An Asphyxiating Life

Lorelei tugged Ian's sleeve and said pitifully, "Don't be angry, Ian. It's my fault for being allergic to seafood. I'm sure Rebecca didn't do it on purpose. You shouldn't blame her anymore."

Ian's expression hardened. He replied frigidly, "We've been too lenient on that awful wench. That's why she's grown to be so rude and overbearing."

Will's eyes blazed with anger. "She's become more and more narrow-minded with age. If it weren't for her, Lori wouldn't have ended up looking like this."

Lorelei purposely showed the brothers the part of her body where the symptoms of her allergic reaction had not gone away. There were still some red marks on her skin.

With a pained look in his eyes, Harry lightly caressed the part of her skin that had those faint red marks. "Does it still hurt, Lori?"

Lorelei lowered her head. Her voice was shaking a lot, as though she would burst into tears at any moment. "It doesn't hurt… It doesn't hurt at all…"

Will's anger boiled over. He exploded, "Lori's life might have been in jeopardy if we had arrived at the hospital any later than we did. Yet, that girl hasn't sent a message to ask about her after so many days have passed. She hasn't shown any signs of repentance!"

Ian bellowed furiously, "Get that girl here to apologize to Lori right now! We'll see if she'll still stubbornly refuse to apologize to her even now!"

Will added, "She's only been able to act stubbornly because she has our backing. Now that she's done something wrong, she has to be punished accordingly."

Harry turned his eyes to the maid and barked, "Why are you still standing there? Hurry and bring that wench here now! Also, bring us our whip.

"If it weren't because Rebecca added seafood into the porridge intentionally, Lori wouldn't have had to stay at the hospital for three days. It's time we teach her the proper manners and etiquette a Haldeman should have!"

The maid dared not defy my brothers' orders. She hurried off to where I was confined right away.

I let out a bitter chuckle. Ian and the others concluded that it was my fault without even investigating the incident.

Three days ago, Lorelei wanted to have some porridge. I offered to cook it for her since I wanted to get on her good side. She gave me a packet of seasoning and told me to add it to the porridge.

I tasted the porridge when it was done, and it was just an ordinary seafood porridge. Yet, I did not expect that it would be an allergen for her.

Ian, who was considered an elite in the business circle, could not even tell that this was Lorelei's trick to gain their favor. It just came to show how much he favored her over me.

To Ian and the others, I would never be as important as Lorelei was in their hearts. I had this sad, hollow feeling in my chest.

Anyhow, it did not matter anymore. I had died in that cellar. My brothers could now give Lorelei as much preferential treatment as they wanted.

"Mr. Ian, we called for Ms. Rebecca. However, she hasn't responded to us at all."

"We tried to listen from outside, and we couldn't hear any sound of her breathing!"

Ian knitted his brows and shot to his feet. His face darkened. "What's she playing at this time? Does she think it's too humiliating for her to apologize to Lori? Does she even realize that she's nearly killed her this time?"

Lorelei tugged the hem of Ian's shirt lightly and said dejectedly, "It's alright, Ian. I'm just an orphan. I don't have the right to have Rebecca apologize to me."

Ian's anger flared up.

"Does she really think I can't tell she's used that cheap trick to win our favor? She thinks she can pretend nothing's happened by staying silent. That's just her wishful thinking. I guess the punishment still isn't severe enough.

"Let's go. She won't be able to avoid us if we drag her out of the cellar. We must get her to kneel and apologize to Lori!"