Chapter 8 chapter eight

From the window, Bi'an could not help smiling happily as she watched Clay hurry from the pier to the house.She knew Clay would find out sooner or later that she had something to do with Nicole's disappearance.But she is already confident and ready to go.She drank the last sip of chocolate, settled the last slice of apple pie, and wiped her lips gracefully. She is upstairs in the bedroom, and whenever she looks around, she smiles unconsciously.In the past two months, she had remodeled the bedroom beyond the ordinary, with pink tulle everywhere, gold edging on the bedspread and lots of small china on the mantelpiece.She sighed, feeling that it was not perfect; however, she was still trying to arrange it.

Clay rushed into the bedroom, and the thud of riding boots on the wood made her head explode.She made up her mind that the next step was to order more rugs. "Where is she?" Clay asked straight away, his voice unceremonious. "If you ask me this way, should I understand?" Bi'an rubbed her bare arm, thinking of the fur coat she had just ordered. Clay made a big stride toward her, his eyes half closed, as if trying to grab her. "If you dare to touch me, you will never see her!" Bi'an warned. Clay backed away immediately. "How disgusting!" Bi'an mocked, "When I hinted that that little bitch is in danger, you trembled!"

"If you value your life, you'd better tell me where she is." "If you cherish her life, you'd better stay away from me!" Clay gritted his teeth, but there was nothing he could do. "What do you want? May I give you half of the property?" "Half? I think she's worth more than half?" "Then I will give you everything! I will immediately sign a contract and transfer the entire Ada farm to you!" Bian walked to the window with a smile and stroked the pink silk curtains, "Oh! I don't know why, everyone seems to think I'm a fool! Actually, I'm not as stupid as you think! If you Give me the farm and leave with that bitch, then sooner or later the farm will be ruined by your servants! I have already considered it."

"So what do you want?" Clay sneered. "I'm curious how much you love that bitch!" Bi'an talked about little bitch and shut up about bitch, making Clay clenched his fists and almost wanted to strangle her.However, after entangled with old man Xi for a long time, although it is known that Bi'an is the mastermind, the whereabouts of Nicole, Abby, and Issa are still a mystery.For Nicole's safety, he had to swallow his anger temporarily. "You know, I have a lot of cousins ​​in the United States. Although they are not high-class people, they are all very useful. For example, Abby is very obedient, and he will do what I say."

"Where did Abbie take Nicole?" Bi'an snorted, "Do you think I'll tell you so easily? You don't even think about it, how did you humiliate me and use me? I've been here for a few months, and you make me wait, wait every day , wait, flirting with that slut in private. Huh! Now it's my turn to make you wait...did I just say that? Oh, yes, my cousin. They want some cows, yes I can do anything, including, I think, murder!" murder?Clay took a step back in shock.The possibility of murder had never occurred to him. Bian smiled wickedly, "I believe you should understand the seriousness of the matter, right? Well, I can tell you what I want. I want to be the hostess of Ada Farm, and I want you to run it for me and let me enjoy the benefits .And I want to be Mrs. Ai in a proper name, and don't shrink back and forth like at the Bei's banquet. I also want your servants to obey me!" She paused for a while, then said quietly, "You Ever hear about the French Revolution? Even now the mob is still looking for nobles to guillotine them... This time, Abby just hid Nicole in a Virginia river; next time, Nicole will be sent to France."

She smiled, showing another dimple on her left cheek, "Don't think you can rest easy if you get rid of Abby. I have other cousins, and they still listen to me. So if you dare to do anything to me, I even got a small thorn in my hand, I have already made arrangements to send your beloved Nicole back to France!" Clay cringed, because he still vividly remembered Nicole crying to him about the horrors of the French Revolution and the tragic death of her grandfather.Although Bi'an's threat may not be true, judging from this situation, if Bi'an cannot be appeased, then Nicole may still be in danger at any time.He began to explore other solutions to Bi'an's position. "How about I give you a large sum of money as your dowry? With the dowry, you can choose your favorite husband when you return to England."

Bi An snorted, "You really don't understand women's psychology at all, do you? If I go back to England as you said, then my reputation will be ruined. Others will laugh at me and say that you would rather bribe me than bribe me." Willing to marry me. And even if I find a husband, my husband will laugh at me in his heart and will not think highly of me. Thank you! I will not live that kind of life." Clay became excited. "If you marry me, what will you get? You know I will hate you. Do you want to live like that?" "I'd rather let you hate me than let others laugh at me. Especially if your hate brings a lot of wealth, why not do it? In fact, I think we should be a very enviable couple Husband and wife. I'll furnish your home and give parties and I'll make a good hostess. And you, as long as you keep your farm in order, you're free to pursue other interests, including women." Bi'an shivered unconsciously, "But, don't bring those women home."

"You can rest assured! I will never touch you." Bi'an smiled, "If you think saying that is insulting me, then you are very wrong, I don't want you to touch me, nor do I want any man to touch me!" "Where is Nicole?" "Oh! We're back to the old problem again. If you marry me, Nicole will not be harmed, and she can even keep her mill. As for the shady things you do in private, I won't ask!" Bi An knew that this was a concession she had to make, otherwise Clay would rather die than agree to marry her. "If I agree to your conditions, how can you guarantee that your cousins ​​will not hurt Nicole after we get married?"

Bi'an thought about it, "I'm afraid I can't provide any guarantee for this matter, because if there is no guarantee, you will keep your promise, and you won't leave me alone as soon as you find Nicole!" Clay was speechless, and Bian refused to provide any guarantee, which meant that Nicole's life was in the hands of a greedy and selfish monster at any time.If he ignores Bi'an and still maintains a husband and wife relationship with Nicole, then he can't watch over Nicole forever, as long as he is negligent, just like yesterday, Nicole will disappear.He began to feel hopeless.For the safety of Nicole's life, he has no other choice but to succumb to Bi'an's threat.Although Nicole's safety is still not guaranteed, as long as he is still valuable, Bi'an will not destroy Nicole, "Where is Nicole?" He asked quietly, his heart ashamed.

"I have a map!" Bi'an smiled, because she knew she had won, "but I will give it to you only if you agree to my terms." Clay felt a blockage in his throat and could barely speak.He swallowed a bit before answering, "My marriage with Nicole cannot be canceled because there are no witnesses, and it will not proceed until the witnesses return from England." Bi'an nodded, "I agree with this point. As soon as the witness arrives, you immediately cancel the marriage and marry me. If there is any delay, then Nicole will disappear. Do you hear me clearly?"

Clay glanced at her contemptuously, "Where's the map?" When Clay took the map and walked towards the pier.Leaning against the window, Bi'an felt that she was bathed in an unprecedented sense of victory.She's finally got everything she wants...wealth, status, and a husband who sleeps in a separate bed.She will always remember what her father said before she came to America.Her father laughed at her, like her mother, who used her body to seduce men in order to escape poverty, and was eventually dumped.She finally proved that she was different from her mother, not only was she not a slut like her mother, but she also managed to find a husband and escape poverty.She smiled proudly, tears welling up in her eyes and streaming down her cheeks. "Did she tell you?" Weiss asked quickly before Clay boarded the boat. Clay raised the map in his hand, "Tell me." "That sow!" Weiss was furious, "You should fight and bring this kind of woman to the United States! It's a good thing you didn't marry her! After we rescue Nicole, I hope you send her to the United States as soon as possible!" Back to England, the sooner the better!" Clay stood on the boat, silently watching the river.What could he say, could he tell his friends that he might still have to marry Bi'an? "Clay?" Harlow asked with concern, "How are you doing?" Clay turned his head and replied blankly, "I just sold my soul to the devil, what do you think I should do?" Issa cleaned the iron plate after eating rabbit meat and baked apples, and leaned against the wall outside the hut to take a rest.He laid his legs flat on the grass, and immediately felt a dull pain.He couldn't help smiling happily as he closed his eyes and basked in the sunlight.The island smelled bad, it was infested with poisonous snakes, and the chances of rescue were slim, but he didn't care.For two days, he had never eaten so well and slept so comfortably. When he heard the familiar sound of dresses, he opened his eyes and waved hello to Nicole who was walking towards him.He admired Nicole so much, he always thought that a lady born in a noble family was useless at all, but Nicole was so capable that even he felt ashamed.Not only did Nicole wrap up his wounds when he was injured, and tie up her own cut clothes with petticoat lace when he was asleep; she also worked with him to cut the leather at the joints of the wooden door, so that the problem of access was easily solved.What surprised him especially was that Nicole learned from her grandfather the stunt of setting a well to catch hares, which made it no problem for the two of them to eat. "Do you feel better?" Nicole asked with a smile. "It's much better." Issa felt very ashamed, because until now, Nicole hadn't said a word of reproach, and she didn't pursue the motives of him and Abby for kidnapping her at all. "Why are you staring at me so strangely?" "I... I don't know what to do when I go back?" Issa thought of the problem he had been worrying about. Nicole felt a surge of joy welling up in her heart.Because when she goes back, she will marry Clay, and Bian will never be able to break them up, "I don't know if you still want to go back to your house? If not, I hope you can come to the mill to help. My mill could use another hand." Issa's face turned red and then pale, "How can you still ask me to work after I did that kind of thing?" he said. "You saved my life!" "But I brought you here!" "If it's not you, but someone else brought me with Abby, then I'll be even worse!" Nicole put her hand on Issa's shoulder, "I owe you too much, I will give you a job It’s just expressing part of my heart.” Issa looked at her moved, and after a long time said sincerely, "You are a lady, a real lady! Since I met you, my life has changed!" Nicole laughed, her waist-length hair was shining under the sunlight, "And you, little warrior? You will be welcomed in any palace, because your courage is unmatched by anyone." Issa was grinning with joy. He had never been happier in his life. Suddenly, Nicole was startled, "What's the sound?" Issa sat up straight and listened for a while, "Give me the knife!" He whispered, "Go and hide, don't come out until you are sure it is safe!" Nicole looked at Issa with a sweet smile and handed him the knife.Issa is still wounded, and she will not leave him alone to fight the enemy alone.She tried to help Issa to his feet, but Issa pushed her away. "Go!" Issa ordered. Nicole slipped behind a row of willows and walked slowly towards the direction of the footsteps.She saw Harlow first, because Harlow's thick shoulders and rugged figure were unmistakable.She wiped away her tears, and watched Harlow, momentarily choked up, walking toward the cabin. She knew Clay was behind her before she turned her back, and looking back with flying hair, she saw Clay waiting for her with his arms outstretched.She rushed into Clay's arms like an enemy, buried her face in his arms, and pressed her body tightly against his solid body. Clay let go of her a little, lifted her chin, and looked at her lovingly with teary eyes, "Are you all right?" Nicole nodded, and looked back at him with long-lost and longing eyes. Clay hugged Nicole tightly again, "I thought I was going to go crazy." He whispered, "I don't want to endure this torture again." "There won't be a second time!" Nicole smiled, cuddling up to her beloved with ease, and enjoying the warmth and spaciousness of his body, "I was too stupid this time, I won't be careless in the future of." "There will be no future!" Clay swore fiercely, and grabbed Nicole's lips, and began to roll and kiss. Nicole stopped thinking the moment their lips met. They haven't been together for a long time... "uh-huh!" Clay raised his head in astonishment, and found that Harlow and Weiss were standing aside with smiles, watching him and Nicole make out. "We really don't want to disturb you!" Weiss grinned, "However, this place is so dirty and smelly, we want to go back." "What about this brat?" Harlow pointed to Issa who was lying on the side, who was unknown. "Issa!" Nicole exclaimed, and broke free from Clay's arms, and ran to put Issa on her lap.She noticed that Issa's breathing was normal, but the chin was slightly swollen, "How could you hit him!" She glared at Harlow, "He saved my life!" Harlow smiled apologetically and said, "If he hadn't jumped out of the bushes with a knife, I wouldn't have hit him in self-defense!" "Oh!" Nicole knew that she was being too judgmental, "I'm sorry." "Let's go back!" Clay said, walking up to Nicole. Nicole looked at the three big men surrounding her and barely blinked away her tears.It's great to be home! Nicole stopped her sewing and stared out the window for almost the hundredth time.She didn't need to hold back her tears, because her tears had run dry.She hadn't seen Clay for about two months.For the first month, she was confused, terrified, and shocked; for the next few weeks, she cried and cried; now she just feels numb, as if a part of her body has been removed, and she is finally used to it. After Clay rescued her from the desert island, he sent her directly to the mill dock.On the long journey back, Clay just held her in his arms so tightly that sometimes he could barely breathe.But she didn't care, because Clay's arms were her home. When they got near the mill, Clay asked Harlow to dock the boat at the mill dock.Nicole thought it was weird because she had expected Clay to take her straight back to Ada Farm.Clay did not explain why, but held her in a desperate embrace for a moment, left her alone on the shore, and sailed away with Harlow without even looking back. Since then, Nicole has been living in waiting and despair. She doesn't understand why Clay abandoned her without an explanation?Is it because of Bian?Or was it because Clay had been cheating on her affections all along?She was tired of making excuses for Clay and trying to forgive him, because she was so full of anger that she couldn't think rationally. "Nicole!" Jenny quietly suggested, "Can you take the twins to cut a holly tree and come back? Weiss will come back later, and we will ask him to help us erect the Christmas tree." Nicole stood up slowly and accepted Jenny's suggestion, but she was not in the mood for Christmas at all. "I won't let you remove that wall!" said Clay sullenly. Bi'an gave him a disgusted look, "This house is too small! In England, this kind of house is not bad for a gatekeeper!" "Then I suggest you go back to England, okay?" "I cannot bear your insults, do you hear? Have you forgotten my cousins?" "You're always talking about your cousin, how can I forget it! I still have something to do, so get the hell out!" Clay glared at Bi'an until she left the office angrily with her head held high. Clay poured himself another full glass of wine, congratulating Bean out of his sight.He had had enough of Bian's fat figure.Besides being gluttonous, Bi'an was also the laziest person he had ever met; because the servants wouldn't listen to her, she lost her temper at every turn and made the house very restless.At first, Clay reprimanded his servants half-truthfully, but later he simply gave up. Why let them suffer as much as himself? He left the office and went to the stables.He lived with a sow for two months!Every day he comforted himself that his behavior was noble, and his sacrifice was in exchange for the safety of Nicole's life, but his self-limiting behavior was no longer enough to constrain his determination.He thought hard and devised a plan for Nicole and himself to get out of trouble!He decided to take Nicole to leave Virginia and go west to develop.Hearing that the Mississippi River has been developed, he would like to see the river. Bi An had a good saying, if the whole farm was handed over to her, she would go bankrupt in less than a year.Clay decided to discuss with Harlow and Weiss, and when Bian's farm couldn't last, they would come forward to buy the farm and then resell it to him.Anyway, Nicole and him are in the west, and Bian's eagle claws won't extend so far. Clay rode to the other side of the mill, watching the smoke rising from the cabin.For two months, he often stared blankly at the frequent activities near the mill on the hillside.He longed to fly to Nicole, but he didn't want to go empty-handed, he had to go with hope!Now, he has a plan, and hope is rekindled for his and Nicole's future. He got off the horse, patted the horse's buttocks, and watched it run back to the stable, then he untied the boat on the river bank and rowed to the opposite bank. He hadn't visited the cottage after the mill since Nicole had moved there.So when he stepped into the hut, he was immediately struck by the warm feeling of the hut.I saw the winter sun shining through the bright windows in the hut, adding a touch of gorgeous color to the hut.There is very little furniture in the house, all old furniture he moved out of the attic of the farm.But everywhere is spotless, much prettier than the pigsty he lives in now.He was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion, because he was really willing to exchange the entire manor for this small room. "Mandy, the donuts have just been fried, and they will burn your mouth after eating." Jenny was busy making donuts beside the frying pan, while dealing with the twins who were staring at each other. The three of them didn't notice that they were standing at the door. one person. Mandy giggled, ignored Jenny's warning, stole a donut and stuffed it into her mouth.I saw that her mouth was so hot that tears came out. "You! Just as stubborn as your uncle." Jenny glanced at Mandy and cursed. Clay laughed, and the three people standing in front of the frying pan looked at him at the same time, "You'd better be more careful next time when you swear, you know, walls have ears!" he teased. Before Jenny could answer, the twins were already running towards Clay, "Uncle Clay! Uncle Clay!" Clay held a kid under his left and right arms, and led them around a few times, making the twins giggle and laugh. "Why did it take you so long? Do you want to see our puppy?" Alex asked first. "Do you want donuts? It's ready, but it's still hot!" Mandy flattered her uncle not to be outdone. Clay smiled happily, holding the twins tightly in his arms, "Do you miss Uncle?" "Yes!" The twins responded in unison, "Is that fat woman gone?" Alex asked again. "Alex!" Nicole scolded standing at the top of the stairs, "Don't be rude!" She walked towards Clay slowly, her heart was surging, with a hint of excitement, but also more resentment and grievance, "Please sit down !” She said politely to Clay, and then turned to Jenny, “Are the donuts ready?” "Okay!" Jenny put a plate of cakes on the table, then yelled at Clay with her hands on her hips, "Where did you go? You are really hateful and despicable..." She couldn't think of any other vicious words at the moment. The words are gone, "If you treat her badly again, I really won't forgive you!" Clay smiled flatteringly, held Jenny's rough hand, and kissed her deeply, "You are really the fiercest guardian. If I didn't know you, I would really be scared to death by you!" "Someone should have scolded you long ago!" Jenny scolded, but her eyes sparkled. With her back to them, Nicole poured a small glass of eggnog, and placed her trembling hand in front of Clay. Clay stared at Nicole, slowly raised his glass, "Eggnog!" He suddenly tasted eggnog, "I used to drink eggnog only at Christmas." The twins laughed, "The day after tomorrow is Christmas!" They laughed excitedly at their uncle's confusion. Clay is terrified because, amidst Bean's babbling, he doesn't even realize that Christmas is coming. "Do you want to come to Christmas dinner tomorrow? Weiss will come too..." Jenny invited excitedly. "Jenny!" Nicole stopped Jenny, then thought for a moment, looked at Clay and said coldly, "I welcome you and Bi'an to have dinner together." Clay frowned, "Bian can't..." "I only welcome you to come together!" Nicole raised her voice angrily, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense.Nicole couldn't take it anymore.Clay dumped her on Millbank, where she was nowhere to be seen for two months.Now suddenly wandering into her cabin as if nothing happened, and being welcomed by Jenny and the twins, this kind of stuff is too much for her to bear!She didn't know why Clay came to her again?However, if she can't take back Jenny's invitation, then let Bi'an come along!She refused to allow Clay to play with her feelings any longer. Clay stood up. "Nicole, can I speak to you in private?" he asked quietly. "No!" Nicole flatly refused, "I'm busy." Clay nodded, and sadly left the cozy hut.He doesn't blame Nicole for his attitude.But he swore to himself that he would spend Christmas Eve with Nicole, even if Bian had to be there.He wants Nicole to take a look at the real situation between him and Bi'an, and he also wants to find an opportunity to tell Nicole his plan.He paddled across the river alone, and walked back to the manor in the twilight. "Merry Christmas!" Weiss sarcastically welcomes Clay and Bian into Nicole's cabin.Clay's expression was blank, but Bian gave Weiss a solid look. It was under the threat of Clay that Bian was forced to come to the hut she hated deeply.She walked directly to the table piled with food, thinking about her precarious situation.For two months, the witness she was waiting for still did not show up, but Abby extorted a sum of money from her and flew away.Now Clay not only neglected the affairs of the farm, but also got involved with Nicole again.If Nicole is pregnant at this time, then her entire plan will also fail.As she stuffed something into her mouth, she was thinking hard about how to take a pre-emptive move. Jenny looked at Bi'an in disgust, turned around and poured a small glass of wine to Clay. Clay took it gratefully, and swallowed the orange liquor in two or three gulps, "What kind of wine is this?" He asked again Give the glass to Jenny for a refill. "Whiskey." Weiss replied, "It's produced in a place called Kentucky. If you drink it slowly, you will be intoxicated." "Today is Christmas Eve!" Clay drank the second cup. At this moment, Nicole came downstairs wearing a basket-color off-the-shoulder dress.Clay stood up, looking at her longingly; but Nicole avoided his eyes, and there was no sign of joy on her face. Weiss stepped forward and offered his elbow, "Seeing you, it's already worth a Christmas present, don't you think so, Clay?" Clay stared at Nicole intently, without answering.But Bi An interjected jealously, "Is this material supposed to be mine?" She asked sweetly, "Did you and Jenny steal it?" "Clay!" Weiss was furious, "You'd better take care of this woman, or I'll take care of it for you!" "Please go ahead!" Clay replied indifferently, and went to pour a third glass of wine. "Let's have some egg bars first!" Nicole ordered calmly. "I went to the mill and got the twins. They are still playing with the puppy. I will come when I go." Clay put down the empty wine glass, followed Nicole to the door, and helped Nicole remove the cloak from the wooden peg. "I don't want you to come!" Nicole said softly, "Please stay here." Ignoring her refusal, Clay opened the door and followed outside. Nicole walked forward with her head held high, as if Kerry wasn't even behind her. "You have a nice little nose, but if you don't get down a bit, you're going to fall over later." Nicole stopped in her tracks and turned to face Clay, "You think it's funny, don't you? I think it's a matter of life and death, but you treat it like a joke. Tell you, don't try to coax me with sweet words this time." Happy, I have been hurt and insulted too many times." Clay stared at her furious expression, and wanted to kiss her attractive mouth all the time, "I never meant to hurt you! Let alone insult you." He replied unhurriedly. "Really? I met you within five minutes, and you called me a whore! You asked me to housekeeper for you, and then I was thrown aside as soon as your beloved Bian appeared..." "Stop talking!" Clay roughly grabbed Nicole's shoulders, "I know our relationship is unusual..." "More than that!" Nicole sarcastically said, "I doubt there is any relationship between us at all. I'm like a prostitute, I come when you call, and leave when you wave!" "If only that were the case!" Clay teased, relaxing his hand. Nicole cursed in French and kicked Clay hard. Clay wailed, and quickly bent down to rub his calf.After Nicole walked away, he limped up to Nicole again and held her arm, "You must listen to my explanation today!" "I've heard enough! I tell you, there is a limit to human patience." "Nicole!" Clay held Nicole's arm tightly with one hand, and caressed the other arm with the other hand, "I know you are hurt! But I am also a victim!" "Yeah!" Nicole sarcastically said, "You are so pitiful, you can only sleep with two women!" Clay's jaw tightened. "You know what Bean looks like! She turns green as soon as I walk up to her." Nicole stared wide-eyed, "Do you want me to sympathize with you?" Clay clasped her shoulders, "I want you to trust me! I want you to love me! Can you stop hating me for a while so I can explain why I didn't come to see you? I went to a desert island to bring you back, For the sake of that, I'm not asking too much, is it? Maybe I've done something that makes you unable to trust me. But I love you, and doesn't that mean anything to you?" Nicole finally gave in, she blinked back her tears, and said softly, "Okay! After you explain why you came back from the desert island, you seemed to have severed ties with me?" Clay narrated how Bian instigated the kidnapping and used Nicole to restrain him safely. "Let's go! Let's go inside and have a showdown with Bi'an!" Nicole shouted angrily. "No!" Clay insisted, "I can't risk your life! If I didn't worry about this, I would have a showdown with her." "Then what do you think we should do? Let Bian do whatever he wants, and we meet every Christmas?" Nicole asked angrily. Clay couldn't help stroking her lips with his fingers. "You have a great tongue, but I'd rather you use it for other things than to blame me." "Why can't I blame you? You are simply afraid of Bi'an!" "I'm terrified!" Clay retorted. "If I hadn't been worried about your safety, I would have killed her!" "Issa said that Abby is no longer in Virginia. Are you sure she has other cousins? Bian may be lying to you." "All I know is that Bian is related to Abbie's mother, who has hundreds of relatives in the US." "But, will they all work for Bi'an?" "Money can turn ghosts around. As long as you have money, what can't you do? Bi'an has the whole manor for her to squander." Nicole put her arms around Clay and leaned against him, "Clay! What should we do? Let's leave Bian alone? She might be bluffing!" "Maybe, but maybe not. I was thinking, let's change our name and leave Virginia, so we don't have to be subject to Bian." "Leaving Virginia?" Nicole pushed Clay away, "but this is your home! After you leave, who will take care of the farm?" "Bian! I guess." Clay replied bitterly, feeling extremely pained in his heart.Everything that his parents and his brothers have worked so hard to be destroyed at the hands of a woman he deeply hates is still something he can't let go of, "Nicole, we've been out for too long, you will take you before you come to me tomorrow Is the woodland where you used to go? Can you find it?" "You can find it..." Nicole hesitated. "You still don't trust me, do you?" "I don't know, Clay, every time I believe in you, that we can be reunited, something terrible always seems to happen. Like the past two months, I've been dazed and sad... You'll never understand how I feel state of mind." "I'm sorry, but I should have made it clear to you from the very beginning. Your disappearance scares me too much. I dare not tell you because I am afraid that you will disregard your own safety and annoy Bi'an. Bi'an is a devil. You leave The farther she goes, the better!" Clay hugged Nicole tightly, "You know what? She wants to destroy one wall of my house and add another." "If you go, she can do whatever she wants." Clay was silent for a long time, and finally replied, "I know, let's go find the twins!" He let go of Nicole, and took Nicole's hand. Throughout the long and uncomfortable dinner, Nicole ate every mouthful and every mouthful, and Clay slammed down the yellow soup. Only Bean ate the most. "In the future, if I find a beauty as beautiful as your wife, I will not leave her to work in the mill like you. I will lock her in a glass house, and when I need her, she will come out to accompany you. Me!" Weiss was talking nonsense again, so he made shocking words. "Yeah, I think that's enough to let her out three times a night!" Clay took another sip of his drink. "I really can't bear this kind of topic!" Bi'an protested, "You should remember that there are women here!" "What's so great about this! Some women live with men before they get married!" Weiss pushed back unwillingly. Bi'an's face turned red and then white.She stood up abruptly, the chair behind her immediately fell down, and the whole table swayed, "I don't accept your insult! I am the owner of Ada Farm! When I..." She suddenly didn't continue, but pointed called out. It turned out that Mandy spilled a plate of cranberry syrup on Bian's skirt when the fat woman next to her was showing off. "You did it on purpose!" Bian screamed, reaching out to hit Mandy. Just when everyone stood up in unison to stop her, she screamed and jumped to the ground, and tears welled up.There was a piece of warm, sticky pumpkin pudding lying on her ankle, and she couldn't kick it twice. "Take it off!" she hissed, kicking.But no one volunteered to help, only Nicole threw her a towel. Weiss dragged out Alex who was hiding under the table, and pretended to reprimand, "Look at you, you've wasted a good pudding!" "It's not a waste!" Jenny added emphatically, "It's more enjoyable than eating it!" "Aike Lei!" Bi'an roared, "They bully me like this, why don't you say a word?" Clay glanced drunkenly at Bian, who was in a state of distress, and turned back to drinking his whiskey. “克雷！”妮可静静发话道，“你还是把碧安带回……家吧！” 克雷缓缓起身，拿了一小坛威忌。然后抓住碧安手臂，像拖牛一样地把她拖到了屋外去。 碧安跌跌撞撞地被拖着往前走，泪水一面模糊。她新做的衣服被毁掉了，大腿上粘着甜浆，脚踝上原本灼热的布丁也在天寒地冻中硬得像冰了。最令她愤恨的，是克雷在众人面前羞辱了她。 当克雷把碧安赶上小船时，他嘟嚷地讽刺道，“如果你再胖下去的话，我们就要沉到水底了。” 碧安已经被羞辱得几乎麻木了，不过她却注意到克雷已经醉得很厉害了，她抹去泪水，在黑夜中开始筹划她的报复计策。当她到达庄园时，她已经有了腹案了。她颤抖着，觉得胃内一阵阵恶心的感觉翻涌不已。 克雷一进入屋内，便往客厅一坐，打开他带回来的一坛酒。反之，碧安则匆匆往自己卧室走去，并在抽屉裹拿出一小瓶鸦片酊。 碧安赶下楼时，克雷还在一个人独饮。她走到酒柜前倒了一杯酒，加了几滴鸦片酊，然后递给飘飘然而对四周事物浑然不觉的克雷。克雷扬了一下眉毛，没有追问碧安的动机，便一口饮干了杯中酒。随后，他又抱起坛子，痛饮了几口。 碧安站在一旁，嘲笑地望着克雷粗俗而毫无风度的举动，“乡下人！”她暗自咒骂了一句，拿着鸦片酊转身便回房去了。 她望着柔美而罗曼蒂克的卧室，缓缓脱下衣服，换上一袭粉红色睡衣。她必须鼓起勇气爬到克雷床上，因为如果她不如此做的话，她的一切都会失去了！ 当她确定克雷回房后，她含泪吞了几滴鸦片酊，才推开克雷的房门。只见月光下，克雷正趴在床上呼呼大睡，雄健而赤裸的身躯上泛着银光。她看不到克雷的美，只带着微微晕眩，有如在梦中的感觉，她躺到克雷身边，等待着狂风暴雨一刻的到来。 “妮可！”克雷在睡梦中低唤着，将身旁芳香的女人拉近自己。不过当他手触之处皆是一团肥肉时，他下意识知道，这不是他所爱的妮可，他咕哝着趴到一旁，又回到梦境中了。 当碧安终于知道克雷一点男性需求也没有时，她用恶毒的字眼咒骂着，又爬下床来。她昏昏沉沉想了半天，才终于想到厨房裹有她需要的东西。她摸下楼，蹑手蹑脚走进厨房。她从泡着药草的生猪肉里倒了一点猪血，又从纱厨裹拿了几块剩下的甜卷，才一面吃着，一面将猪血带到卧房。她自觉聪明至极，因为到明天早上，克雷便不得不相信他占有了自己了。 她将手中甜卷吃光，将猪血倒在床上。她把杯子塞在床下，诅咒克雷逼迫她出此下策，然后立即在鸦片酊的威力下沉沉睡去。