Chapter 7
Bang!
The door slammed open as Edgar stormed in, bringing a gust of cold air with him.
His eyes locked straight onto Amelia, who was crying. Without hesitation, he rushed over and shoved Stephanie aside.
“Stephanie, what the hell are you doing?!” he snapped, barely keeping his anger in check.
Caught off guard, Stephanie stumbled back, hitting the back of her head hard against the corner of the table. She felt warm blood slowly sliding down her neck.
“Edgar…” she whispered, her voice shaky, full of disbelief.
But he didn’t even look at her.
All his focus was on Amelia, holding her close while his expression filled with worry.
“Mr. Ferguson…” She suddenly backed away from his arms, hugging herself like she was scared. “Let’s keep our distance from now on. Please don’t chase after me anymore…”
She turned and headed for the door, her shoulders trembling like she was about to fall apart.
“Don’t go!” Edgar grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
Then, he turned toward Stephanie, eyes sharp and icy. “How dare you lay a hand on Amelia?! Looks like the last punishment didn’t teach you
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anything.”
He signaled his bodyguard. “Take her to the confinement room.”
Stephanie stared at him in disbelief. “What did you just say?”
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He repeated it, no emotion in his voice. “Lock you in the confinement
room.”
Her whole body went cold. Suddenly, her mind flashed back to that one rainy night long ago.
She’d been locked in a dark utility room because of someone’s jealousy for
her excellent work.
She was curled up in the corner, shaking uncontrollably due to
claustrophobia. Back then, Edgar had kicked the door open and carried
her out.
“Don’t be scared,” he’d said, voice gentle. “I’m here. No one is going to hurt you.”
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But now, Edgar was the one shoving her into that same dark space.
As the bodyguard dragged her away, Stephanie clung to the doorframe, pleading, “Edgar! You know I’m terrified of the dark!”
He hesitated for a second, then coldly said, “This time, no one is coming for you.”
When the door slammed shut, the pitch–black room swallowed her whole.
She curled up in the corner and started pounding on the metal door. “Let me out! Edgar!”
No one responded.
Her breathing turned fast and shallow. Her mind played tricks on her. She
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felt like she was reliving that horrible night in the utility room.
But this time, she knew no one would show up.
vup.
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289 IV ACTRES
After a long time, the door creaked open. Light poured in, blinding her.
“Do you realize what you did wrong?” Edgar asked, standing in the doorway. The backlight hid his expression.
Stephanie pushed herself up, her voice too hoarse to speak.
She walked right past him, her eyes dull and lifeless.
Days went by. Stephanie never stepped outside.
She packed her luggage blankly, skipped over Amelia’s smug messages without opening them, and ignored the flood of missed calls from Edgar.
Then, she received a call from the hospital.
“Ms. Sanchez, your grandmother suffered a sudden brain bleed. Her condition is very serious. Please come immediately!
Her hands turned cold. The phone nearly slipped out of her grip.
At the hospital, the air reeked of disinfectant, and voices echoed all
around.
Stephanie ran stumblingly, but she suddenly froze when she turned a
corner.
Edgar was hugging Amelia and coaxing her softly, “Don’t be afraid. None of this is your fault.”
She rested in his arms, eyes red like she’d been crying.
“You…” Stephanie’s voice was shaking. “Why are you two here?”
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Edgar looked up and casually said, “Amelia twisted her ankle. I brought her in.”
Then, after a short pause, he added, “I didn’t expect to meet your grandmother.”
Stephanie felt a chill wash over her. “What did you do in front of her?”
“Nothing,” he said flatly. “She just saw me holding Amelia. Maybe she misunderstood, got upset, and…”
Vine her
“She misunderstood?” Stephanie let out a bitter laugh. “She saw you two hug each other, and you think that’s just a misunderstanding?”
“Stephanie!” Edgar’s face darkened. “I called in top doctors. Your grandmother will be fine.”
Just then, the operating room lights flicked off.
A doctor came out, pulled off his mask, and shook his head heavily. “I’m sorry. We did everything we could. She passed peacefully. Her final wish was for you to find happiness…”
Chapter B
