Chapter 23%
you.”
The deeper I walked into the darkness, the more terrified I felt.
Heston held my trembling body gently, his voice soft as he tried to comfort me. “Don’t be scared, Yvonne. I won’t hurt
One moment, he was gentle, the next, he was losing his temper–like he had two completely different personalities.
The flashlight in his hand was the only source of light in this place.
After clearing out a relatively clean spot, he sat down with me in his arms.
“Yvonne, the first time I brought you here, you still loved me so much. You said that once we had money, we’d fix this place up again.“X
Lost in his memories, he murmured, “We got married the following year, and after that, we were deeply in love.
“You wanted two kids–one like you, one like me. Last time, when we lost the baby… that was my fault. I live with that guilt every single day. Why didn’t I protect you better?
“You don’t trust me anymore. You blame me for lying to you with Wendolene, but she was the one who seduced me first. I never meant to betray you. I remember the vows I made.l
“I was ungrateful. I failed you. But you used to give me chances to make things right whenever I messed up. I just… I just want you to forgive me again.”
I let out a muffled sound, and he reached up to tear the tape off my mouth.
I took a deep breath. “Heston, do you remember what I said on our wedding day? I said that if you ever cheated on me, if you ever had another woman, I’d make sure you left with nothing–and I would never forgive you.”
For a second, my memory blurred. The man who had once looked at me with nothing but love on our wedding day… that man had long since disappeared.
The person in front of me was a stranger.
“Let go, Heston. Let’s just move on. My revenge is done. From now on, we owe each other nothing.”
“Owe each other nothing‘?” He suddenly burst into hysterical laughter, “You think you can run off and spend the rest of your life with Henrik? No! I’m the only one you’re allowed to have by your side! Yvonne, love me again, please?”
Tears slipped from the corners of his eyes as he laughed, and soon, he was sobbing uncontrollably.
“I love you so damn much! No one in this world loves you more than I do, so why? Why would you throw me away for that bastard?! How long have you even known him?! Do you even know what kind of man he really is?! He’s just playing with you!”
His emotions spiraled completely out of control. The moment he mentioned Henrik, the veins in his neck bulged, and his hands shot up–tightening around my throat.X
“Tell me why! Why, Yvonne?!”
His grip was crushing. My breath came in sharp, desperate gasps, and I couldn’t get a single word out.
“You don’t deserve it.”
The Heston I had once loved had been a gentle, caring man.
He wouldn’t have laid a hand on me. He wouldn’t have even raised his voice at me.”
But this man before me… he wasn’t that person anymore.X
The lack of oxygen made my vision blur. Flashes of my life flickered before my eyes–playing with Henrik as kids, my parents doting on me, and the countless memories I once shared with Heston.
It was like the sight of me struggling finally snapped him out of it. His eyes widened in horror, and he suddenly let go.ll “Y–Yvonne… I didn’t mean to–I didn’t want to hurt you. Does it hurt?”
I gasped for air, taking in deep, shaky breaths.
My throat burned. For a moment, I had really thought I was going to die!!!
Outside, the sound of sirens cut through the silence. I knew. “Henrik is here!!
A small smile tugged at my lips.. before everything went black again.
