Chapter 5
But it was Seraphina’s voice that came through: “Hello? Adrian worked all night and just fell asleep. What’s going on?”
The man looked at her with pity: “Hear that? The guy you’re dying to protect is too busy with another woman to care about
you.”
“Pathetic!”
Seraphina sensed something was wrong, her voice turning wary: “Who is this? What happened?”
“Doesn’t matter who I am.” The man sneered. “Tell Adrian to get his ass over here NOW, or he can pick up this bitch’s corpse.”
Then he hung up and continued hurling the most vicious insults at Adrian and his mother, including her in his tirade.
Violet was nearly numb from pain, but she was more terrified that Adrian might actually come.
What if he showed up? Would they beat him to death? Threaten him?
She trembled all over, consumed by terror.
After what felt like forever, the warehouse door opened and footsteps approached.
Her heart nearly stopped as she looked up.
Only Seraphina had come.
She had a quiet conversation with the man, whose expression shifted several times before he finally sneered at Violet: “Lucky day for you.”
After he left with his men, Seraphina hurried over to untie her ropes and help her outside.
“I’m taking you to the hospital.” Her voice was shaking.
Violet’s mouth was full of blood-she couldn’t speak, could only let Seraphina help her into the car.
At the hospital, doctors treated Violet’s wounds and fitted her with temporary dentures.
Seraphina stood nearby, unable to look at her condition.
“Thank you for taking this hit for Adrian.” She said softly. “I worked out a deal with his brother-he won’t bother Adrian
anymore.”
Violet asked hoarsely: “What kind of deal?”
Seraphina looked at her quietly for a moment, then shook her head: “You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”
“But all you need to know is,” she paused, “with me around, Adrian won’t repeat the past.”
Violet looked at her confident, composed demeanor and suddenly realized-
Yeah, she wouldn’t understand.
She only needed to understand that Seraphina could easily solve problems she’d risk her life trying to handle.
Chapter S
Adrian needed someone like Seraphina by his side.
So she nodded, her voice barely audible: “Never let Adrian know about this.”
Over the next few days, Violet recovered while walking through the city one last time-
The little place where they’d first had BBQ was gone, replaced by an upscale steakhouse;
The alley behind school had been renovated-she could no longer find the awning where they’d huddled together in the rain;
Even the old oak tree by the river had been cut down, replaced by an observation deck that lit up with pretty neon lights at
night.
Standing by the river, looking at the brilliant lights across the water, Violet suddenly realized she’d never truly belonged in this city.
But Adrian had long
roots here, growing into someone she could only look up to.
Just then, her phone suddenly buzzed-Adrian calling.
“Where are you?”
His voice was still cool.
Violet sent him her location. Within twenty minutes, he appeared by the riverside.
“Why’d you come here alone?” He stood beside her, gazing out at the water.
“Just remembering some old times.” Violet said softly. “Do you remember when we first came to this city?”
He was quiet for a while, his voice flat: “Don’t dwell on the past. People need to move forward.”
Violet froze, turning to look at him: “You… don’t miss any of it?”
“No.” His tone was calm, even slightly cold. “I actually hate it.”
Violet’s heart lurched. She wanted to ask: Does what you hate include those years when we only had each other?
But the words stuck in her throat.
“You’re right.” Violet forced a smile. “We all need to move forward.”
