There were numerous missed call notifications. The majority was from Jason, followed by Aaron and Xante.
Corinne wondered if she should text to inform him she was safe.
There were also countless messages from Jason on her social media apps. All of them enquired about her
whereabouts and her safety.
She felt a little bad for him and replied, [I’m fine. My phone ran out of juice.]
Jason replied almost instantly, [Where are you now?]
[I’d rather not say…] ‘You’d come running straight to me if I told you, and I know that Lucas will let you in to see me
because you two have a good relationship.’
Jason sent her another message. [Why not?]
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt[You’ll know later. I’m sleepy, so I’m going to bed now.] Corinne exited the chat after replying to Jason. She was
about to lock the screen and put down the phone when she saw a friend request displayed at the bottom of the
screen.
She clicked on the notification and saw that the request had been made by Jeremy. She had just created a new
account and deactivated her former one to avoid him. ‘Why is he adding me as a friend again?’
After Corinne declined his request, she switched off the display and put down her phone to dry her hair. When she
was done, she decided to lie on the bed and continue scrolling through her phone. That was when she saw yet
another friend request by Jeremy.
This time, he included a message that read, [Don’t you want the painting?]
Corinne was speechless and angry. Her hand was practically shaking as she held the phone.
Jeremy knew how to pull her strings. As angry as she was, she could not escape being manipulated like that. For the
sake of the painting, she accepted his friend’s request without replying to him.
However, he sent her a message and acted as if nothing happened. [Why haven’t you slept yet?]
Corinne gritted her teeth and replied, [What are you trying to do?]
After about a minute, Jeremy sent her a one-worded reply. [Nothing.]
Corinne was driven up the wall. Unable to scold him because she still wanted the painting, she asked patiently, [And
the painting?]
[At home.]
[How much will you sell it to me?]
[It’s not for sale.]
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
Corinne was going mad. [Then why did you send me a friend request?]
[Because.]
Corinne’s lips twitched. ‘Why is he replying with such short messages? Don’t bother me if you have nothing to say!’
Corinne ignored him and went to watch a short video. She was busy scrolling when she received a video call, which
she accidentally swiped to answer as she was not paying attention.
The funny clip she was watching earlier was replaced by Jeremy’s expressionless face.
Her first instinct was to hang up, but Jeremy saw through her and said, “Don’t hang up.”
‘Why should I listen to you? I’ll do whatever I want!’
Jeremy then said nonchalantly, “I’ll burn the painting if you hang up.”
Corinne paused right away. Her fingers trembled with anger, and she was furious at his manipulation.
She took a deep breath, quelled her frustration, and asked angrily, “May I ask why you’re giving me a video call?”