Chapter 596 - Exposed (3)

"Rika can get sick from eating these foods," Luke softened, noticing they were tense.

"We were planning to have a sleepover tonight," Delia confidently explained.

"I apologize, but we have to catch up on school. Let's go Rika," he warned me to follow him.

"I want to stay," I continued to hide behind Delia.

Everyone was stunned, watching Luke instantly pull me into his arms, forcing me to leave with him. I couldn't move, twisting and turning while being carried out of the room. I wondered why he didn't carry his usual mask. He rarely did this in front of other people. Was it because everyone already knew his true nature? If it was, this was bad. There was nothing holding him back from treating me the same way in front of my friends.

"Isn't this too much?" Allan blocked the door.

"Rika recently recovered. She can't get another fever again," Luke explained.

"This is insane," Delia murmured.

"We'll make sure to compensate you for the pyjamas. We can send you a cheque later," he waited for Allan to move.

"This isn't an issue about money. How can you treat your partner like this?" Delia was repulsed.

"Don't you see the rashes on her skin?" Luke pulled one of my sleeves up.

The room went silent, studying my arm. This vessel was weaker on the days I have recently recovered from a large injury or fever. I sighed as Allan moved away from the door, noticing the faint pink dots. My face rested on Luke's shoulder, giving up since I was already outside the room. I wondered what the trigger was this time, going through everything I ate and used. Once Luke entered our dorm room, he placed me on the couch.

"Tell me everything you ate and used," he was thinking along the same lines as me.

"It has to be the soap she used. The flowery scent is too strong," Alex joined us.

When I entered the club room the next day, everyone looked at me with full of pity in their eyes. It was a strange feeling, having everyone on my side for the first time in weeks. Oddly, Ethan turned to me, "is there anything you want? We can buy them for you."

"Really?" I felt touched.

"I apologize, but we will have to refuse," Luke interrupted us.

"I was asking Rika," Ethan treated him coldly.

"We have the right to decline," Alex joined us, equally icy towards them.

"I want some large stuffed dolls like a bunny and a teddy bear!" My eyes glittered, planning to annoy Alex into moving out.

"I can buy them for you if you listen during the study sessions," Luke proposed to me.

"Is that all?" Ethan was beginning to make the purchases, ignoring him.

"I want a portable latest gaming console with some battle games installed inside," I could use inside the mansion.

"The things she wants aren't close to being expensive," Ethan mumbled, looking at the total price.

"Where would you like me to send them to you?" He finished paying.

"Inside the club room. I don't know if I'll be able to get them otherwise," I hinted someone may decline them in my place.

"How much did this all cost?" Alex pulled out a cheque.

"I don't need any money in return. I'm giving some presents to my friend," Ethan refused, closing his screen before they could check.

"I can buy something for you too," Oili offered.

"How about an apartment in this neighbourhood?" I recalled the place that Elise lived, my former supposedly kidnapper.

"How can an apartment be this cheap?" Oili's eyes widened.

"How much is it?" Ethan moved closer to him.

"This is possible? It costs similar to the things I just paid for," he couldn't close his mouth.

"You're actually buying her an apartment?" Alex watched them.

"Why not? It's cheap while the quality isn't bad. The property is undervalued," Oili bought two units, one for himself.

"I'm buying one here too," Ethan followed him.

"How did you figure out about this location?" He was impressed, turning to me.

"I have my ways. I've been inside a unit before. I can guarantee you it's better once you go in person," I smiled.

"I'm going to join you," Delia made the same purchase.

"Is there anything else you want?" She wanted to give me some presents.

"I want more comfortable clothes and shoes. Most of mine are burnt when discovered," I sadly smiled.

"What about the ones I transferred?" Sienna had my current supply.

"Burnt when discovered," I hinted.

"This isn't right," Cillian turned to Luke and Alex.

"You always burn her possessions when you don't approve of her having them," he recalled.

"And they were purchased using the money my parents sent me," I implied I purely used my own money.

"You burn them?" Ethan was shocked, staring at them in a new light.

"It's nothing new," Oili added, knowing from my complaints.

"Luke always confiscates everything from Rika. His mansion is void of any signs of entertainment. He also bans her from entering certain spaces," Shelly recalled her brief visit.

"You also confined my friend inside the hotel room when we entered the second district!" Sienna added to the increasing accusations.

"This isn't just being strict. What kind of life have you lived until now?" Ethan pitied me.

"This is just the beginning," Delia began to reveal all my stories from last night.