Chapter 4

The fabric ripped away, exposing Isabella's scarred body as fresh blood oozed from the wounds. Seeing the horrifying sight, Adrian's hand froze mid-motion. A flicker of remorse crossed his eyes. "Babe, I'm sorry…" After that day, he stayed glued to her side, as if fearing she would leave him. To her, it felt less like companionship and more like house arrest. On the fourth day, Adrian dropped to one knee before her, holding up a diamond ring. "Babe, my wedding is in six days. You may not be the bride, but you'll always have a place in my heart." Isabella let out a choked, humorless laugh. She looked at him with her large eyes as if he were a ridiculous joke. Yet, she still nodded and let him slide the ring onto her finger. Satisfied with her compliance, Adrian smiled and pulled her into an embrace. "Good. That's more like it." For the next two days, they slipped back into their old rhythm of apparent affection, as if nothing had ever happened between them. By the sixth day, Adrian was convinced she wouldn't leave. He finally relaxed his guard and stopped confining her. The moment he left the house, Isabella began preparing her own set of "gifts" for him, to be delivered on his wedding day. That night, he did not return home. In the early morning, Isabella was jolted awake by a bucket of water thrown over her. Her eyes flew open, the searing pain from her wounds bringing instant clarity. She quickly realized it wasn't just water but was saltwater. "Well, look who's awake?" She lifted her head toward the voice. Standing before her was Samantha, wearing a triumphant smile, flanked by two burly men. Isabella recognized them instantly. They were the bodyguards she had personally and carefully selected for Samantha years ago. Back then, Samantha had tearfully complained about being stalked and harassed. Out of pity, Isabella had immediately arranged for these two men to protect her. She never imagined her kindness would be used against her like this. Samantha stood with her arms crossed, looking down at Isabella with utter contempt. "Samantha, have you lost your mind?" Isabella snapped, trying to get up to rinse the saltwater off in the bathroom. But as she reached the door, Samantha grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her back. She sneered. "It seems the lesson I arranged for you in the park wasn't enough. Why didn't those lowlifes finish you off? "You knew Adrian had a fiancee, yet you still shamelessly clung to him here. You lower-class trash are all the same and willing to do anything for money, aren't you?" Isabella's heart sank. So, the thugs in the park had been Samantha's doing. But she had no energy to process the betrayal now because the saltwater burning into her wounds was causing spasms of agony. "Let go of me!" she shouted, shoving Samantha away and stumbling into the bathroom, locking the door. She turned on the shower, letting the warm water stream over her battered body. Samantha, pushed off-balance, fell hard to the floor. Enraged, she let out a sharp, cold laugh and barked at the bodyguards, "Drag her out here!" The two men quickly obliged, kicking the bathroom door open and hauling a struggling Isabella back before Samantha. Isabella collapsed to the floor, pain and despair twisting inside her. The "blade" she had once given Samantha for protection was now being plunged into her own flesh. "Isabella Hart, right? All you want is money, isn't it? Here, take it," Samantha said, pulling a thick wad of cash from her bag and hurling it at her face. Blood gushed from the wound, mingling with the water droplets on Isabella's body and dripping to the ground. The overwhelming pain began to cloud her mind. "Samantha, do you even know who I am? I—" Isabella's words were cut short by a sharp slap across her face. Samantha stepped closer, yanking Isabella's hair again. "I don't care who you are. I am the Monroe family's daughter and Adrian's fiancee. What exactly do you think you can do to me?" she hissed, her fingers tangling in Isabella's hair, and her eyes glinting with jealousy. "Your hair is so well-maintained. It must have cost Adrian a fortune." With that, she took out a bottle of super glue and poured the entire contents over Isabella's head. The thick, sticky liquid oozed down her scalp and face, forcing her to squeeze her eyes shut. She stumbled, trying to fight back. But Samantha grabbed her and dragged her out of the bathroom, then flung her violently toward the staircase. "You pushed me. Now, I'm going to push you down these stairs," Samantha declared. While enduring the excruciating pain, Isabella glared up at Samantha with fierce defiance. "You're not the Monroe family's daughter. Instead, you're just a vicious thug. Aren't you afraid Adrian will see your true colors when he gets back?" Isabella's words struck a nerve. Samantha's already twisted expression contorted further with fury. She suddenly raised her foot and kicked Isabella forcefully. Isabella tumbled straight down the stairs like a rag doll. She collided with each hard step, each impact sending white-hot pain through her body. The pain was so intense she could barely breathe. Suddenly, the front door burst open, and Adrian stood in the doorway. Lying in a crumpled heap at the foot of the stairs, Isabella blinked with immense effort. Her blurred vision met his bloodshot eyes. She saw him rush forward, only to watch him stride right past her. He went straight to Samantha, his expression softening as he began speaking to her in low, gentle tones. Isabella's eyes widened in disbelief. Then, darkness swallowed her consciousness whole.