19
At the last possible moment, Adrian snapped out of it and let go, stumbling backward. Realizing I’d deliberately provoked him, he looked at me with hollow, exhausted eyes.
“Do you really want to die that much, Vanessa?” he muttered, barely audible. Before I could respond, he forced a cruel smile.
“Vanessa, I’m never letting you go. Not in this life, not in the next. Even if I turn into a ghost, I’ll drag you back from hell.
After he left, the flowers and gifts kept pouring in daily. On the seventh day, I was finally taken out of that prison–like room, albeit bound and dragged away by Bella. Still, it was freedom.
I knew this would happen sooner or later. Being ignored by Adrian wasn’t something Bella could tolerate, and it was only a matter of time before she’d try to get rid of me. I couldn’t help but admire her persistence–she’d only taken a week to make her move.
Bella took me to the beach, where her henchmen gave me a thorough beating. Then, panting and sweating, she lifted my head, slapping me repeatedly until my face was red and swollen. Satisfied, she dusted off her hands, smirked, and untied the ropes binding me. She leaned in close, whispering in my ear.
“You wanted to die to get Adrian’s attention, right? So tell me, if we both drown, who do you think he’ll save?”
Just as she finished speaking, I saw Adrian, Jonah, and Ethan racing toward us. Bella saw them too, and with a final tug, she dragged me into the water, making it look as though I’d pushed her.
