Chapter 90

Maybe it was the shock in Celeste's eyes that made Ethan stop. His manic movements suddenly froze, and he stared at her for a few seconds, as if a sliver of clarity returned to his mind. "Your leg-" Before he could finish, Celeste's voice was cut off. Her eyes went wide as she clawed desperately at Ethan's hands around her neck, but not a sound came out. Sometimes, the more you know, the shorter your life. As her breathing grew shallow and every muscle screamed for air, Celeste's mind blurred. That same wave of hopelessness crashed over her-the same suffocating heat she'd felt that night in the burning villa. She'd screamed for her sleeping parents to wake up. Nothing. No response. The phones were dead, no signal. She'd bolted from the villa, racing downhill in her car, desperate for help. And just when she thought all hope was lost, a car appeared, headlights beaming through the dark. She saw the driver clearly in that moment. It was him. Back then, she thought she'd found a lifeline.