Chapter 8

"I'm going home," I announced, not minding his intimidating stares at me.

He did not answer immediately. He just kept on staring at me without opening his mouth to speak. Maybe he's still in confusion about everything that I blabbered earlier.

He sighed first before speaking, finally. “I’ll settle your bills. Wait for me here, I will take you to your house. ”

"Great, because I don't have a single penny to pay for my fees," I replied sarcastically.

He shook his head before storming out of the room.

When I was sure he was gone I hurriedly arranged my hair and the crumpled t-shirt I was wearing yesterday. Despite the difficulty of moving due to the pain, I managed to be presentable again as if I hadn’t slashed last night.

The only thing I was thankful for was the fact that I'm not in a hospital gown. I will no longer have difficulty getting dressed and will be able to escape immediately. I don't want to prolong the minutes that I am staying with him.

Less connection, less attachment, and less possibility of my parents harming him.

I know how far my parents could go just to make me a successful heiress for their empire. They want to make people kiss my feet and be a slave to me. To serve me as if I am royalty. They want me to rule the empire that they are about to leave for their retirement. But I don't want their dirt to be passed down on me. I'm already a sinner of my own.

I looked around the hospital hallway to make sure the man was not there to stop me. Quietly and quickly, I left the room and immediately headed to the hospital exit. I did a quick walk to get out of the area quickly.

But just when I was sure I was already far from him, I heard his voice calling me.

“Hey!”

I quickly turned around and was immediately caught off-guard when I saw the man who was now walking in my direction.

“Shit!” I hissed in frustration.

I quickly turned away from him and ran out. Fortunately, I was close to the exit so the nurses couldn't run after me anymore.

I forgot that I was experiencing body pains because of my eagerness to escape from him. I couldn't even understand why he was helping me and why he was so persistent about it.

“Come on! Don't run! You’ll hurt yourself!” he shouted once again.

I ignored her scream and hurried, even more, to run away. I don't even know where I should go. I don’t even have any idea what I’ll witness by the time I get home.

I am just hoping that my parents would let me slip even just for a couple of days more or a month maybe. I just really hope they can refrain from bothering me.

I need to push through with my plan. And my parents interfering with it doesn't help at all. The more I see them, the images of my broken state appear in my mind like a reminder of what they did to my life.

I know that I should punish myself for my crime. And with them constantly showing up in front of me just extends the day I'll execute my plan.

“Watch out!” he shouted again.

Irritation filled me. I turned to look at him this time. "Just leave me alone!" I shouted back.

"Move!" he commanded, full of urgency.

In a confused state, I watched him run toward me. There was a rush in his actions and there was something he was trying to prevent from happening.

And the siren of the ambulance coming from my back made me realize why he wanted me to stop. I was about to make a move towards my left but he was quick to reach me and immediately pulled me with him in the opposite direction.

“Careful,” he whispered while he's enveloping me using his sturdy arm.

His veiny arm came into my sight. He's only wearing a black shirt, black cap, and cargo pants. A different attire to what he was wearing last night.

He gripped me more tightly making me feel his hard chest when the rushing medical staff walked past us with their busy feet and hands.

I even had a chance to see the patient they were rescuing. The patient was a kid and he was bleeding so hard on his head. On the side of the moving stretcher was a woman who was holding tightly at the small and vulnerable hand of her child.

My chest tightened with the pity and regret that I once felt when I witnessed it. Pity for the mother and child as they face a challenging moment in their lives. And regret that, unlike the lady, I have lost the right to touch not even the fingernail of my child. Her eyes were pooled with tears as she continuously whispered her love for her son.

I looked away when I felt my eyes get blurry with the sight in front of me. I also quickly moved away from the man who immediately released me. He looked down at me and grabbed me by my wrist, the one I didn't cut, in a gentle manner.

Far from the way people used to grab me whenever they held me hard. So different from the way my mom would dig her nails on my skin. Way different from the forceful hold of Harris on me.

“Don’t argue with me this time, Miss. I'll take you, is that clear? ” he carefully said with seriousness and worry mixed in his eyes.

Without uttering a single word, I nodded my head. Not because I feel something strange for him but because I am being swayed by the care he shows.

Because it was the first time in a long while that I was treated right.