4
“If you have a problem, come at me! Don’t always take it out on innocent Chloe! Are a few broken dresses really worth this much drama?!”
“Broken dresses?” I bent down and picked up a gown from the floor. “These were designed by my grandmother over five years before she passed away. Every inch of cloud silk was specially treated so as not to irritate my sensitive skin.”
I looked at Chloe. “Take off the dress you’re wearing, immediately. Otherwise, I’m calling the police.”
“Seraphina, please,” Chloe cried, falling to her knees. “I was just so envious of you. I’ve dreamed of wearing a wedding dress like this since I was little…”
Julian, heartbroken, helped her up and roared at me, “Enough! She’s on her knees, what more do you want?”
“Exactly what I said,” I said, a cold sneer on my lips.
He stepped forward and grabbed my wrist. The force was so strong my skin instantly turned red, and bruises appeared visibly beneath.
“Seraphina, don’t be too arrogant, or you’ll regret it.”
I flung his hand away, looking at them coldly. “Then let’s see.”
“Disinfect every dress she wore a hundred times,” I said, wrinkling my nose in disgust.
Chloe ran out crving, and Julian alared fiercely at me before chasing after her.
D
10:13 AM
<
Chloe ran out crying, and Julian glared fiercely at me before chasing after her.
After dinner, I was relaxing in the courtyard when Mr. Davies, the butler, approached, frowning.
“Miss, Chloe ran back and broke her arm. She wants to borrow a doctor to look at it.”
Seeing me remain silent, he continued, “I also heard about what happened this afternoon. Why would she intentionally make such a fuss and not take a car if she had one? If you ask me, we should just send her and her mother away! They’ve caused trouble time and again; it’s clear they’re not well–intentioned and are just jealous of you, Miss!”
“And logically, as your fiancé, Young Master Julian should be on your side, yet he constantly protects Chloe. Anyone with eyes could see she was just like those manipulative types on TV…”
I closed the book in my hand. “Who said Julian is my fiancé?”
Mr. Davies froze, his mouth agape. “You, you mean…”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Davies. The wedding will proceed as planned. You’ll know who it is on that day.”
The next afternoon, I decided to check on the wedding venue’s progress.
“Miss Sterling, the car is ready.”
I didn’t think much of it and simply got into the back seat. I soon realized the route was becoming increasingly remote, gradually driving away from the city center.
“Driver, this isn’t the way to the hotel.”
The person in the front seat didn’t answer but instead sped up. My heart began to pound wildly. I reached for the car door, only to find it locked.
“Stop the car! Stop immediately!”
When my eyes met his in the rearview mirror, a chill ran through me.
They were Julian’s eyes.
I forced myself to calm down and deliberately asked in a trembling voice, “Who are you? Why are you kidnapping me?”
“Kidnapping?” His voice was hoarse as he sneered. “Just want to take you somewhere.”
The car finally stopped in front of an abandoned factory.
“What do you want to do?” This time, my voice trembled, but it wasn’t intentional.
“Someone paid for you to experience what it’s like to be bullied.”
“Ah…”
A sudden sharp pain in my thigh made me cry out. Blood instantly gushed out, and then the pain in my heart far outweighed the pain in my leg.
<
“Scared?” He crouched down, coldly watching the steadily bleeding wound. “Some people just need a lesson.”
“Please, let me go, or I’ll really die…” Every drop of blood lost was especially dangerous with my hemophilia.
“Let you go?” He seemed to ignore the latt
er half of my plea, brutally slashing my other thigh. “Did you let go of those people you bullied?”
