Chapter 3

Glass shards flew in every direction, and the room fell silent.

Standing amid the scattered fragments, Rylan scowled. "Is it really appropriate to ask a girl such personal questions?"

Marie froze, a bitter ache spreading through her chest.

So, he knew.

He knew perfectly well that such questions were invasive and inappropriate. He understood that a girl could feel humiliated when others crossed her boundaries, and he was perfectly capable of standing up for her.

Coraline broke the tense silence with a soft voice.

"My bad. I'll take a shot to make up for it."

She picked up her glass, took a sip, and then headed straight out of the private lounge. The moment her heels disappeared beyond the doorway, Rylan sprang to his feet.

"I'm going to the restroom," he announced before hurrying out after her.

As soon as he was gone, the others began whispering among themselves.

"What was that about? Rylan was perfectly fine with all the teasing a minute ago. Why did he suddenly lose his temper?"

"What do you expect? Marie is just a toy he uses to blow off steam. He couldn't care less if people made fun of her. But Coraline is different. She's off-limits. Do you really think he'd let anyone joke about her?"

Their conversation came to an abrupt halt when they noticed how pale Marie had become. Realizing they'd said too much in front of her, they awkwardly changed the subject.

By then, Marie could barely stand the suffocating atmosphere of the room. She pushed her chair back and stepped outside, hoping to get away from the whispers and laughter.

However, the moment she reached the hallway, she stopped short.

Just outside the lounge, Rylan had Coraline pinned against the wall, holding her by the wrists as he kissed her passionately.

"Get off me!" Coraline shoved him away with all her strength.

A sharp crack echoed through the hallway as her palm struck his cheek.

"I don't kiss guys who have girlfriends. It makes me sick!"

Rylan's head snapped to the side, and his brows drew together in a tight frown.

Watching the scene unfold, Marie suddenly remembered something from their own relationship.

Once, during an intimate moment, she'd playfully nipped his chin. His reaction had been immediate and brutal. He'd grabbed her by the throat and pinned her down on the bed before issuing a harsh warning.

"I don't like people touching my face. Got it?"

Yet now, even after Coraline had slapped him across the face, Rylan showed no sign of anger. Instead, he reached for her wrist, his expression filled with concern.

"Did that hurt your hand?"

When Coraline brushed him off, he quickly pulled a blister pack of allergy medication from his jacket pocket and pressed it into her hand.

"You're allergic to alcohol. Why are you forcing yourself to drink? Why can't you just let me handle things?"

"What's it to you?"

"Are you trying to make me worry on purpose?"

Rylan hurriedly grabbed a bottle of water and held it out to her. The same boy who was usually arrogant and fiercely proud now stood before Coraline with his head lowered, his voice almost pleading.

"Please, just take the medicine, okay?"

Marie couldn't watch any longer. She quietly turned away and walked off, finally understanding what she'd been too blinded by love to see before.

This was what it meant to be treated differently.

Rylan had forbidden her from touching his face, yet Coraline could slap him without facing even the slightest hint of retaliation. He knew about Coraline's allergies so well that he carried medication for her wherever he went.

And when Marie had been humiliated by vulgar questions and disgusting jokes, he'd sat there without a care in the world. But the moment Coraline faced an uncomfortable question, he'd lost his temper and smashed a bottle to defend her.

The contrast was painfully clear.

Fighting back the tears stinging her eyes, Marie left the venue.

Outside, a fine drizzle had begun to fall.

Since she hadn't brought an umbrella, she stood by the roadside, waiting for a taxi. However, no cars stopped for her, and as the minutes passed, the cold mist settled over her clothes, chilling her to the bone.

A pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her shoulders.

"Why did you leave without waiting for me?"

It was Rylan.

His fingers lightly tapped her chin as he tilted his head toward her.

"Hmm?"

Marie turned her face away to avoid his touch. "It's nine-thirty. I need to get home."

"So early?" Rylan asked, apparently unconcerned by her rejection.

He pressed a hand against her waist and leaned closer, his warm breath brushing her ear as he whispered, "Why don't you stay out tonight? I just bought some new toys. Come try them out with me..."

In the past, his intimate gestures would have sent her heart racing and her cheeks flushing. She would have melted under his touch and agreed without a second thought.

But after everything she'd learned, his advances no longer stirred the same feelings in her.

"I'm tired," she replied flatly. "I don't want to."

Rylan blinked, clearly caught off guard by her rejection. However, he quickly recovered and laughed it off. "All right, then. I'll take you home."

He took her hand, opened the passenger-side door of his sports car, and ushered her inside.

With her back still throbbing from the tattoo removal, Marie leaned against the seat and closed her eyes, hoping to find some relief. Her mind was still a chaotic blur, and she had no energy left to think about anything else.

Suddenly, the deafening screech of tires shattered the silence.

A blinding pair of headlights flashed across the windshield, forcing Marie to open her eyes. Before she could make sense of what was happening, she saw a massive semi-truck barreling straight toward them.

The truck was initially headed directly for the driver's side.

But in a split-second panic, Rylan jerked the steering wheel, turning the passenger side, where Marie was sitting, into the path of the oncoming truck.

The collision was catastrophic.

Metal crumpled, glass exploded, and the deafening impact swallowed everything around them. Marie felt a searing pain rip across her forehead as hot blood streamed into her eyes, turning her vision crimson.

The world spun violently around her, and her consciousness began to fade.