Chapter 7

"No…" Adrianna wheezed. "Get off me… Please…" The five men leered down at her. Her whole body was fractured, and she didn't even have the strength to struggle. All she could do was watch in despair as their filthy hands reached for the collar of her shirt. "Ms. Quinnen, you won't be able to escape." The man in the lead grinned, flashing his yellowed teeth. "We're going to take real good care of you tonight." The sound of them tearing at her clothes cut through the silence of the room. She bit her lip so hard that she tasted blood. She couldn't just die here. She couldn't let these animals ruin her. In the next moment, she shoved the nearest man with everything she had left and hurled herself toward the window. The glass shattered, and a gust of cold air filled the room. She crashed to the ground from the second floor. Pain ripped through her right leg, but she didn't stop. She dragged her broken body forward, limping away as fast as she could. "Fuck! Go after her!" The thugs yelled after her. Terrified they would catch her, Adrianna stumbled ahead at her fastest pace. But in the next instant, a blinding light filled her vision. A sports car speeding in the wrong direction slammed into her. Her body was flung into the air before crashing to the ground. Blood spread rapidly beneath her. Her mind was foggy, a loud ringing filling her ears. She heard the sound of a car door opening, then footsteps approaching. "Damn, Nolan, you're ruthless." Conrad's voice rang out. "James already sent people to assault her, and you still went and ran her over?" "I wouldn't have bothered if she hadn't tried to escape," Nolan said with a cold chuckle. "But she ran. That's on her." "Too bad she's still breathing," Conrad added, his voice tinged with regret. "If she'd died, the three of us wouldn't have to keep up the act in front of her. We could just stay with Ceci forever." Adrianna felt like her heart had been shattered into a million pieces. So they were intent on killing her. When she woke up again, she was in a hospital bed. Her body was wrapped head to toe in bandages like a mummy. "Anna, you're awake!" Nolan was the first to rush over, his eyes filled with feigned concern. He acted as if he wasn't the one who'd hit her with his car. "Sorry. We were in a hurry to get back to see you and didn't notice the road," Conrad said gently. "We didn't mean to run over you." "We also heard about Cecilia being assaulted in the hospital." Liam sighed. "But we're sure she must've framed you." Adrianna stared at them in silence, her eyes devoid of life. "Get some rest, okay? We'll go talk to James. This time, we'll make sure you get justice," Nolan said, patting her hand softly before the three of them left together. She closed her eyes, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. As if she'd believe they were off to confront James. They were just eager to see Cecilia. This time, Adrianna was badly injured. She had been hospitalized for two weeks. On the day she was discharged, Nolan, Conrad, and Liam went to pick her up. But when she returned to her villa, she found James and Cecilia in her living room. "What are you doing here?" she asked coldly. James looked at her as though she were a stranger. "I'm here to help Cecilia pack her things. She won't be living here anymore." "Why?" Adrianna forced a smile, the movement tugging painfully at her injuries. She winced. "Afraid I'll bully her again?" "Glad you know." He sneered. "If she continues to stay here, she might not live to see tomorrow." Adrianna clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms. How blind could they possibly be? Could they really not tell who was the real victim? "James, I'm done packing." Cecilia suddenly walked over, her eyes reddening. "But… My trophy is gone." "What trophy?" James frowned. "The one I won at my last piano competition." She bit her lip, looking on the verge of tears. "It's the only trophy I've ever won…" James' expression hardened as his head snapped toward Adrianna. "Hand it over." Adrianna snorted. "I didn't take it." "Adrianna, you have always had everything you wanted since you were a child," Cecilia said tearfully. "Why can't you just give it back to me?" "Ceci, Anna said she doesn't have it," Nolan interrupted with feigned impatience. "Why make this a big deal?" "Exactly. It's just a trophy." Conrad and Liam nodded in agreement. A cold sneer crossed James' face as he pulled out his phone. "Come in." Within seconds, more than a dozen bodyguards barged into the villa. "Smash everything," he ordered icily. "Turn this place upside down until you find her trophy." "James! Don't go too far!" Nolan stepped forward to stop him. "Wh? Are you trying to protect her?" James narrowed his eyes. "Fine. Race me. If I win, you stay out of my way. If I lose, I'll take Cecelia and leave right now." The three of them exchanged a look before agreeing. "Deal." Unfazed, Adrianna observed from the sidelines. She knew better than anyone that Nolan was Gildford's top street racer. He had never lost—but the outcome was telling. Nolan, Conrad, and Liam all lost. She laughed as she watched them step out of their cars, feigning frustration. Sure enough, they had clearly put effort into their act. James entered the villa again. With a flick of his fingers, he commanded coldly, "Smash everything. Find Ceci's trophy—even if you have to tear this place apart."