On the last day before the winter break, Kail didn’t come to school.
“I have to go to Stockholm to attend a business inspection. It won’t take long.”
To others, he sounded blunt, even cold, but he quickly added in a warm and sweet tone he used only for her.
“At most, it will take two days. I will come back soon. And of course, my assistant will drive you back and forth from school, home, and work. I must say though that I don’t like this at all, leaving you like this.”
“Don’t even go there. Your assistant driving me around? Are you crazy? I never asked you to do something like that, so don’t bother. I don’t need you to put a spy on me.”
As always, he laughed quietly at her blunt refusal.
A genuine smile that only Silje got to see. Unfortunately, she couldn’t see it at this very moment because they were talking on the phone. But she could imagine what kind of face he would have.
“Alright, if that is what you want.”
But they both knew this didn’t mean he would get rid of the “secret” bodyguard he placed on her to watch over her. This was one thing he would not give up.
Silje smiled faintly, “If you feel sorry, then come back to me as soon as possible. I won’t be doing anything special. Just same as usual. School, Niels’ café, then home. So there is no need for you to worry, alright?”
“I never said I am sorry.”
She could hear him laughing quietly again, making her heart beat fast. It was winter outside, but in her heart, it was still spring.
“Just don’t worry about me, okay? I will be either at school or Niels’. Besides, the winter break starts tomorrow finally. I am going to enjoy it as much as possible.”
“Don’t forget, you will be spending the majority of your winter break with me. I will bring you a present, so get ready for it. I can’t wait to see your smile when you see it.”
“Hey! Wait! Who said you should bring me a present?”
Silje tried to protest but Kail laughed and hung up. Looking down at the cool blue cell phone, she smiled and murmured, “Stubborn boy.”
She couldn’t stop smiling happily.
The weather was cold and wet, but Silje didn’t mind it.
Ding dong.
The final school bell rang before break and the students escaped their classrooms quickly. Silje was among them.
The air outside was freezing. When she started walking to work, she heard an unfamiliar voice.
“… Silje Kim?”
It was a frightening voice.
Elegant, yet sharp like a blade.
When Silje turned around, she saw a woman in a sable mink coat leaning against a black car.
Ingrid!
It was Kail’s stepmother.
Ingrid was standing with her blond chauffeur. As she locked eyes with Silje, she smiled coldly.
“Oh, how nice to see you finally. How come you never came to visit me? I waited but you never came so I had to come find you. Well, I suppose the great Asian bitch who is dating Kail must be very busy. Am I right?”
Silje couldn’t help but tremble at her words; she forced a smile on her face and replied, “I see that you haven’t changed at all. If you are going to be rude to me like this, why did you bother coming to school to find me?”
An angry silence fell before Ingrid smiled in disgust and glared at Silje.
“No wonder you and Kail are such a good match. You have a strange knack for making me feel awful. What a talent. How dare you look at me with such disrespect? Who do you think I am?”
Ingrid seemed flustered and angry at Silje’s calmness. She continued, “I can smell your stench all the way from here, you bitch. My nose is rotting from it. Listen carefully little girl, the Bruntland family doesn’t need another dirty whore. Kail’s mother was enough. I will not allow you to enter my household. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”
At Ingrid’s threat, Silje didn’t even blink. She replied quietly, “Yes. I understand perfectly. Now, I can’t stand the smell of racism from you so I will be leaving now.”
When Silje started to walk away, Ingrid gritted her teeth. Ingrid would’ve felt better if Silje became angry or upset.
As Silje ignored her completely, Ingrid couldn’t take it anymore. She screamed, “Martin! Why are you just standing there? Grab her now!”
The young blond man in a black driver uniform quickly approached Silje. He smiled, showing his pearly white teeth, and informed Silje respectfully, “You need to get in the car now. If you behave, we won’t have to create a scene.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Not really. It’s not a threat. I just don’t want to make a scene, that’s all. Just get in the car quietly. Do you not understand what I’m saying, little one?”
“I have no intention of doing what you want.”
When Silje refused to move, Ingrid clenched her teeth and got involved. She walked towards Silje like the goddess of death in her sable fur coat. As the cold wind blew, she looked like she was ready to kill Silje on the spot.
“Fine, Kail’s whore. I will admit that you have the guts, so just get in the car. If you make a scene here, it won’t be good for your beloved Kail.”
Ingrid threatened her.
“If you don’t get in the car quietly right now, I just might harm your Kail. Maybe I should just get Kail and make him disappear forever.”
Ingrid smiled evilly and asked, “What do you think? Do you think I could?”
Silje knew that the answer was yes.
Her instinct told her that Kail’s stepmother would do it in a heartbeat. As Silje became nervous, she started to chew her lips.
“…!”
They glared at each other for a long time.
Finally, Silje decided.
She didn’t want Kail to get hurt. When she made her decision, she moved.
Silje got into the car quietly and Ingrid grinned in satisfaction. She ordered the driver, “Start the car right now. We can’t be late, Martin.”
As the car started to move, an ominous silence fell.
The car seat was unbelievably soft and comfortable. Ingrid’s elegant perfume overwhelmed Silje’s senses like a deadly weapon, making her face crumple. Ingrid turned to her with a shrill laugh and said to her in a frighteningly kind voice.
“Oh my. What a good girl. Thank you.”
“Why are you thanking me for?”
When Silje still remained calm and collected, Ingrid suddenly covered Silje’s nose with a handkerchief soaked in chloroform.
“…!”
Silje’s eyes started to blur. She felt like the car was spinning, and within seconds, Silje collapsed. With a sickening smile, Ingrid whispered to unconscious Silje, “You need to behave so that we can get this done quickly.”
Ingrid patted Silje’s head like a pet as the car continued to move toward its destination.