My Birthday, My Downfall novel Chapter 75

After all, there was no washing machine at home.

Zoe did all his laundry, even during her period in the winter.

She watched him leave the room, then threw his freshly taken-off clothes into the trash.

That was her gift to him. He didn't deserve to wear them anymore.

Her hand was still sore from earlier, but he didn't even notice.

No, he didn't care.

She wiped her nose and went to bed, but her phone kept buzzing, keeping her wide awake.

She reluctantly unlocked her phone.

Another unknown number.

“Here's 100,000. Come to the 18th floor of Club A and sing a song.”

Zoe immediately thought of Ella—must be her playing some cruel joke.

But then the sender sent a picture of the scene. A big screen with a chair behind it.

“Sit here, sing a song, and I'll even pay more.”

She checked again, and sure enough, the money was in her account.

So she threw on some clothes, grabbed her whistle necklace, and left.

Ten minutes later, she arrived at the building, and the security guard led her to the back of the screen.

There were a bunch of people there, but Zoe could clearly hear James, his voice dripping with jealousy.

“Ella, stop playing! Aren't you afraid of catching something?”

Ella paused, pulled down her collar, and gave James a look.

“Not gonna play with them, James? Aren't you the one who said you were done with me?”

Then she pulled a male model in and started kissing him again.

James cursed, grabbed Ella, and shoved her against the screen, kissing her aggressively.

Zoe could feel his hot breath on her pale face, just on the other side of the thin screen.

She bit her lip to stop herself from shouting.

Through the screen, she watched the two of them making out.

“James~ You're really gonna break up with me? Who else can take care of you like I do?”

Ella's hand slipped down, and James moaned in satisfaction.

“Here, this apartment's yours as compensation. Don't be too crazy. Once I'm done with Zoe and we're engaged, you can have as many rounds as you want!”

Zoe finally recognized the house. She'd seen it on James' phone before.

It was her birthday this year when he promised, “Once I save enough money, I'll buy this house for you.”

Now? He was giving it to Ella.

Her chest tightened as if someone had sucker-punched her. The metallic taste of blood from her bitten lip only made it worse.

Just as James broke free and headed toward the screen, chaos erupted—a man suddenly pulled out a knife and charged at Ella.

“James! Help me! Someone help!”

James spun around, yanked Ella to safety, and hid behind a couch, frantically negotiating with the knife-wielding man.

“Dude, whatever you want, just say it. Money? I've got money!”

But the guy clearly wasn't there for cash. He lunged at Ella, chasing her around the room.

James tried to shield her, taking a shallow cut on his arm. Ella clung to him like a damsel in distress, sobbing dramatically.

“James! Who's doing this to me? I didn't hurt anyone!” she wailed, shaking like a leaf.

Then her eyes darted toward the screen.

“Wait… it's Zoe, isn't it? She found out, didn't she?”

She dropped to her knees, begging the man, “Please, Sir! Did Zoe send you? I swear I won't bother James anymore! Just let me go!”

James' face darkened.

To everyone's shock, the man actually paused. His knife hovered near the screen, pointing directly at Zoe on the other side.

Zoe froze. Something was wrong.

Before she could escape, a security guard clamped a hand over her mouth, pinning her against the screen.

Her neck was so close to the blade that one wrong move could've been the end.