Chapter 9
After tracking my phone’s location, he rushed back to the hospital room, tearing through a pile of discarded tissues until he found the phone I had left behind
The moment he unlocked it, his screen flooded with vite, unbearable words.
“I regret it so much. I really regret it. I’m sorry. I’m sorry”
His breath hitched His hands trembled
Almost at the exact moment, he traced the identity of the person who had posted those messages, the photos and videos vanished from the internet. Then, the door burst open and police swarmed in
He, Isla and their so–called friends were all taken away.
But money could cover up a lot of sins. After the full story unraveled, he paid his way out.
He couldn’t go to jail, not yet. He had to find me to apologize and to explain.
Three years as his shadow. Four years in love. To say I felt nothing would be a lie.
At first, he only meant to teach me a lesson, just enough to please Isla. Once she was satisfied, he planned to stop.
“I didn’t expect. I really didn’t expect those videos to spread.”
By the time he realized what had happened, the damage was done.
He had warned everyone. Told them not to post anything. But words meant nothing in a world where betrayal thrived.
This time, he had actually intended for Isla to face real consequences; what she did was unforgivable.
But the moment she pouted, played the victim, “I was an idiot! I’m sorry, Beatrice. I really am. Give me a chance to fix this, please. I’ll make her apologize and make her pay. I’ll send her far away; you’ll never have to see her again. Please?”
His voice cracked. His eyes pleaded.
But was that really the whole truth?
“Arthur, at this point, can you be honest?”
My voice was eerily calm as I laid out the facts, how he had secretly taken photos, how he had spread my private information. Not a single tremor betrayed my emotions.
“Do you have anything else to say? If not, then leave. Don’t ever appear in front of me again. Filthy.”
His hands trembled. His eyes, wide with disbelief, searched mine for a trace of mercy.
“I… I’m sorry, Beatrice, I…”
I turned away, unwilling to see that pathetic, hypocritical face for another second.
For the next three years, peace became my new reality. Arthur was nothing more than a ghost of a past I refused to acknowledge.
“I’m sorry, Beatrice, L
I turned away, unwilling to see that pathetic, hypocritical face for another second
For the next three years, peace became my new reality Arthur was nothing more than a ghost of a past I refused to acknowledge.
On the day my experiment officially ended, my parents and Edison accompanied me on a trip back home.
While sightseeing, I unknowingly wandered near the apartment I had once shared with
him.
Back then, moving in together felt like a fresh start, exciting but uncertain
I had spent hours choosing furniture, filling every inch of that 120–square–meter space with things I thought would make it feel like home.
How laughable.
Now, the place was empty. Hollow. Even the apartment itself seemed to have lost its warmth as if the walls carried the weight of something unspeakable.
An older woman passing by noticed me lingering and struck up a conversation.
“Thinking about buying this place? Oh dear, don’t! This house has seen blood; it’ll bring nothing but bad luck.”
My brows twitched. Blood?
I asked a few more questions and piece by piece, the story unraveled.
After returning. Arthur’s mind had spiraled into instability.
He severed ties with those so–called friends and even went as far as paying to ensure they were ‘well taken care of‘ in prison.
As for Isla, he had personally exposed the truth, how she had bribed her way into a nursing director position. She was dragged straight to the hospital in disgrace.
Her crimes ran deeper than just stolen titles. She had taken photos, spread videos and even provided access to illegal drugs. Once convicted, she lost three years of her life behind bars.
Arthur, too, eventually turned himself in.
Just two days ago, after both had been released, fate led them back here.
Once bound by the illusion of family, they now stood as bitter enemies.
Isla, along with the same group of so–called friends who had just tasted freedom, cornered Arthur.
Heated words turned to something uglier. At some point, in the chaos, someone pulled ou a knife.
