Chapter 5: Truth in the Storm Cellar

Now her face was full of panic, clutching the sheet to cover herself, stumbling as Marlene threw her to the ground.

In the cold wind, Jolene’s pale arms were exposed, shivering, unable to speak.

"Slut! Your own man is useless, so you steal mine?"

"I should have known you two were up to no good!"

"Love stripping so much? Let the whole town see your body!"

While cussing, Marlene used the sheet to tie Jolene to a tree.

"Marlene, you second-hand goods, shamelessly married Roy. He doesn’t even want to touch you, does he? Hahahaha…"

Jolene’s shivering voice was creepy in the quiet, cold night.

A string of curses soon woke the neighbors.

As lights came on and doors opened, Jolene’s face grew even uglier.

She struggled, but it was useless.

I wondered why I hadn’t seen Roy, when he staggered out of Jolene’s house.

By the porch light, I was shocked to see several bloody scratches on the back of his head.

Marlene really was fierce—she’d actually busted Roy’s head open!

"Isn’t that Jolene? Why’s she tied to a tree…"

"Lord, in the middle of winter, why is she naked?"

"Must’ve been stripped."

"Looks like she couldn’t resist. No wonder, Dale can’t do it…"

"Jolene’s figure is something else."

"What are you looking at? Jealous? If you are, go for it—it’s a great chance."

The townsfolk gathered, gossiping away.

Seeing the crowd, Marlene shouted loudly.

"Come see this tramp, shamelessly seducing other women’s men!"

"If you couldn’t stand it, why marry Dale?"

"So many men in town—if you say the word, anyone can help you out!"

Marlene’s curses grew filthier. Jolene hung her head in shame and anger, her face bloodless, shivering to the point of fainting.

Roy, being pointed at, became angry out of embarrassment, but unable to explode in public, he softened and tried to coax Marlene home to talk.

As for Jolene, he just glanced at her pitifully, then left with Marlene without looking back.

Before leaving, Marlene warned that anyone who untied Jolene would be her enemy, and unless they left town, she’d make their lives miserable.

Marlene was famous for being a shrew—who would dare cross her?

Besides, folks always love a spectacle. By now, someone had probably gone to inform Dale.

When Dale returned, who knew what chaos would break out between the two families.

Looking at Jolene’s miserable state, June and I exchanged a satisfied look.

For this culprit, we had no sympathy at all.

If not for Jolene selling us here in our previous life, we could have had a peaceful and happy life, instead of suffering and dying in this hellhole.

What goes around comes around—this is just the beginning.

June and I took a shortcut back home. Not long after lying down, we heard Roy and Marlene arguing.

Marlene was crying hysterically, cursing and hitting.

Roy was silent at first, but eventually, driven mad, exploded.

"Marlene! That’s enough, what do you want?"

"You dare hit me with a stick? Think I won’t call the sheriff?"

"Have you looked in the mirror?"

"A crazy woman who eats manure—I have to hold my breath just to talk to you!"

"If you can live with it, fine. If not, get out!"

"Yeah, I slept with Jolene. So what?"

I was hoping Marlene would hit Roy again, but unexpectedly, just moments ago she was like a bomb, but now she suddenly caved.

"Then… just don’t go to her again…" Marlene compromised, backing down.

"Hmph, that’s for later. You should worry about what Dale’ll do when he finds out." Roy was still angry, acting like Marlene was the one at fault, not him.

Marlene’s arrogance was instantly snuffed out.

June and I were both disappointed.

But fortunately, Dale didn’t disappoint us.

Dale returned early the next morning.

As expected, he’d clearly heard some rumors and rushed back.

When Dale entered town, June and I were sitting by the river.

Seeing his angry face, we knew the main event was coming.

Sure enough, less than half an hour later, Jolene’s miserable screams echoed, hoarse and desperate.

Mixed in were Dale’s curses and the sound of a belt hitting flesh.

Unexpectedly, Dale was really ruthless.

Before this, Dale had always treated Jolene like a treasure.

That day, Jolene’s hoarse cries were heard by almost the whole town.

Roy, feeling guilty, hid away. When Dale, burning with anger, stormed in with a hatchet, Marlene screamed in terror.

June and I hid in the woodshed, watching Dale curse wildly in the yard, cursing Roy and Marlene to hell and back.

The gate was wide open, and half the town peered in as Dale hacked away in the yard.

From then on, these two evil couples completely turned on each other, making a huge scene.

Half a month later, I saw Jolene again.

Her once full face was now haggard, hair wild, eyes evasive, limping behind Dale as they left town.

I thought they would never return.

But unexpectedly, just over a week later, they came back.