Chapter 37N
My eyes widened in horror. “Leo…?”
“All of your precious guards are dead since he started shooting.””
A sickening realization washed over me. I was completely and utterly alone, trapped between two monsters.
“Why… why are you doing this, Ethan? What do you want from me?“>
“What I’ve always wanted, Jocelyn?” Ethan stepped closer, his gaze feverish with obsession. “You.“”
In an instant, Ethan immediately rushed towards me and carried me like I was a sack, carrying me to a room.”
“Let me go!” I twisted and thrashed, but it was useless. His hold only tightened, a smug grin curling his lips as if my resistance amused him.
He only released me when we reached a room at the end of the hallway, its door creaking ominously as he shoved me inside. I stumbled backward and fell onto a bed, the impact forcing the air from my lungs.”
Before I could regain my bearings, Ethan lunged forward, pinning me down. His hands were ruthless as he secured my wrists and ankles to the cold, unyielding shackles attached to the bedposts. The metal bit into my skin, leaving me utterly defenseless.
My body trembled violently, my breath coming in shallow gasps. But even through the terror clawing at my chest, I forced myself to stay calm. To think.
“Why now?” I asked, my voice quivering. “If you’ve wanted me all this time, why did you only come for me now?“>
Ethan raised an eyebrow, his gaze dripping with arrogance.
“Only now?” he mocked, his smile sharp and twisted. “I’ve been around you for a long time, you just never noticed. I’ve watched you live with Leo, suffer under his betrayal, and still you clung to him like some pathetic fool.“}
At that moment, Leo had arrived and stood frozen outside the room, silently listening to all of Ethan’s confessions.
Oblivious to Leo’s presence, Ethan continued his rambling–detailing how he had spied on me and Leo, and even admitted to orchestrating events to ensure his twisted plan of making me his only one would succeed.}
“You remember when Leo got into an accident, right? It’s me actually.“}
Leo and I both gasped, but the difference was clear–I was staring directly at Ethan’s deranged expression, while Leo stood outside, his fists clenched in fury.”
Ethan went on, his voice laced with madness. “Well, since he never intended to marry you, I eased up. I never expected my annoying brother would actually plan to marry you.”}
His eyes darkened, his voice lowering to a possessive growl. “I am the firstborn. If anyone should marry you, it should be me. I was the one meant to be arranged with you. Now, I’m just taking back what’s rightfully mine.”
“If you comply, I promise I won’t trouble Ryan anymore. But if you dare to resist….”
Ethan’s fingers traced my cheek, his touch cold and invasive before he continued his sentence.
But I jerked away, my disgust clear.}
“Don’t touch me!” I snapped, my voice choked with panic.
“Oh… you still have the nerve to rebel.” His eyes gleamed with something dark and twisted.
He pinned me beneath him, his hands roaming greedily over my body, ignoring my cries of disgust.§
“You can only marry me, Jocelyn. Only me. I will kill everyone who tried to take you from me.“>
Just as his hand moved to grip my shoulder, a knock on the door shattered the tension.
“Ethan, one of her guards managed to escape. I think we should chase him before he reaches Ryan,” Leo’s voice came from outside the room, his tone sharp and urgent.}
“Just let him escape. Don’t bother me!” Ethan snapped, his irritation evident.}
But Leo did not leave. Instead, he kicked the door open and stormed inside.
His eyes locked onto mine, wide with shock as he took in the scene before him-Ethan straddling me, my wrists and ankles bound to the bed, tears streaming down my face.
For a moment, something like genuine horror flashed across Leo’s expression, but he quickly masked it with a cold, emotionless
stare.
“Ethan, your plan will fail if Ryan gets here right now!” Leo shouted, his voice strained but firm.
Ethan released a frustrated hiss, his right hand clenching around my throat before letting go.
His grip had been strong enough to leave bruises, but his fingers that time hovered just inches from my skin, as if debating whether to continue or retreat.
“Damn it, Leo. You really can’t be relied on, can you?” Ethan spat, his gaze flickering between me and Leo with blazing fury.”
Leo merely nodded, his gaze carefully blank. “I’ll show you the trail. But we need to act fast if we want to get him before Ryan does.“> Ethan grumbled under his breath, cursing Leo’s incompetence before finally standing up and stepping away from me.
I watched him with wide, terrified eyes, my entire body shivering with a cold I could not shake.}
Ethan walked to Leo, his impatience radiating off him like heat. “Well, what are you waiting for? Show me.”
Without a word, Leo turned and led Ethan out of the room, locking the door behind them. The sound of the lock clicking into place
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was like a death sentence.
I laid there, helpless, my heart thundering in my chest as reality crashed over me.
I had walked straight into their trap. I had been so focused on finding the truth, on piecing together the fragments of my shattered life, that I had willingly handed myself over to the very monsters trying to destroy me.
The fear was suffocating, I could only whisper desperately, “Ryan.” I choked out, my voice breaking. “Please…. save me.”
