Chapter 97
"Sorry, but whatever you're offering, it's not enough. We have professional ethics. There's no way we'd betray our employer just like that," the man said with a click of his tongue, a hint of pity in his eyes as he looked at Thea. "You can only blame your bad luck for crossing t He stood up and coldly ordered. "Get on with it. Break her hand.
With just a few casual words, he sealed Thea's fate.
Thea gritted her teeth, watching as the group approached, her chest tightening with fear.
'Who could it be? Madelyn? Emmalie? They're not aiming to kill me, but if they ruin my hand, I'll be as good as useless,' she thought, feeling the cold dread creeping in.
It was a devastating outcome, one that would surely make things worse.
Thea, feigning helplessness, let tears fall while she subtly reached for a stone by the roadside.
The moment the first person got close, she struck hard and fast, slamming the rock against his forehead.
Taking advantage of his brief moment of pain, Thea shook off his grip and bolted.
The others didn't seem worried at all, even laughing loudly at the injured man.
She hadn't run far before another person caught up, yanking her hair and slamming her face into the wet ground.
Her face was pressed into the rainwater, utterly miserable.
Pain radiated through her head, and from the corner of her eye, she saw someone raising a baseball bat high above her.Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.
"Nicolas..." In her panic, the only name that escaped her lips was his.
Suddenly, a group of bodyguards swarmed the area, followed by the screech of tires on the pavement.
In that moment of despair, Thea's heart surged with hope.
The attackers quickly realized something was off, exchanging dark glances before hastily retreating.
Someone hurried toward her, and the rain above her stopped falling.
By now, Thea couldn't tell if her face was covered in rainwater or tears.
She struggled to stand but, upon seeing who had come, the light in her eyes slowly faded away.
It was Jake.
Jake, surprised by her disheveled state, frowned, his voice tense and full of concern. "What happened? Why did those people attack you? Thea, have you gotten involved with someone dangerous?" Thea felt her heart grow colder, her body heavy with exhaustion. She didn't even want to spare him a glance.
"Thanks for the help today. I have things to do, so I'll be going now." With that, she turned to leave.
Jake quickly caught up, grabbing her wrist with a firm grip. "I'll take you home."
"There's no need, Thea responded, her brows furrowed, her eyes full of indifference and impatience.
L
Jake felt a pang in his chest as if wounded, and his voice carried a hint of frustration. "Thea, do you even have a heart saved you, and this is how you repay me?" Thea took a deep breath, forcing out a smile that looked more like a grimace. "That's why I said, thank you, Mr. Hendrix. Bet I don't need any more help from you." Jake, still persistent, refused to let go. "I'm taking you home."
Thea didn't understand why he was being so stubborn.
But in the end, he had saved her. She owed him that much, and she couldn't just treat him with cold indifference like the usually did.
Besides, her mind was in chaos, and she couldn't handle another argument.
She exhaled slowly and chose not to refuse him this time.
Before leaving, she glanced at her shattered phone lying on the cold, wet ground and felt a wave of fatigue wash over her She realized just how ridiculous it all was.
I've allowed myself to cross a line with Nicolas. That's on me. I should've learned my lesson about betrayal by now, but somehow I let myself fall again. What a joke, she thought.
When they arrived at the hotel, Jake followed her inside.
Thea looked back at Jake, puzzled.
2
Jake cleared his throat, his tone filled with a sense of entitlement. "You're my girlfriend. Isn't it normal for me to be concerned about your safety?"
Thea emphasized, "Mr. Hendrix, have you forgotten? There's nothing between us anymore."
Jake, unwilling to accept this, saw Thea swipe her room card and tried to force his way in.
Thea reacted faster, quickly turning around and using her body to block the door, glaring at him coldly.
Jake's chest heaved as he looked at Thea, his eyes filled with conflicting emotions.
His voice trembled slightly. "Thea, when I helped you today, for a moment, it felt like we were back to when we first got together. Back then, you weren't welcomed by the Rowland family. People treated you with so much malice, and I was the only one you could rely on. Wh Thea let out a cold laugh. "Initially, I had a shred of gratitude for your help today. Now, it seems unnecessary."
She stared directly into Jake's eyes, speaking each word clearly. I should thank myself for waking up early and seeing through who you really are. If I continued to rely on you, how would that be any different from pushing myself into the
fire?"
Before Jake could speak, she raised her voice. "Jake, after everything that's happened, it's already generous of me not to hate you. Don't expect me to be soft-hearted like before. The Thea who loved you for eight years is dead. You watched her die. Don't forget that." With that, she slammed the door shut.
Jake almost got hit in the face and stumbled back a few steps in embarrassment.
In his eyes, there was not only anger but also confusion.