DON'T CHEAT ON ME!

CHAPTER 32: Special Dinner

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I pace the room, the scent of coppery blood hanging thick in the air. Patricia's sobs have turned to quiet, pitiful gasps. She sits slumped in the chair, her wrists bound so tightly the rope has started to bite into her skin. I glance at her-broken, exhausted, lifeless-but she still disgusts me.

"Just give me a moment"

I snap, throwing the knife onto the table with a clatter.

"I need to calm down because, Patricia, you've really pissed me off."

She flinches, shrinking into the chair, but I don't care. My anger burns too brightly to be dimmed by her tears.

"You're hungry, aren't you?"

I continue, my voice dripping with mock concern.

"Even though you couldn't bring yourself to eat his ear, I'm a generous man. I'll cook you a delicious dinner. A special one."

I let the words hang in the air, watching as her body trembles. She knows what's coming, but she can't stop it. Not now. Not ever.

I walk over to Dave's mutilated corpse sprawled across the table. What's left of him, anyway. His head is gone, his legs are in various states of dismemberment, and his torso looks more like a butcher's project than a human body. Still, there's enough left to work with.

I grab the remaining leg, the flesh cold and stiff beneath my hands, and set it on the cutting board. The sound of the bone snapping under my cleaver sends a thrill down my spine. There's something deeply satisfying about this-the control, the power, the artistry of it all.

Patricia retches again, her body convulsing violently. She's run out of anything to throw up, but her gag reflex doesn't seem to care.

"Pathetic." I mutter, not even bothering to glance at her.

"You can't even handle the sight of this. And yet, you're the one who put yourself in this position. Did you think there wouldn't be consequences for what you did? For cheating on me? For lying to my face?"

I pause, taking a deep breath as I start slicing the leg into thin strips. The rhythmic motion is soothing, each slice clean and precise.

"I'm making you samgyupsal..
but with Dave's flavor."

I say, a grin spreading across my face.

Patricia's head lolls forward, her hair matted with sweat and tears. She's too weak to respond, too drained to scream or beg. Good. That makes things easier.

I move to the stove, lighting the burner and setting a pan down. The oil sizzles as I drop the meat in, the aroma of cooking flesh filling the room. It's almost... pleasant.

"This is what you wanted, isn't it?"

I say over the sound of sizzling meat.

"You wanted to betray me, to humiliate me. Now you get to taste the consequences."

I glance back at her, her chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. She looks like she's about to pass out, but I won't let her. Not yet.

"Stay awake, Patricia!"

I command, my voice sharp.

"You don't get to escape this. Not after everything you've done."

Her eyes flutter open, glazed and unfocused, but she obeys.

I plate the cooked meat, arranging it carefully like a chef presenting his masterpiece. Then I walk back to her, holding the plate under her nose.

"Eat!"

I say, shoving the plate closer.

She shakes her head weakly, her lips pressed tightly together.

"Eat."

I repeat, my voice low and threatening.

"You promised you'd do anything. Or was that another lie?"

When she doesn't respond, I grab a piece of meat and press it to her lips. She tries to turn away, but I grab her chin, forcing her to face me.

"Open your mouth.." I hiss.

Tears stream down her face as she reluctantly parts her lips. I shove the piece of meat inside, watching as she gags and coughs.

"Swallow it!" I order.

She hesitates, but the look in my eyes leaves no room for argument. Slowly, painfully, she forces the meat down her throat.

"There.. I say, stepping back.

..that wasn't so hard, was it?"

She doesn't answer, her body wracked with dry heaves. I watch her for a moment, my anger simmering just beneath the surface.

"You're lucky I'm being so kind."

I say, my voice calm once more.

"I could've left you to starve. But no, I went out of my way to prepare a meal for you. And this is how you repay me?"

I slam the plate onto the table, the sound echoing through the room.

"You disgust me, Patricia."

I spit, my hands trembling with rage.

"You think you can betray me and then refuse to take responsibility? You think you're better than me?"

She shakes her head weakly, her eyes pleading.

"I'm sorry.." she whispers, her voice barely audible.

I laugh, the sound cold and hollow.

"Again Patricia, your sorry doesn't fix what you've done. Sorry doesn't bring back the trust you shattered. Sorry doesn't make me forget the way you looked at him."

I pick up the cleaver again, my grip tightening around the handle.

"You don't deserve forgiveness."

I say, my voice trembling with emotion.

"You don't deserve mercy. But don't worry, Patricia. I'll make sure you never hurt anyone else the way you hurt me."

I turn back to the table, ready to continue my work. The sound of the blade hitting flesh is music to my ears, each strike a release of the anger boiling inside me.

Patricia's sobs fade into the background as I lose myself in the task, my mind clear for the first time in days.

This is what justice looks like.

This is what love demands.

As I slice the remaining flesh, I glance at Patricia. Her head droops forward, her body barely holding itself upright. Her breathing is ragged, shallow-proof that she's nearing her limit.

But I'm not done yet.

"Don't think you can check out now"

I say, my voice sharp as the blade in my hand.

"We're not finished here, Patricia. You still have a lot to atone for."

I pick up another piece of meat, cooked perfectly, its edges crisp and golden. Holding it between my fingers, I crouch in front of her and smile.

"Open wide, Patricia.." I whisper.

"Eat!" I chuckled.