DON'T CHEAT ON ME!

CHAPTER 11: The Farmer

Jordan's POV:

Patricia thought she was dreaming earlier-the snake, the blood, the panic I had thrown her way. But it wasn't a dream. It's true. When she screamed and passed out from fear, I didn't wake her right away. She had been unconscious for over three hours.

It started with that farmer.

I couldn't shake the irritation building up in me. I knew Patricia had been restless, distracted, maybe even guilty about something. But the real trigger was seeing her interaction with that man earlier.

I decided to find him while Patricia still unconscious.

Good timing he was near at our gate and I approached him, his back turned as he adjusted his tools. My grip tightened on the baseball bat I carried loosely in my hand.

"Hey!"

I said, my voice steady but with an edge I couldn't quite hide.

"You're really good at pumping water, huh?"

He turned to me, wiping his brow with the back of his hand, looking puzzled.

"What are you talking about? I'm a farmer, not a plumber."

He replied, shaking his head like I was speaking nonsense.

He didn't even recognize me. That only fueled the fire in my chest.

"Ah, is that so."

I said, nodding, taking a step closer opening the gate slowly.

Without another word, he turned his back on me. That was his mistake.

"Pang!" I raised the baseball bat high and swung with everything I had.

The sound of the impact reverberated through my ears-a sickening crack as the baseball bat connected with his skull. He dropped to the ground instantly, his body crumpling like a rag doll. Blood poured from the wound, pooling beneath him and soaking into the dirt.

I froze for a moment, my heart racing, adrenaline coursing through my veins. My hands shook as I looked around, scanning the area. It was deserted. No witnesses.

I crouched down, grabbing him by his arms, my fingers slick with blood. His body was heavier than I expected, but I managed to drag him toward the secret room entrance. Every inch felt like an eternity, the sound of his dead weight scraping against the ground echoing in my ears.

When I reached the secret room, I shoved the door open with my foot and pulled him inside. The body hit the floor with a dull thud, the pool of blood growing larger beneath him. I stared at the mess I'd made, breathing heavily, my mind racing.

I dropped the baseball bat beside him, my hands still trembling. The silence of the basement pressed down on me, broken only by the sound of my ragged breathing.

"What had I done?"

But as the guilt tried to creep in, I pushed it aside. No, I told myself. This wasn't my fault. He was in the way. A potential threat.

"Anyways, I do the right thing because just like what I've said to Dave last time; This is what happens when something-or someone-gets too close to what's mine!"

I thought about Patricia, Is she still unconscious upstair? Would she wake up and see me differently? Would she know what I'd done?

For now, the only thing I knew was that no one would find him here. The secret room would keep my secret safe. At least for a while.