Chapter 3

A week later, Jacob suddenly called.

He said, "What are you still doing at home? Get to the station and pick me up, quick!"

I was puzzled.

I asked, "Didn't you leave by car? Why do you need me to pick you up at the station?"

Jacob refused to explain and told me to hurry up.

Figured this was my chance to finally clear the air with Jacob, so I went anyway.

But as soon as I got to the station, I was dumbfounded. A crowd of elderly locals was all huddled together, chattering nonstop.

As soon as Jacob spotted me, he looked like he'd just found his lifesaver.

He exclaimed, "Finally! These are all Vivian's relatives. Help them settle in somewhere, and take them sightseeing for the next few days."

My lips twitched. Seriously, I'd never met anyone so shameless in my life.

Jacob acted like nothing was wrong and gave my arm a shove when I just stood there. He urged, "Come on, hurry up already."

Just then, Vivian strolled over.

She said, "Sylvia, you're here. Sorry to trouble you with all this. We'll leave them in your care for the next few days and head back now."

With that, she grabbed Jacob and started to leave, basically dumping her entire family on me without a second thought.

I backed away and shot back, "Who said I'm helping out?"

Jacob's face twisted with anger as he shot me a nasty glare.

He snapped, "Are you brain-dead, or can't you process a simple command? When I tell you to do something, just do it. Stop yapping, you moron."

As soon as he finished, Vivian's father, Peter Brown, shot me a disdainful glance, chin held high.

He said, "Jacob, your driver really doesn't know how to behave. You should teach her some manners."

Jacob instantly nodded, looking totally submissive.

He said, "Yes, you're right. I'll chew her out as soon as we get back."

Peter looked quite satisfied with Jacob's submissive attitude.

He said, "Alright, just have her give up the car so you can drive us home. Let her take a cab. Let's hurry up, I'm beat."

Peter's crassness was so blatant that it made me frown.

But Jacob acted like he didn't even notice, flashing a fawning smile. Then he walked up to me, his hand outstretched impatiently.

He snapped, "Did you hear me? Just give me the keys and scram. Don't make me cause a scene here."

I tossed the keys to Jacob with a blank expression, and he turned away with a look of pure contempt.

He still thought I couldn't walk away from him. Funny thing was, he had no clue I was already set on leaving.

I called a taxi and took them to the cemetery.

As soon as the car stopped, Jacob got out in a huff and slammed the door.

He complained, "Why'd you bring us to this creepy place? I'm newly married. Don't let any of this bad luck rub off on me."

I took out a cigarette, lit it slowly, then pointed at my dad's headstone. "Look familiar?" I asked.

Jacob had never been here, so he obviously had no idea what I meant.

He got annoyed and barked, "Stop messing around and take us to the hotel. Everyone's wiped out!"

Even at a time like this, he only cared about Vivian's family. He treated my family like dirt.

I scoffed, "Wiped out? Have you ever thought about how my dad felt? What was going through his mind when he was dying, holding my hand?"

Jacob flinched and took a step back, caught off guard.

He asked, "Wait, what do you mean?"

I looked over at my dad's headstone in the distance and said, "He's right there. Do you not even dare to go see him?

"Or is it that you're just too ashamed to face him?"

Jacob froze for a second, then started frantically shaking my arm.

He yelled, "So you went ahead and buried your dad because I wasn't here? Do you even have a heart?"

What a joke. He screwed up, yet somehow he still had the guts to point fingers at me.

I shoved him to the ground, not holding back at all, my face twisted with grief and fury.

I snarled, "Because of you? Who the hell do you think you are? Everything you did shattered my dad's heart long ago.

"All my dad wanted before he died was to see you one last time. But when I called you, what were you doing? You were hooking up with Vivian in some hotel room."

Just remembering that day made my eyes go red with fury and grief.

I was itching to rush over and rip that cheating couple to shreds.

Jacob realized he had no excuse and looked down, guilt all over his face.

Peter stood aside with a blank, indifferent look on his face.

He said, "It's nothing. You're just the driver. Why are you getting all worked up? Are you looking to get kicked out or what?"

Vivian jumped in, nodding eagerly.

She said, "Yeah, Jacob and I are husband and wife! Why would we need your approval for anything?"

My expression turned icy. These people were nothing but shameless vampires. They'd already bled Jacob dry, and now they wanted to drain me next.

There was no way in hell I was letting them get what they wanted.

Otherwise, I'd never be able to face my late father.