Leon pulled Sarah out of Zachary’s grasp and gripped her hand tightly.No one had expected her to choose Leon—not Zachary, not the bodyguards blocking Julian at the door. Even Julian himself was stunned.Inside the luxury car, Sarah sat in the back seat, her expression shadowed.Leon’s heart was overflowing with a brief, startled joy. But before he could savor it, Sarah doused him with cold water.“You don’t actually think I chose you because I like you, do you?” Her voice was icy. “I only did it because I can’t stand Zachary. Seeing him gives me a feeling I can’t describe. It makes my skin crawl.“And you? I’ve always hated you. So whether it’s mild hatred or deep hatred doesn’t really matter.”Leon’s smile vanished. His hands clenched into fists.In another car, Zachary sat in the back while Steven drove up front, the air inside heavy and cold.“Zachary… where’s Miss Sanders?” Steven asked quietly.The driver shivered, glancing at Steven as if to say, ‘wrong question.’Stev
“Have you been holding up okay lately?” Zachary asked carefully.Sarah’s face stayed blank. “I’m fine.”But inside, that same bitter, choking feeling rose again—like something lodged in her throat that she could neither swallow nor spit out.Zachary’s voice grew gentler. “Sarah, Scarlett’s already gone home. When she left she could talk and interact normally again.”“That’s good… she doesn’t know what’s happened to me, does she?” Sarah’s heart tightened.Zachary shook his head. “No. Nobody knows about her situation either. Don’t worry.”Sarah exhaled in relief, then asked, “And Melvin?”“He’s been going crazy trying to find you. After you were taken, he immediately stripped Mrs. Sanders of all her positions. But he’s worried about you.”“I’m just glad he’s okay.” Sarah’s need to confirm the truth was urgent; she had no idea if what Leon had told her was real.Leon sat nearby, watching the two of them talk as if they were old friends. Their quiet back‑and‑forth only made his bl
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