. So you can finally have a kid of your own," I reiterated with slow deliberation.
This was my final trump card.