Killing someone on this road would be too much trouble—especially if that someone belonged to Zachary.Hearing that, Sarah finally exhaled, her heart easing slightly.The car soon screeched to a stop at the hospital. When the door swung open, Sarah gripped the frame, ready to climb out on her own.Leon circled to her side, reaching out to lift her.She slapped his hand away. Her voice was icy. “I can walk myself.”Leon’s jaw tightened. “You can’t even stand.” He reached again, more firmly this time.Sarah cautiously put her foot down. A searing pain shot up her leg, sharp as stepping on needles. The moment she’d planted her feet on the broken vase shards, she’d known her soles were full of splinters.Her calf buckled. Just as she was about to collapse, Leon caught her.This time, no matter how she struggled, he didn’t let go. He carried her into the hospital, cradling her like a child.---Inside, Sarah sat on a hospital bed while a doctor worked on her feet.“How did it get
Steven forced himself to stay calm as he watched Julian step out of the villa. Right behind him came Leon, carrying Sarah in his arms.They got into a car. The engine started, and the vehicle rolled past. Steven immediately turned the key in his ignition and followed at a distance.As he drove, he called Zachary.“Zachary, Leon just left with Miss Sanders,” he said urgently. “Julian’s with them too.”“Where are they going?” Zachary’s voice was low and tense.“I’m not sure yet, but don’t panic. Sarah’s… she’s covered in blood. Looks like they’re heading toward the hospital,” Steven said, glancing at the passing buildings.---In the backseat of the McLaren, Leon held Sarah close. His suit was soaked with blood.Sarah’s face was blank. Her hands and feet were slick with red, each movement burning like fire. Shards of broken porcelain were still embedded in her soles, but she acted as if she couldn’t feel the pain.“I’m sorry, Sasa.” His voice cracked with guilt.It was a feelin
Sarah nearly lost her footing but forced herself back up off the ground.Leon’s patience snapped. He stormed forward and grabbed her wrist, hurling her onto the bed with violent force.“What the hell are you doing?” Sarah snapped, her voice like ice. “Leon, if you lay a hand on me, I swear I’ll hate you for the rest of my life!”There was a flash of something in Leon’s eyes—hesitation, maybe—but it vanished almost instantly.He leaned over her, his hand reaching to rip at her clothes.But Sarah was faster.Grinding her teeth, she pressed her hand to his throat. In it, she held a sharp shard of broken porcelain. The jagged edge pressed against his skin.“Get off me,” she said coldly.Leon froze. Blood began to trickle where the shard had already nicked him.That moment jolted him back to reality.He looked down at her—eyes red, hands trembling and covered in blood. The crimson had run down her arms and was smeared across her palms. It was a horrible sight.His clarity returne
No matter how she tried to change the dream, nothing shifted. In the vision, Sarah and Zachary still ended up together. Everything unfolded exactly the same way, like a story with an unchangeable ending. Only the person watching suffered, over and over.In the final scene, she once again met the blade with her own neck. Blood sprayed, the pain blooming through her like fire.At the seaside villa, Sarah slowly opened her eyes. Silent tears slid down her face.Outside, Leon staggered through the front door with Julian’s support. He reeked of alcohol.“Where am I?” Leon asked thickly.“You’re home, sir,” Julian said with a small smile.“Where’s Sarah?”“Do you want to go to her room?” A flicker of calculation passed through Julian’s eyes. He’d long since thought his boss should stop “winning her heart” and just take what he wanted. Back in their country, they’d always been used to getting their way by force, not by persuasion.Leon thought of Vivian’s words and nodded.Inside the
Steven snapped back to the present, his thoughts still lingering on the past. He looked over at Zachary, a trace of sorrow still clouding his expression.“Zachary… about Miss Sanders…” he hesitated, unsure if bringing her up would only make things worse.Zachary let out a quiet sigh. “She’s still with Leon.”“I could take some people and break her out,” Steven offered seriously. He meant it—he truly wanted to help Zachary put an end to this.But Zachary shook his head. “After what happened, Leon’s bound to tighten security. Getting her out won’t be that simple. And we can’t afford to trigger an international incident. That’s what Melvin and I have been worrying about from the start.”Steven nodded slowly. “Zachary, I think you’re overthinking it. You’re worried about too much… It’s starting to feel—”He didn’t finish the sentence. But Zachary understood.Steven knew exactly why Zachary was so cautious. It was because the person involved was Scarlett. If it had been someone else—
“She brought that woman here herself,” Sarah said flatly. “Vivian knocked me out and dragged me away—then left her behind. That woman looks exactly like me.”Just remembering it made Leon feel sick.He recalled the things he’d said that night. All those promises. The vows. The ring—custom-made, something he’d carefully chosen after days of deliberation.Even worse was how eager the woman had been. She’d leaned into his touch, acted like she was finally letting her guard down. He thought Sarah had finally begun to accept him.Turns out it had all been a lie. One big, disgusting setup—crafted entirely by Vivian.“I’m sorry,” Leon muttered. “I didn’t handle things properly. I should’ve caught it sooner.”He was never one to apologize, much less admit fault. But now, faced with Sarah’s cold stare, even his pride cracked a little.She didn’t seem surprised.Someone like him—ruthless, calculating—would do anything to get what he wanted. What was an apology compared to that?“Are you