Chapter 3

For the next three days, I became Isabella's shadow again. But this time, my heart was in a completely different place.

I watched her flirt with Jasper in the backseat, laughing at the clumsy jokes he kept throwing her way. Then, I watched her slip a limited-edition watch onto his wrist.

Every moment lined up perfectly with the past.

Only this time, it didn't twist my chest in pain. The old me would have hidden in some dark corner with my fists clenched as I hurt in silence. Now, it all felt like a silent film playing out in front of me, one that had nothing to do with me anymore.

Then, while we were driving to the trade show rehearsal site, danger appeared out of nowhere. A runaway truck tore through the guardrail, heading straight for our car.

I kicked the door open and yanked Isabella out just in time.

Almost at once, black-clad men with knives appeared from every direction, cutting off every escape. Amid the blur of flashing blades, I shielded her and Jasper, who was already pale with fear, as we retreated step by step.

A knife, its steel blade gleaming coldly, shot silently toward Jasper's back at a lethal, precise angle.

"Jasp, look out!" Isabella screamed, and a sudden, violent force slammed into my side.

She shoved me without hesitation, straight into the path of the blade. I dodged on reflex, but the shove threw me off balance. The knife sank deep into my right shoulder.

Agonizing pain shot through me, and blood soaked through my shirt. Even though I had seen it coming, the familiar sting of betrayal still shot through my chest.

It all happened in the blink of an eye.

"Move!"

Ignoring the blood gushing from my shoulder, I grabbed Isabella and Jasper, who were still frozen in shock, and pushed them behind me. Then, I led the way along the escape route I had scouted earlier.

My world narrowed to cold calculations and the mechanical rhythm of combat. Pain had long become routine.

I didn't catch my breath until I had led them into an abandoned factory that was completely safe. Only after confirming we had temporarily lost our pursuers did I lean against the wall and let myself relax a little.

The wound on my shoulder flared with pain after all the running.

As always, Isabella's first reaction was to show concern for Jasper. "Jasp! Are you okay? Are you hurt? Let me see!"

Her hands moved frantically over him, as if he had just fought for his life. She didn't look at me until she was sure he wasn't hurt, and then her gaze landed on my blood-soaked shoulder. Her face went pale, and her lips moved, as if she wanted to step forward.

Then, Jasper went limp and let out a sharp cry of pain. He clutched his side and slowly sank to the ground, his face twisted in agony.

"Jasp!" Isabella's attention snapped entirely to him. She grabbed him frantically, holding him close as her voice trembled with tears. "What's wrong? Are you hurt? Don't scare me!"

Jasper weakly raised his hand, pointing to his side.

Isabella quickly lifted his shirt, revealing a shallow but messy gash. He had gotten it by accidentally hitting a pile of scrap steel during the chaos.

"So much blood… What do we do?" She panicked completely, tears streaming down her face.

She suddenly looked up, her eyes locking on me. "Damien! Get him to the hospital. Now!"

I leaned against the wall, my eyes cold as I said, "Help will be here in five minutes."

"I'm telling you to carry him there!" she screamed. "If anything happens to him, I'll never forgive you!"

Seeing me stay put, she gritted her teeth and tried to lift Jasper herself. But in those ridiculous heels and with her pampered upbringing, there was no way she could carry a grown man nearly six feet tall.

She barely got him off the ground before her ankle gave out, and they both fell. Her face was pale from the effort, and sweat beaded her forehead. It was both pitiful and ridiculous.

I couldn't stand it any longer. It was not out of concern, just sheer irritation.

I strode over and hoisted Jasper onto my back. Then, catching Isabella off guard, I slid my uninjured left arm under her and lifted her off the ground, holding her firmly in a princess carry.

"You—!" She grabbed onto my neck, going rigid, too stunned to speak.

I didn't bother responding.

With Jasper on my back and Isabella in my arms, I headed toward the exit.