Chapter 102
Aria’s POV
1 could already hear voices and footsteps closing in from outside.
“Hurry, check the content!” I hissed at Malik in a panic.
“I’m trying! But–damn it! The formula’s not written on the vial. I–I might need to break it down somewhere to figure out what’s inside…”
“Goddamn it, Malik! We don’t have time for a science experiment right now!”
The footsteps were right outside the door. I didn’t have time to think. I shoved the vial into Malik’s pocket and pushed him toward the
window.
“Go! Now!”
“But–but what about you?!”
“They won’t do anything to me. But if they see you, it’s over–just go!”
I used all my strength to shove him out the window.
A second later, the door to the medicine room was burst open. Alpha aura slammed into the room like a storm!
The force threw me back, slamming me into the wall. I crashed down into a pile of shattered glass. Pain exploded across my body and I cried
out.
Otto stormed into the room, furious.
“What the fuck are you doing here?!” he roared.
I clutched my bleeding side, glaring at him coldly. “Just taking a late–night walk.”
He grabbed my collar and yanked me off the ground, “Don’t play dumb with me, you little rat.”
I met his eyes, defiant. “What, are you scared now? If you weren’t hiding something, why would you be afraid?”
“Afraid? You think I’m afraid of you?” he snapped. “Getting rid of a little pain–in–the–ass like you would be so damn easy! In fact, I’d love to erase you right now. If it weren’t for Isla-”
-My heart skipped a beat. “Isla? What does she want?”
His face twisted. He probably realized he said too much. “None of your damn business!”
“She’s planning something, isn’t she?” I shouted. “Just admit it! You two never wanted to cure me. This was all a setup! She’s trying to destroy me!”
“Shut up!” Otto’s face contorted with rage. “I’m locking you up right now. Maybe then you’ll finally behave like a proper patient.”
He started dragging me toward the door. I screamed and struggled as hard as I could.
But fuck it he was too strong. I couldn’t break free!!!
That’s when it happened.
A blast of Alpha aura exploded from the window behind us. Far stronger than Otto’s.
All the windows shattered. Shelves toppled. Bottles smashed. Otto screamed in pain, clutching his chest as he collapsed to his knees.
I stumbled backward and tripped over a fallen cabinet.
But instead of hitting the floor, I fell into someone’s arms-
Strong arms. Safe arms.
My face pressed into a familiar broad chest, and I caught the scent of pine on his clothes.
“Grayson!” I screamed, my voice shaking with relief and joy.
He held me tight, then kissed my forehead like I was something precious he’d nearly lost.
Then he put his hands over my ears.
And the gunshot exploded by my ears–Otto screamed in agony as the bullet tore through his chest.
“Stay the fuck away from her, you filthy piece of shit!” Grayson growled, eyes blazing.
Otto dropped to the ground, blood bubbling from his wound. “Fuck, fuck… FUCK YOU GRAYSON HART! AND YOUR LITTLE WHORE!!!”
Grayson’s face turned to ice. He raised the gun again. This time, it aimed for Otto’s head.
Just then, Isla burst into the room.
“No! Don’t!”
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She screamed, throwing herself between them and holding out her arms. “Grayson, stop–don’t do this-!”
“Get the hell out of my way, Isla,” he snarled.
But she didn’t move. Her face was pale, her expression trembling with panic. “This must be a misunderstanding. Why did you shoot Otto?! He
was still treating Aria…”
“Misunderstanding?!” Grayson roared. “I left Aria in your care and told you I don’t want to see a scratch on her skin. But what the hell do I find when I come back? She’s bruised, bleeding, being dragged around like a prisoner!”
“It’s not what you think, Grayson-”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “You promised she’d be safe, Isla. Last night, you told me yourself that she was doing well here. That she was happy. But look around, Isla!”
She bit her lip, looking hurt. “If you believe me, you wouldn’t even come here today. Why did you come Grayson? Did you lose all your trust in
me?”
“You don’t deserve my trust! I’m just glad I didn’t just buy into your words and decided to come here and check on her myself! You know what–I’m starting to think you purposely dragged Aria here just to torture her!”
“No! I’d never!”
Tears shimmered in Isla’s eyes.
God, she really did look like the victim. What a performance.
“I would never betray you, Grayson. You know how much i treasure what we have. I would never do anything to ruin that trust…”
I couldn’t take it anymore. That lying bitch,
“Lies!” ! shouted, glaring at her. “Let me tell you what really happened since I got here. Yes, I received one treatment, but no one would tell me what they injected into me!”
Otto coughed up blood, sneering, “As if you’d understand the formula even if I told you.”
Tignored him. “And after Grayson left, I was forced to do hard labor with the other patients. We had to pick weeds and rocks under the blazing
sun.”
“Labor?!” Grayson snapped, his whole body going tense.
“It’s not what it sounds like!” Isla jumped in quickly. “Just outdoor therapy. We encourage it for all patients. It helps them heal!”
“Then why was I punished for refusing?” I shouted. “I said no, and a male nurse kicked my leg until it broke!”
Grayson let out a furious wolf snarl.
A gust of wind swept through the room. Isla screamed in terror. Even I tensed up, clinging to his side. That power was terrifying.
“You are fucking dead,” he growled, eyes glowing coldly in the dark. “You. And your whole pack. You’ll all fucking pay for what you did to
her!”
He raised his gun again, aiming at Otto. And pulled the trigger.
BANG!
But the bullet didn’t hit Otto’s head.
He was still alive, gasping for air in horror, trembling on the floor.
Isla had thrown herself at Grayson and knocked his aim off at the last second.
“Don’t kill him, Grayson!” she shouted. “He’s the only one who can cure Aria. You’ll regret it if you kill him!”
“Shut up! Maybe I should fucking kill you first,” Grayson snarled, turning the gun to her head.
Her whole body trembled. Tears streamed down her beautiful face. “You won’t. You’d actually do this to me Grayson?”
“Try me.” he hissed.
“What did I do wrong?! Yes, Aria had to participate in some outdoor activities, but all the other patients do it too! That male nurse has already been punished. And let’s be honest–he didn’t break her leg. Aria’s just exaggerating to get your sympathy…”
“Exaggerating?!” I shouted. “I know my leg was broken! It happened!”
“No it didn’t. There are trained doctors here. We recognize a broken bone when we see it. What really happened was you tripped, sprained your ankle, and you got better that very night. That’s all.”
I was shaking with rage.
Yeah a doctor treated my broken leg that night. Even he said my bone was snapped.
Yet Isla just denied everything! Shamelessly!
“Then why did you take away my phone?” I shot back. “Why wouldn’t you let me call Grayson? Are you afraid he’d find out what you were doing to me?!”
She looked at me coldly. “I already told you. From labor duties to the phone, it’s all part of hospital protocol. None of the other patients had a problem with it. Yet you’re the only one who reacts like it’s a big deal. Almost like you’re paranoid.”
“Paranoid? Look at the blood on me–”
“It’s just an accident. If you hadn’t snuck into the med room, none of this would’ve happened.“,
She said loudly, talking over me. And she didn’t even give me time to response. She just continued anyway:
“Honestly, I don’t get why you are constantly complaining, Aria. I did all kinds of physical labor back at my boarding school. I bruised, bled, and lost my phone privilege just like you did. I didn’t complain a damn thing. It builds character and makes you a lady. I didn’t want to be all condescending, but you really have to stop acting so privileged and spoiled.”
Me?
Privileged and spoiled? Was she fucking kidding me?
I thought I was going to explode from rage. And just when I was about to shout at her again, Grayson beat me to it.
“Enough of your useless education, Isla,” he said coldly, holding me tight. “I don’t care what you went through. But my little girl doesn’t need to suffer anything. Yes she’s spoiled and privileged. Because I let her be.”
