Chapter 4

Chloe dragged me to a deserted corner, slamming me against the wall.

She smirked, then suddenly grabbed my hand and fiercely raked it across her own face.

"No... let go of me!"

I screamed in terror, struggling to pull my hand back, but I couldn't match her strength.

Chloe quickly scratched her face, leaving bloody marks.

But she didn't think it was enough. She pulled out her phone and violently smashed it on the ground; the screen instantly shattered.

Under my horrified gaze, she lunged and slammed her forehead against the wall.

Blood immediately streamed down her brow.

"You idiot, you owe Leo so much, and now I'm going to make you pay for all of it!"

Chloe glared at me viciously.

The next second, she suddenly shrieked:

"Help! This maniac is trying to kill me!"

Soon, hurried footsteps came from nearby.

Several hospital security guards saw Chloe's blood-soaked face and me standing frozen in place.

They immediately rushed forward and pinned me to the ground.

"It wasn't me... I didn't..."

I cried, barely managing to stammer out a few words, but no one listened.

Everyone thought I was the deranged assailant.

Before long, Leo also rushed over, freezing at the sight before him.

He dashed to Chloe's side, his voice trembling:

"Chloe, are you okay?! What happened?!"

Chloe leaned on his shoulder, her voice weak:

"Leo, please don't blame Scarlett... She just had an episode, she couldn't control herself..."

Before she finished, Leo's gaze fell on the shattered phone.

His face changed dramatically:

"Scarlett, do you have any idea how many important files were on here, you idiot!"

"Leo, it really wasn't me..."

I cried, shaking my head, but then Leo saw the bloodstains on my hands.

His eyes grew colder and colder.

"Ten years... I gave up everything for you, and this is how you repay me?!"

Leo's voice suddenly rose, his breakdown laced with despair.

His fists rained down on me like a storm, each punch carrying immense resentment.

Finally, he kicked me in the head.

A security guard tried to intervene, but Leo pushed him away.

"Do you know how much I lost because of you?!"

He cried out as he hit me.

"You hurt me enough, and now you have to hurt the people around me too? Scarlett... what did I do wrong to be tormented by you like this?!"

I curled up on the ground, letting him vent.

My entire body trembled from the pain, but my heart ached even more.

Finally, Leo seemed to have tired himself out.

He stood up and made a call.

He summoned his subordinates, then dragged me from the ground and took me with them.

They took me home and threw me into the dark basement.

As the iron door slammed shut, the entire world plunged into darkness.

The wounds on my body stung with a burning pain. I huddled in the corner, shivering.

I don't know how much time passed, but I started to develop a fever, my throat dry as dust.

"Water... I want water..."

I called out weakly, but no one answered.

Just then, through the vent, I heard voices from upstairs.

"Chloe, I really put you through a lot today."

It was Leo's voice.

"Only now do I understand how stupid I was... to willingly sacrifice my own happiness for an idiot."

"Leo, it's not too late. You still have a long life ahead of you."

Chloe responded softly.

After a moment of silence, Leo spoke again:

"Chloe, I've made up my mind... I promise you, we'll get married next month."

"It's time... for me to truly live for myself."

A moment later, I heard the sound of two people embracing and crying from upstairs.

I lay on the ground, tears silently streaming down my face.

So, if I disappeared, Leo could find happiness.

This heartbreaking truth, strangely, brought me a glimmer of relief.

The pain in my body didn't seem so unbearable anymore.

In a hazy stupor, I gradually lost consciousness.