Chapter 4

"Maybe we should just forget it. It's fine if I don't eat..."

Xavier frowned and didn't let her finish.

He forced my mouth open again and shoved another mouthful of rice drenched in industrial-grade chili extract inside.

I'd lost count of how many mouthfuls of chili he'd forced down my throat by the time that meal was over.

He didn't let go until every dish on the table was empty.

The room spun around me. Clutching my chest, I retched over and over, until it felt as though my stomach might come up with everything else.

Then Zoey spoke.

"Dinner's over!"

"Let's have cake!"

"Why are you all looking at me? A woman has two stomachs. One for food, one for desserts."

Her smug, sing-song voice grated on my already raw nerves.

My face was bright red from the chili, and my arms and legs had gone numb.

I opened my mouth to refuse.

My tongue had swollen so badly that not a single word would come out.

I clutched Xavier's arm and shook my head desperately.

After hesitating for a few seconds, he frowned and spoke.

"Zoey just got her strength back. Show a little consideration."

"She was bedridden all that time. How much chili have you even eaten?"

Something inside me went cold.

Whatever warmth I still felt toward him vanished.

I let go of his arm and pulled out my phone and typed.

[Keep forcing that industrial chili essence on me and I'm calling the police.]

For a moment, the entire room fell silent.

Then it burst into laughter.

"Sister-in-law, I've heard of people getting arrested for murder," one of them said. "I've never heard of anyone being arrested for making someone eat chili. Why don't you give us a show?"

My grip tightened around the phone as I opened the dial pad and entered the emergency number.

I was just about to hit the call when Xavier snatched the phone out of my hand.

"Enough!"

"Chloe Lockhart, are you done making a scene?"

"Just a little chili, it won’t hurt you at all."

"A woman who used to do mukbang, and now you're playing delicate?"

He seemed taken aback by the contemptuous words that had just slipped out, but a moment later, his expression hardened with anger.

Then he grabbed my arm and pushed me down into the chair.

"Zoey, just order whatever cake you want."

The chatter around me faded into a meaningless blur.

My eyes were bloodshot, swollen, and burning so badly I could barely keep them open.

"Xavier, can I really order anything?"

"Then I won't hold back!"

Zoey giggled, playfully stuck out her tongue, and rattled off orders for more than a dozen different kinds of cake.

I struggled to open my stinging eyes just as someone spoke up.

"Xavier, there's no rice left. What do we do? I can have them bring in more and mix the chili in for your wife—"

"No need."

"This time, just give her the chili straight."

Xavier's voice came from beside me, cold and matter-of-fact.

My head buzzed. I gripped the hem of my clothes, struggling to believe what I'd just heard.

"Xavier, then let's get started! I can't eat a single bite of cake until I see Chloe eat her chili!"

The moment Zoey's urging rang out, Xavier opened a can of industrial chili essence and poured it into a bowl.

He scooped up a heaping spoonful.

"Eat."

The fumes were even more acrid than before, stinging my nose and throat.

I pressed my lips tightly together and struggled against his grip, fighting to keep my mouth shut.

In the struggle, the bowl in his hand went flying, spilling its contents all over the table.

Every cake on the table was coated in the reeking chili oil.

"Ah! My cake!"

Zoey's shriek of dismay rang in my ears.

Xavier seized my arm, scooped up a heaping spoonful of cake soaked in chili oil, and rammed it into my mouth.

"Chloe Lockhart, you ruined the food. You finish it."

He forced one spoonful after another down my throat, each bite drenched in the burning chili oil.

I hadn't even managed to chew when my throat suddenly constricted. I couldn't breathe.

"Mmgh—"

The cake was made with mango.

I'm allergic to mango.

My arms and legs I hadn't even managed to chew when my throat suddenly constricted. I couldn't breathe.

"Xavier, something's wrong with your wife, I think…?"

"Her face—where did all those red welts come from?"

Xavier's hand stopped midair.

He looked down at the cake smeared with mango, and his whole body went rigid.

"Chloe?!"

"Wake up!"

He frantically patted my back, trying to get a response.

Then, fumbling with the pocket of his suit, he pulled out the allergy medication he always carried with him.

He had just twisted off the cap when my phone rang.

"Miss Lockhart, we're calling to follow up on your abortion procedure."

"After this morning's procedure, have you felt any discomfort?"

"Miss Lockhart?"

"Are you available for a call right now?"

"If you're unable to talk right now, we can call back later..."

The caller was about to hang up when Xavier's fingers tightened around the medicine bottle. His voice came out hoarse.

"What did you say?"

"You're saying Chloe had an abortion?"