Chapter 4
Chapter 4
She paused, then said quietly: “It’s my grandfather’s memorial day soon. I’m going back home to pay my respects.”
Adrian nodded, not offering to go with her.
She knew that small town was his lifelong nightmare-the place where his mother killed herself, where he jumped into the river, where he’d desperately tried to escape.
He’d probably never go back there again.
Which meant after they separated, they’d never see each other again.
Adrian’s gaze fell on the scrapes on her arm, his brow furrowing: “How’d this happen?”
She was quiet for a few seconds, then told him honestly: “When the restaurant caught fire, I ran back upstairs and got pushed caught fire, I ran back upstairs and got pushed
down by accident.”
His eyes darkened: “Why’d you go back upstairs?”
“I was scared something happened to you.”
His gaze froze, and it was a long time before he said quietly: “You’re still the same as you were years ago.”
She knew he was talking about when she jumped in the river to save him.
She smiled bitterly: “No, I’m different now.”
Back then, he had no one.
But now he had Seraphina, and he didn’t need her anymore.
Over the next few days, Adrian started moving his stuff to the new house.
Violet kept her luggage separate, saying she wanted to sort through it before moving.
Adrian didn’t think much of it and gradually took all his things away.
The apartment quickly emptied out. She sat alone in the living room, listening to her own breathing echo in the hollow space.
Just like that rundown little place years ago, when it was just the two of them against the world.
She got up to throw away some old things, but when she came back, someone grabbed her from behind in the hallway and covered her mouth.
Everything went black as she lost consciousness.
When she woke up, Violet found herself tied to a chair, mouth gagged, in what looked like an abandoned warehouse.
A man stood in front of her, bearing an eighty percent resemblance to Adrian but with cruel, predatory eyes as he looked down at her.
“So you’re the little BITCH who saved that bastard Adrian?” He sneered. “Trying to get him to come back and fight me for the inheritance, huh?”
This was Adrian’s half brother!
She glared at him, unable to make a sound.
He ripped the gag from her mouth as she gasped and said hoarsely: “Adrian’s human-he has the same blood as you. You have NO right to call him that.”
“He never wanted your damn inheritance-your father’s the one who screwed over his mom!” Her voice shook, but every word was firm: “She was lied to too, she wasn’t some homewrecker, and Adrian’s not a bastard!”
The man’s face twisted with rage as he slapped her hard.
Her vision went black and she tasted blood in her mouth.
“Still got a smart mouth on you.” He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up. “Call Adrian.”
Knowing he wanted to use her to get back at Adrian, Violet gritted her teeth and refused.
He laughed coldly and grabbed her phone, dialing Adrian’s number.
No answer.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
“Looks like all those years of devotion don’t mean SHIT.” He looked at her mockingly. “He doesn’t give a damn if you live or die, and you’re still protecting him?”
Her chest ached, but she still said hoarsely: “Adrian’s not the kind of person you think he is.”
The man lost it completely, gesturing to his bodyguard, who stepped forward and punched her in the stomach.
She doubled over in agony, cold sweat instantly soaking her back.
“Here’s how it’s gonna work-every time Adrian “Let’s see how bad.
pick up, I pull out one of your teeth.” He leaned down, patting her face.
Tooth…
yanked out, she nearly blacked out from the pain, broken whimpers escaping her throat.
uth filled with blood, consciousness fading, but the phone remained silent.
wasn’t until the last tooth was pulled that the call finally connected.
