The Holloway Heir's Caged Bird의 모든 챕터: 챕터 1 - 챕터 10

"That old bastard! I'm gonna kill him!" Basil raged."Please don't!" I frantically held him back, tears streaming down my face. "Don't throw your life away for a monster like him. It's not worth it.""Don't worry, Annie." He finally relented, pulling me into a tight hug. "I'm going to protect you. I'll work and pay for your tuition, so you can get out of this dump and have a real future."He worked day and night tirelessly. And I took on part-time jobs after school, just to ease his burden.My best friend at school once asked me, "Are you in love with that bad boy? You're meant to go to an Ivy League school. You can't let someone like that hold you back."But Basil was never an obstacle in my life. He was a candle, burning himself out just to light my path. I loved him, but I never said it out loud.Or rather, he ran out of time before I could.I had planned to confess my feelings on the day my college acceptance letter arrived. Right before that day came, Basil had beamed at me

I had never seen Calvin panic before, so watching him lose his composure like that was almost a novel experience.He shoved through the crowd and knocked over Harriet. She crashed against a side table, scraping her elbow, but Calvin didn't even glance back.He scooped me up into his arms, his limbs and his voice shaking uncontrollably. "Anna, are you okay?"Agony coursed through every inch of my body, but even this blinding pain was nothing compared to what I felt the day Basil died."Calvin... our baby is gone," I choked out, gripping his collar desperately. "I... had already picked out a name for him. Nathan Holloway. Doesn't that sound sweet?""Why didn't you say anything?" Calvin's eyes shot red with blood. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?""I was scared..." My voice trembled through the excruciating pain. "I was terrified you wouldn't want the baby and that you'd throw me away."As Calvin carried me toward the door, Harriet scrambled up and blocked his path. "Calvin! I'm hur

By the time I tried to scream for help, it was already too late.Three men stepped out from behind a scar-faced leader, blocking the exit. "Hey, little lady, you look a bit lonely all by yourself. How about the boys and I keep you company?"I forced myself to project a calm, steady front. "Stay back! Don't come any closer!"Meanwhile, I subtly slipped my phone out of my pocket, dialed Calvin's number, and switched the call to speakerphone."Please, just let me go," I pleaded, ensuring my voice carried clearly into the line. "I can give you whatever money you want! My boyfriend is expecting me back home right now!""Don't bother lying, sweetie," the leader chuckled maliciously. "Your boyfriend is thousands of miles away in Zenirford. He isn't coming to save you."My expression shifted. "How do you know that? Who sent you here?""Restrain her," the leader instructed his men, his patience wearing thin. "We're gonna have some fun today."I backed up step by step until my spine pres

I looked at the woman bluffing and posturing in front of me, finding the whole spectacle hilarious.If Harriet were truly as confident, she never would have tracked me down in person."Shame? I have none. I love Calvin, and Calvin loves me too," I said evenly. "In a relationship, the third wheel is whoever isn't loved, isn't it?"My words successfully pushed Harriet to the brink. She raised her hand and swung her palm hard toward my face.I didn't dodge, taking the blow head-on. Deep down, I knew she no longer had the unwavering confidence she once possessed.No matter how much Calvin had messed around in the past, he had never abandoned her for another woman. I had figured it out the day I had called him for help.It had been Harriet's birthday party. Yet in front of all those high-society guests, Calvin had ditched her and quickly bought a plane ticket to rush to my side.She thought she had all the winning cards, never realizing that sometimes, playing defenseless was the ult

In a way, we were even now.As if sensing something was wrong, Calvin reached for my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. He looked as though he wanted to say something, but whatever was on his mind, he thought better of it.A moment later, I began to feel lightheaded, too, as a strange, heavy odor seemed to thicken the air around us. Calvin pushed himself to his feet, only to sway unsteadily as soon as he stood."I'm feeling dizzy. Did you leave the gas stove on?" he asked. "Let me go check the kitchen.""Calvin, don't go," I said, holding him back.He held my hands and paused. "Okay, I won't go."His voice dripped with tender affection. For a fleeting second, hesitation crept into my heart. But then Basil's face flashed across my mind.Giddy and unsteady, Calvin collapsed back into his chair and pointed weakly at his wine glass. "This wine has a serious kick. I think I'm already drunk."I smiled at him. "Calvin, there's something I need to tell you."He looked up at me, a