The collision of clouds produced a series of silver lightning bolts, tearing apart the night sky. Thunder rumbled.
The lights in the room flickered for a moment, momentarily plunging Selah into darkness, where she caught a glimpse of the anger flickering in his eyes. It was as if he wanted to devour her. In the next instant, he extended his foot, ruthlessly crushing the expensive cigarette she had painstakingly obtained. Thousands of dollars, smuggled from abroad, was wasted just like that. The flames on the carpet were also extinguished by his heartless act.
Selah's pupils dilated, and she quickly reached out to pick up the cigarette from the ground. The Edwards family had gone bankrupt. Moreover, because she had been caught with contraband, she had permanently transformed into someone else. Now, apart from the house under her father Layne's name, she had nothing. It was just a few thousand dollars, but to her, it was more important than life itself. "My cigarette, Channing, mind your own business!"
"You're not allowed to take this stuff again! Selah, you've truly surprised me," he said, grabbing her hand and forcefully pushing her onto the couch, scolding her with absolute authority. She used to be willful and unruly, but she would never touch these forbidden items. It had been less than half a year since her divorce, how did she become this eerie and ghostly figure?
Selah let out a bitter laugh. Why did she have to get involved with these things? It was too painful. Her body, mind, and even her entire soul were undergoing torment. After achieving her long-awaited divorce, she wasn't happy at all. On one side, there were the images of him and his engaged sweetheart, being openly affectionate. On the other side, in her midnight dreams, there was a small figure covered in blood.
A small boy, bearing a face so similar to Channing's, dragged a broken leg, cried and grabbed onto her sleeve, his tender voice questioning her, "Mommy, why don't you want me?"
"I'm in so much pain, my hand is broken, and it was eaten by a crow."
"Mommy, one of my eyes is gone, it hurts so much."
She always dreamed of that boy, and dreamed of Channing...
Insomnia, anxiety, and fear plunged her deeper into the quagmire, drowsy and lethargic. Someone on the set told her that she could buy "magic cigarettes," which were actually a type of electronic cigarette and a health supplement. It could treat insomnia, improve blood circulation, and effectively alleviate pain.
With a lot of pent-up frustration in her heart, Selah couldn't find any other way out, and no one would listen to her. She decided to give it a try. After using it once, Selah realized that she had been swindled. This was not an electronic cigarette, let alone a health supplement-it was contraband. She had considered quitting. However, the pain and torment, as if thousands of ants were devouring her soul, led her to give up.
Once the mind becomes lax, it will be left to its own devices.
Selah found that after inhaling the "magic cigarette," she could momentarily forget the bloody past and entertained the idea of giving up altogether.
Channing tightly clenched his fists, his jet-black eyes fixed on her tear-stained face, filled with heartache and self-blame, leaving an unpleasant feeling in his heart.
After a few seconds, his hoarse voice finally asked, "Selah, do you regret divorcing me?" What he wanted to say was that as long as she nodded and said "yes," he would rather be ridiculed by everyone than hesitate to choose her again, saying "Let's remarry, I'll take care of you." But Selah interrupted him before these words could leave his throat.
She pushed away Channing's hand from her shoulder with a bitter smile.
"I don't regret it."
"You can leave, Channing. We, it's impossible."
Proud as she was, even if she were to die, she would die with elegance, holding roses in her hand. How could she reveal her vulnerable side in front of him, who she had disdained and hurt before.
Channing suddenly lost all his strength, his eyes collapsing at the sight of the photo of Selah and another man on the table.
He burst into a deep, furious laughter.
In this spacious villa, laughter mingled with the sound of thunder outside, casting a silver-white and warm yellow light on his face.
"It's my wishful thinking, so be it then!"
He left without a trace of nostalgia as he turned around.
Without his support, Selah suddenly fell on the sofa, a layer of sadness finally appearing in her beautiful pupils.
She couldn't see Channing's tears as he left.
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