Chapter 4
“If you don’t want to continue, don’t move,” he said in a deep, hoarse
voice.
I didn’t dare move. He kissed my hand until it was wet. Finally, after giving it a light bite, he rolled off the bed and went to the bathroom.
I looked at that hand, strangely feeling that Noah’s behavior reminded me of an animal marking its territory. Once something carried his scent, it became his possession.
Actually, from what Dylan said that day and Noah’s behavior these past few days, I had already realized that Noah liked me.
His possessiveness toward me was strong, somewhat obsessive, even a bit pathological.
I didn’t know what to do, but I didn’t dare provoke him, so I could only try to appease him for now.
I didn’t know what would happen later, but his behavior was becoming increasingly excessive.
I sighed and tightened my waistband a bit.
Noah still hadn’t come out of the bathroom by the time I dozed off.
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When I woke up the next morning, I discovered that the drawstring of my pants that I had tied in a double knot had been undone.
I nervously glanced at Noah, but his expression remained calm, showing no emotional change.
I sighed with relief, guessing that I must have untied it myself during the night because it was uncomfortable.
That evening, my mom called.
“Hello, Mom. Did something happen at home?”
“Nothing’s wrong. Do you remember Maisy George, our neighbor’s daughter? The girl who was supposed to be your wife? She got accepted to your university. It’s difficult for a girl like her to study far from home. She’s unfamiliar with the environment there. Please look after her. The freshman orientation is in a few days, so help her move her luggage.”
“Okay.”
After hanging up, I found myself in a dilemma.
I wasn’t sure if I should tell Noah about this.
He doesn’t like me getting close to other people.
I decided to tell him first. Otherwise, he might get angry for no
Chapter 4
reason later, and I’d be the one suffering.
As we were about to turn off the lights for bed, I still hadn’t figured out how to bring it up.
Noah suddenly said, “I need to go to France for a few days, about four days total.”
I thought, that’s exactly during freshman orientation. Then I don’t need to tell Noah, since he won’t be here anyway.
“Okay,” I nodded.
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Noah pulled me into his arms abruptly, saying irritably, “It’s so annoying to be away from you for four days. Why don’t you come with me?”
“I have my part–time job.”
“Fine,” Noah’s eyes fell with visible disappointment.
When I met Maisy, she was panting heavily while carrying her luggage.
I quickly took her bags from her.
After helping her move into her dorm, I showed her around
campus.
“New York is so big,” she remarked in awe.
“Yeah, there are so many things we don’t have back in our
Chapter
village.”
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Perhaps because we came from the same place, we seemed to have an endless connection, with topics that never ran dry. We had a really great time talking.
That evening, as I walked her back to her dorm, Noah suddenly
called.
He roared through the phone, “Who the fuck is that woman! I’ve been gone for less than a day, and you’re already desperate to find a
woman?”
“No, she’s just a girl I’ve known since childhood from my village,” I hurried to explain.
“Friend? You’re laughing so fucking happily with her. Are you lying to me? You’d better stay away from her until I get back, or I’ll destroy her. Evan, you can try and see what happens when you truly piss me
off.”
“Noah, please don’t be like this.”
I suddenly felt angry. Both Maisy and I had worked our way out of a poor village to study in New York through our own efforts, especially Maisy. Back home, if she hadn’t been exceptionally bright, a girl her age would already be married with children.
I knew how hard her journey had been, yet Noah could easily ruin all Qur efforts.
“What do you mean ‘don’t be like this‘? Evan, you know I like
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you, so you think you can do whatever you want, right? You think I won’t really get angry no matter what you do, is that it?”
I suddenly felt wronged and shouted, “Noah, you don’t like me. You just want to control me. I’m nothing but a toy to you.”
I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth.
In fact, Noah has been very good to me.
When I first arrived, there were many things I didn’t know how to use, but Noah never mocked me. He always patiently taught me.
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He took me to 3D movies, high–end restaurants, shopping malls, and amusement parks.
He taught me how to use computers and smartphones, took me on airplane rides, and helped correct my accent.
Whenever others made fun of my accent, he would stand up to defend my dignity.
Knowing I was malnourished, he hired a nutritionist to customize my meals.
And when I got sick, he stayed by my side in the hospital, caring for me without rest.
I quickly tried to explain, “Noah, I didn’t mean it that way. Let me explain.”
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The other end of the line was silent for a long time, then came a cold laugh.
Noah’s tone turned ice–cold. “What is there to explain?”
He seemed furious. “Right, you’re just a fucking toy to me. What do you have that’s worth my effort? If I wanted, countless people would line up to be with me. I won’t care anymore who you’re with.”
With that, he hung up.
