Chapter 23
No matter how much Isaiah shouted behind them, the car didn’t slow down at all–if anything, it sped up, quickly becoming a distant black dot.]
Only after the figure in the rearview mirror completely disappeared did Nolan gradually slow down.[]
Genesis shot him a suspicious look: “Why were you driving like a maniac? Late for your own funeral or something?“||
Nolan didn’t take the bait, suddenly asking: “If Isaiah came looking for you, crying and begging for another chance, would you take him back?”
Genesis’s brow furrowed like she’d heard something disgusting, but she answered seriously: “Never. I’d rather die first.“]
Just thinking about what Isaiah had done to her made her blood run cold. She often woke up screaming in the night, sometimes wishing she really had died in that fire rather than living with these memories that tortured her over and over.
Nolan caught the finality in her eyes, and the corner of his mouth unconsciously curved into a slight smile.
Genesis caught that subtle expression: “Why are you asking? Dream about him or something?“||
“Nothing, just making conversation. He brushed it off casually, but inwardly made a firm resolution–this time, he wouldn’t let her suffer even the slightest bit
Isaiah stared at where the car had disappeared for a long time.[]
Finally, he ran back to the training camp and asked everyone for a photo of Coach Genesis, but people either claimed they’d never taken one or stammered and avoided him.
Even that team member named Anna had vanished
He sat numbly on a roadside stone, fingering the dull wedding ring on his finger, murmuring to himself;
“Gen, is that you? If it really is, I’d give up fifty years of my life just to have you back and healthy ”
He begged friends back home to investigate Genesis again overnight, but got the same response: “Registration canceled, status: deceased.“[]
That flicker of hope died again, leaving him to pour all his energy into training to hill the emptiness inside
But he never expected that God might actually hear his prayers.]
After finishing his twentieth lap, Isaiah removed his helmet. The moment his vision cleared, he froze completely.
Not far away, a familiar figure was walking past
He slowly turned his head, his eyes instantly turning red, not daring to blink for fear this–was some fleeting dream.[]
His steps were cautious as he approached, even his breathing quieted, as if afraid any sound might make the person before him vanish.]
“Gen?”
Hearing those syllables, Genesis’s spine went rigid, and she froze in place.
Before she could turn around, someone grabbed her wrist and forcibly spun her around.
“Holy shit, Gen, it’s really you!”
Isaiah’s voice trembled, the ecstasy in his eyes almost overflowing. “Tell me this is real–please tell me you’re not dead. This whole thing was just some twisted game you were playing, wasn’t it? It has to bett||
He pulled Genesis into a crushing embrace, his arms locked tight as if trying to merge her into his very bones.]]
Genesis caught his familiar scent and nausea instantly surged through her.[]
Without hesitation, she brought her knee up and kicked him hard between the legs.]]
Isaiah broke out in a cold sweat from the pain, but he smiled–this real pain told him the person in front of him was real.[]
“You’ve got the wrong person.” Genesis coldly dropped that line and turned to leave.
But Isaiah was convinced she was Genesis. He caught up in a few steps and grabbed her wrist again: “Gen, I’m sorry! I fucked up so bad! I shouldn’t have let Sadie get away with that shit, shouldn’t have locked you up, shouldn’t have left you alone in that fire..”
screwed up everything! Do whatever you want to me–I don’t care–just please don’t disappear on me again, okay?”
His hand clamped down like a steel trap, squeezing Genesis’s wrist so tight she couldn’t break free no matter how hard she tried
Fury churned in Genesis’s chest, but she forced herself not to explode
She knew too well that any emotional reaction would only make Isaiah think she still cared
“You really have the wrong person. I’m not whoever you’re talking about. I need to get to training–let go or I’m calling the cops.”
Seeing the undisguised disgust on Genesis’s face, Isaiah panicked and quickly released her hand, terrified of actually driving her away
“Stop lying to me.”
He stubbornly stared at her neck “That mole on your neck–I’d never get that wrong, Look, if you don’t wanna admit who you are, fine. Let’s pretend we just met, okay? I swear I’ll make you love me again.”
“Fall in love with who?”
A deep voice suddenly came from nearby.
