Chapter 182
āThat the people who still cared for and loved me might one day abandon me, hate me, and kill meā¦ā
Even these people who love me so much.
Once Adeline understood that reality no longer followed the storyās set path, she tried not to turn away from the things twisted by her presence.
She tried to apologize for her mistakes and understand any resentment directed at her.
Because they didnāt know what Adeline knew.
They didnāt know how relentlessly the world, once bound to a fixed story, had tried to cast āAdelineā aside.
They thought she had simply moved on, happy and carefree, after leaving them behind.
Adeline didnāt want people to understand the depth of her suffering. In fact, she wished they would never know.
Thatās why, even when everyone who knew her decided to imprison her against her will, she accepted it. She had no complaints.
But hearing Shane say he didnāt care if she diedāthat was unbearable. Heād even said she was a burden and that he was tired of her.
No matter how much he hated her, wasnāt this too much, especially in a moment like this?
After all, there had been a timeā¦
āYou said you loved meā¦ā
You said you loved me.
You said losing me was scarier than being hated.
Adeline, breath hitching, burst into tears.
āIā¦ I like you too, but you never trusted me! You wouldnāt even let me speak, and now you say youāre tired of me!ā
āā¦ā¦ā
āWhat do you want me to doā¦?ā
Unable to hold back her tears, Adeline bit her lip, swallowing down curses. She didnāt want to say anything else sheād regret.
If sheād chosen to bear her pain alone, then it was only right to remain silent until the end. Whining because her pain wasnāt understood would just be childish.
She closed her eyes completely, unable to calm her emotions.
She didnāt want to see what expression Shane wore or even if he was looking at her at all.
āShut up! Damn it, I picked the wrong hostageā¦ā
āYou shut up! Stop yellingāmy eardrums are going to burstā¦ā
The blade at her neck, the threat of paināit meant nothing now.
Her life hadnāt been smooth enough that the mere threat of a blade below her throat would scare her.
When Adeline flared back at him defiantly, Harrison gritted his teeth.
If she truly was worthless as a hostage, just as Shane had said, there was no reason to keep her, but then again, there was no reason to spare her either.
At the very least, he hoped this woman held some significance to the boy holding Kaitlyn. In the midst of the confusion, he might just have a chance to rescue her.
Harrison gripped his sword with intent, bracing himself to slice her neck.
And then, the man who had been standing there coldly stepped forward.
There was no time to retreat or resist.
The manās face was suddenly close, his expression twisted with a sinister smile.
āGo ahead. Kill her.ā
Shane gripped the blade barehanded.
Adelineās eyes widened in shock as she watched blood trickle down his wrist.
āEven if you want to die, Iāll make sure you canāt.ā
āUghā¦ā
āIāll cut off the limbs of everyone you know, gouge out their eyes, and youāll have to eat every piece of themāwith that woman, together.ā
Harrison froze in place, his body rigid.
At that moment, a familiar scent brushed past his nose.
Realizing it was Genevieveās scent, Harrison took a sharp breath.
Before he could process it, a sharp blade pierced his side. There was no sensation, no pain. Harrisonās eyes widened in shock.
Beneath his chin was Genevieve.
In the blink of an eye, she had snatched Lloydās dagger from where it had been pressed to Kaitlynās throat and lunged at him.
Genevieve gripped the hilt of the dagger embedded in her husbandās abdomen and, gritting her teeth, slashed diagonally again before pulling it free. Blood spurted like a fountain, and Harrisonās knees buckled.
Seizing the moment, Adeline pulled herself away from him.
Genevieve gazed impassively down at her husband as he lay on the ground, then wiped her bloodied cheek with the back of her hand.
The gesture was futile. Her hands were already drenched in blood. Genevieve steadied her grip on the dagger and took a deep breath.
āPlease, let me finish this, Your Grace.ā
Biting her lip to hide the tremble in her voice, she continued.
āThis is my share of this responsibility.ā
