Chapter 5

Nolan, Conrad, and Liam exchanged a glance. They flashed an indulgent smile at Adrianna, clearly taking her rejection as nothing more than a spoiled woman's tantrum. "How about this?" Liam suddenly leaned forward. "Anna, the weather's so nice today. Why don't we go to the equestrian club to relax a bit?" She shook her head coolly. "I don't want to go." "Don't be like that," Conrad said. "Getting some fresh air will speed up your recovery." Nolan took her by the arm and pulled her toward the car. "Come on." The royal equestrian club was a stretch of lush green under a gentle breeze carrying the scent of grass. Yet Adrianna felt nothing but a biting chill. "Anna, pick a horse to ride first," Conrad said, handing her a helmet. "We'll go get some refreshments ready for you." She accepted it and chose a gentle mare. All she wanted was to get away from these suffocating people, even if only for a brief moment of peace. The mare began to trot, wind brushing across her face. For the first time in days, she was able to forget her troubles, if only a little. But just as she let her guard down, a commotion erupted in the distance. Her horse let out a sharp neigh. Only then did she realize hundreds of horses had burst out of nowhere, stampeding toward her like a tidal wave. Panic shot through her. She yanked on the reins, trying to turn the mare around—but it was already too late. No matter how she pulled, the frightened animal refused to obey. Amidst the chaos, she was thrown from the saddle, hitting the ground hard. "Argh!" When the first hoof came down on her calf, Adrianna heard the sound of bone shattering. Then came the second, the third… She curled into a ball as a crimson puddle formed beneath her, staining the grass red. Before her consciousness fully faded, she thought she saw three figures in the distance, watching her with detached, cold eyes. When Adrianna opened her eyes again, the blinding light made her squint. Her entire body was covered in bandages, and it felt so numb as though it no longer belonged to her. Even the slightest movement sent a jolt of searing pain through her. From outside, James' cold voice floated in. "You guys have gone too far." She held her breath as he continued, "All I asked was for her to give Ceci a little blood. "But you… You bribed the caretakers to torment her, then set loose hundreds of horses to trample her. Now she's suffering from a comminuted fracture in her whole body, and she nearly didn't make it." "Serves her right for bullying Ceci." Liam's nonchalant tone sent shivers down her spine. "This was just a small price to pay." "Pretending to like her every day disgusted me," Nolan said, each word stabbing her chest like a poisoned blade. "If it weren't for Ceci's sake, who would waste time playing house with her?" Adrianna bit down on her lip until she tasted blood. So all those accidental burns, her blood flowing the wrong way in the syringe, and even this carefully staged accident had been nothing but revenge for Cecilia. This was all beyond her. Even if they didn't like her, they were still childhood friends who had grown up together. They had once doted on her, stayed by her bedside through the night when she was sick. They had even gone to great lengths to plan surprises for her birthday. And now, for the sake of someone they had only known for a few months, they had left her completely shattered. She wanted to rush out, demand answers, or scream and cry at them—but a tidal wave of pain swept over her, dragging her back into unconsciousness. When Adrianna woke again, she was alone in the ward. Only the glow of her phone screen lit the room, displaying three unread messages. "Anna, we're sorry. We failed to protect you, and we're too ashamed to face you. We're flying abroad to buy you gifts so we can make it up to you." "Rest well and wait for us to return." "Tell us what you want. We'll make sure to bring it back for you." She set the phone down, too numb to even feel pain anymore. She didn't want to see them, nor deal with their fake concern. All she wanted was to lie in bed and recover in peace. But that day, her ward door suddenly swung open.