Chapter 9

At dinner, Cassie carried a pot of soup to the table. She was walking towards me.

"Ellery, watch out, it's hot," she said with a sweet smile.

I instinctively shifted in my chair.

Then, she "tripped." The pot of boiling soup flew out of her hands, splashing directly onto my legs.

I screamed as searing pain shot through me.

Cassie also fell, crying out as if she were hurt too.

Adrian rushed over, his face a mask of panic. He ran right past me, his eyes only for Cassie.

"Cassie! Are you okay?" he cried, lifting her into his arms and running for the door. He didn't even give me a second glance.

A maid had to call an ambulance for me.

At the hospital, the doctor told Adrian that Cassie's burns were severe. She would need skin grafts. But there were no suitable donors available.

Adrian's cold eyes landed on me.

"Use hers," he said.

I stared at him in disbelief. "What?"

"This is your fault," he said, his voice dangerously low. "You tripped her on purpose. You deserve to pay the price."

He dragged me towards the operating room.

"Adrian, you can't do this! I'm injured too!" I cried, fighting against him.

"She's more important," he snarled, shoving me onto a gurney.

In the operating room, the surgeon hesitated. "Mr. Payne, we only have enough anesthetic for one person."

Adrian didn't even pause. "Give it to Cassie."

My blood ran cold. I watched, wide-eyed, as the surgeon approached me, a scalpel gleaming in his hand.

I saw the blade descend.

The pain was unimaginable. A raw, animal scream was ripped from my throat. I thrashed on the table, my nails breaking against the metal restraints. But no one cared. No one stopped.

I passed out from the pain.

I woke up later, an agonizing throbbing in my leg. Adrian was sitting by my bed.

"Did it hurt?" he asked, a cruel smirk on his face. "Good."

I closed my eyes. I had nothing left to say to him.

"You will go and apologize to Cassie when she wakes up," he commanded.

I opened my eyes, the red of my bloodshot eyes meeting his. "Okay," I whispered. "I'll apologize."

He looked at me, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. My tone was... off.

Just then, a nurse came in. "Mr. Payne, Miss Tate is awake."

He stood up. "Don't worry," he said, patting my head like a dog. "I'm not going to break up with you over this. You're still my girlfriend."

The moment the door clicked shut behind him, I swept my arm across the bedside table. A vase shattered against the wall.

My phone buzzed. It was a text message.

Your visa has been approved.

Tears streamed down my face. Tears of relief. Of liberation.

I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood.

It was finally over.

I ignored the doctor's orders and checked myself out. The maids at the penthouse avoided my eyes. I walked through the empty rooms and laughed a hollow, broken laugh.

I was going to leave Adrian a parting gift.

I hired a team of workers. In a few hours, the entire villa was transformed. Every wall was plastered with giant posters.

ADRIAN PAYNE, WE'RE DONE.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BREAKUP!

A massive banner hung over the front gate, visible from the street: HAPPY BREAKUP, ADRIAN!

I grabbed my suitcase and walked out the door for the last time.

I'm coming, Kellen. I'm coming to get you back.