Returning alone to the Finnegan's place, Sidney immediately removed her makeup and took a shower. She felt a bit down, not because of Jayson's attitude toward her, but because she had no interest in this marriage. Why had she agreed to attend such events with him, only to be met with cold stares and harsh words from everyone?
So this is how everyone really thought of her.
After taking a shower, Sidney lay in bed, thinking about the events of the day. Naturally, she wasn't in a good mood after being criticized. She suffered from insomnia for a while, but eventually, exhaustion took over, and she fell asleep.
"They said you didn't set up a memorial for my mother, that she would become a lonely ghost when she died."
"What gives her the right to set up a memorial? And what gives you the right to question me?" The middle-aged woman glared at the young girl in front of her, filled with hatred.
"Miss, please." The girl dropped to her knees with a loud thud and begged her, bowing her head. The surrounding people looked on coldly, none of them willing to speak up for her, not even her own father.
"It won't do you any good, no matter how much you beg." The middle-aged woman screamed bitterly, her eyes crazed as she looked at the girl, ignoring her bruised forehead from all the bowing.
The girl cried and continued to bow, desperately begging her. She didn't want her mother to become a wandering soul! Her mother's death had been too tragic, and she didn't want her to suffer even after death! She cried and cried until she was exhausted, hysterical. No one cared, no one spoke up for her, and it felt like there was no one left.
Sidney woke up crying, overwhelmed by a deep sense of sadness. Her eyes were vacant as she stared at the ceiling light. She felt as though she had returned to when she was eleven years old, right after her mother passed away, facing the sorrow of the Calderon family all alone.
She wiped away her tears, pulled open the floor-to-ceiling curtains, and the city lights of B City spread out before her. Even in the middle of the night, the city was alive with lights, like countless stars. As she gazed at the distant lights, Sidney felt a sense of unease.
"She knew that if she didn't reach out to someone immediately, her mind would spiral into overthinking. She grabbed her phone from the table and dialed Alondra's number. At this hour, she should still be awake.
Beep beep beep—
"Alondra, where are you?"
"What's wrong? I'm at work!" Hearing the change in Sidney's voice, Alondra immediately moved to a quieter spot to talk to her.
"Alondra, has your dad been looking for you recently?"
"What's going on? Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"
"Nothing, just a little insomnia."
"Still having trouble sleeping? I told you to see a doctor and get something for it, but you never listen!"
"... Be nicer to your dad. He's getting older and needs someone to rely on."
"Did you take the wrong medication? I don't like talking about this, and I'm at work."
"Sorry, Alondra. I just suddenly feel like, why are they treating me this way when I haven't done anything wrong? What did I do wrong?"
"The mistake you and I made is being born into that kind of family, but we can't choose our families. You have to accept your fate! Didn't you tell me to just go with the flow? And besides, you've left the Calderon family, so why dwell on it?"
"I just suddenly thought about it, and now I feel sad."
"Then don't think about it! Since you can't sleep, how about coming to Opal Lounge?"
"Do what? Isn't Jayson going to be there?"
"You're the his wife! Do you need a reason to come? Plus, Jayson isn't even here tonight!"
"Where did he go?"
"I don't know. I haven't seen him all evening."
Sidney was silent for a while before saying, "It's too late, I won't go."
"Sigh! Alright then! Don't overthink it. Why don't you watch some TV or read a book?"
"Mm, bye." After hanging up, Sidney sat on the edge of the bed, planning to count sheep to fall asleep.
But at that moment, the door to the room suddenly opened. Sidney jumped in surprise and turned around to see Jayson rushing in. Ignoring her gaze, he started taking off all his clothes. Sidney watched him take off his clothes, nervously looking away, but in the end, she couldn't help but slowly shift her eyes back to him. As if she wasn't there, Jayson turned his back to her and walked into the bathroom. Sidney saw a large, terrifying tattoo across his back.
Although it was just a quick glance, she saw that it was a very intricate tattoo, covering his entire back down to his waist. He usually wore suits, and even when just wearing a shirt, no one would see it.
It wasn't unusual for someone to have tattoos, but such a large, dark tattoo on Jayson's body still surprised her. Sidney casually picked up the clothes Jayson had left on the floor, intending to put them in the laundry basket, but then she smelled something familiar—the bloody scent she often encountered in her dreams. At that moment, the butler suddenly appeared by her side and said, "'I'll take it to be washed."
Sidney nodded and handed the clothes to the butler, feeling a bit puzzled. Was he hurt somewhere?
Sidney lay back on the bed, pulling the blanket over herself. She had already forgotten about counting sheep earlier, now nervously wondering how she would face Jayson when he came out.
