Chapter 8
Isabelle laughed silently to herself, no longer interested in listening.
Turning around, she saw Anora just coming out of the bathroom.
Her eyelid twitched, and Isabelle instinctively turned toward the stairs.
After a few steps, she heard Anora’s hesitant voice.
“Bella?”
Isabelle ignored her and quickened her pace.
Just as she was about to turn the corner, Anora caught up and grabbed her hand.
Isabelle didn’t want to face her here and tried to leave.
But Anora wouldn’t let go, her voice urgent. “I know it’s you. Are you misunderstanding something? Let me explain.”
The two struggled, and Isabelle broke free forcefully.
But she used too much strength and stumbled, nearly falling down.
Anora’s face changed instantly, and she quickly pulled Isabelle back.
Isabelle steadied herself against the railing.
But Anora lost her balance and tumbled down the stairs, landing in a pool. of blood.
Isabelle’s mind went blank. She hurried down to help.
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Just as she reached out, she was violently pushed back.
Her forehead hit the corner of the wall, blood pouring out, quickly covering her face.
She winced in pain, forcing her eyes open, only to see Leonard’s murderous glare.
He left her with a vicious threat before carrying Anora out in a panic.
“If anything happens to Anora today, I’ll make you pay tenfold!”
His hurried footsteps faded into the distance..
Isabelle could no longer hear anything, and her vision blurred.
Something seemed to be pulling at her brain, throbbing with pain.
Blood pooled more and more, and her consciousness grew hazier.
Endless darkness enveloped her. Her body felt weightless as she slowly lost consciousness…
After an unknown amount of time, Isabelle groggily opened her eyes to see the doctor sighing in relief.
“Good thing you have such a strong will. Otherwise, you might have become a vegetable, never to wake up again.”
She thanked the doctor and picked up her constantly vibrating phone.
After answering, she heard Leonard’s anxious voice.
“Bella, where are you?”
Isabelle remained silent for a long time before giving the hospital name
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and room number.
Ten minutes later, the door was thrown open.
Leonard rushed in, frantic. His first concern was her physical condition.
“How badly are you hurt? How’s the baby? I thought you pushed your aunt. That’s why I was so angry…”
“I’m sorry. it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have acted without knowing what happened. Please forgive me.”
From his words, Isabelle guessed that Anora must have woken up and explained what had happened.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t look so guilty and distressed.
She lowered her eyes and answered his question in a weak, tired voice.
“It’s nothing. The doctor said, I’ll be fine after a few days of rest.”
Leonard assumed the baby was fine too, and his worried heart finally
relaxed.
He knelt down, wanting to touch her stomach to make sure everything
was okay.
Isabelle stopped him with just one sentence.
“You and Anora, were you college classmates?”
Leonard’s hand froze in mid–air. “Yes, same college, different departments. Why?”
Seeing him withdraw his hand, Isabelle’s eyelashes trembled slightly as
she spoke calmly.
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“Nothing, I just saw you both attending the same college reunion.”
Leonard’s throat bobbed a few times, and he awkwardly changed the subject.
“Are you hungry? I’ll go buy you breakfast.”
Watching him flee, Isabelle opened her calendar and counted the days.
Only ten days left until the end of the divorce cooling–off period.
She would soon be free from this marriage built on nothing but lies.
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