Chapter 14
Recalling that explosion from what felt like a lifetime ago, I gave my best friend a push. If one of us could make it out, that was enough.
She squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. “Sonia, you have to wait for me! I’ll get the police to save you.” With those words, she dashed out without looking back.
The room fell eerily silent, leaving only me and Miles.
I stood up, meeting Miles‘ dark gaze. “What do you want?”
He shot back with a question, “Why did you go to the hospital?”
“Stomachache. I needed some meds,” I replied.
Miles let out a mocking laugh. “Sonia, don’t treat me like a fool.”
He grabbed me, yanking me toward the window. His grip on my chin forced me to look down. “Let’s see who’s come to the party.”
Below, a man was held at gunpoint by Uncle Samuel. I recognized Rowan immediately, and my heart skipped a beat.
Miles chuckled softly. “When the cops get here, they’ll find Rowan’s body. And your Uncle Samuel won’t be getting away with it.”
My heart raced, my fingertips icy and trembling. But the more I showed concern for Rowan, the riskier it became.
I shut my eyes, saying, “Rowan and I are divorced. Whatever happens to him is none of my business.” “Really?” Miles said coldly, still watching the scene below. “Samuel, shoot him in the leg.”
Bang!
The gunshot echoed, and blood seeped from Rowan’s thigh. He fell to one knee, looking up at us, face ashen. “Miles, I’m here. Let her go.”
Miles ignored him, turning to me instead. “Sonia, does this make you happy?”
I was frozen, unable to utter a word.
“Uncle Samuel, the other leg-”
I grabbed his hand, my voice trembling. “Please, don’t…”
Miles‘ smile vanished. His grip was so tight that his knuckles whitened.
Rowan’s eyes were dark, sweat beading his forehead. “Don’t scare her.”
Miles‘ eyes were filled with a terrifying coldness as he looked at Rowan challengingly, then tilted my chin up and kissed me.
His lips were dry, his force brutal, and I gagged, struggling fiercely.
“Do you want him dead?” he asked.
I froze, unable to move.
Miles pressed against my lips, taunting.
Disgust roiled in my stomach, and I pushed him away before collapsing to the floor and violently retching.
“Do it,” Miles ordered coldly.
A gunshot rang out, and my mind went blank as I scrambled to the window. “Rowan!”
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But the image of him lying in a pool of blood didn’t appear.
It was Uncle Samuel, shot in the back, sprawled on the ground. Rowan’s left hand was bleeding. Not far off, a team of police officers rushed in, surrounding the area quickly.
Miles‘ expression changed, and he yanked me by the collar, retreating behind the second–floor concrete pillar.
Outside, police were shouting at Miles.
He hadn’t expected them to arrive so fast.
Holding me tight, Miles hid in a blind spot from the snipers, yelling, “I have explosives. Let Rowan in, or I’ll take her with me.”
I gasped, my vision darkening. “Miles, calm down.”
“Oh, I’m calm,” he sneered. “In our past lives, you were willing to die with Rowan. What about now? Won’t you do the same for me?”
I desperately clawed at his hands. “I don’t. I won’t…”
Miles became increasingly agitated. “I could’ve fixed everything! But why did you have to come back, too? I want the old Sonia back!”
I reached out futilely, the light fading.
“Miles.” A familiar, deep voice came from a few steps away. “I’m here. Let her go.”
The pressure on my neck vanished suddenly.
I bent over, coughing violently, my eyes blurred with tears, reaching instinctively toward Rowan. The blood on his leg had dried, his hand bandaged, looking more battered than ever.
Since he stepped onto the second floor, his eyes never left me, afraid for my safety.
Miles pulled me back a few steps, drawing a knife and holding it to my throat. “Rowan, let’s try something different this time.”
He gestured to a leather jacket not far off. “Put it on.”
I knew that jacket all too well.
“No… don’t wear it!” I screamed, my voice breaking for the first time. “You can’t!”
Miles descended into a maniacal laughter. “Sonia, in our past, Rowan dared to die with you. How much do you love him?”
“No…” I clawed desperately at Miles‘ hand.
He tightened his grip, sneering, “Do you think he can beat me? No matter how well he protects you, I can still open the door and drag you out. I’ve waited for this day. Today, if he doesn’t die, you will.”
Rowan hadn’t heard our whispered conversation. “Keep the knife away from her. I’ll wear it.”
“Rowan! Just leave!” I screamed, my voice cracking. “I’m begging you.”
Rowan seemed deaf to my pleas, focusing on the knife’s point, drawing blood from my skin, and quickly slipping on the jacket.
Beep. The countdown began.
I closed my eyes in despair.
Miles suddenly pushed me forward. “Sonia, make a choice.”
Standing between them, I took a step toward Rowan, but he backed away.
“Sonia, don’t come closer,” Rowan warned seriously. “There’s a bomb.”
Chapter 14
I stood frozen, not daring to move another inch.
I wasn’t afraid to die, but choosing Rowan right before Miles would provoke him further, possibly even triggering the bomb.
“Sonia, admit it. You only love yourself. You’re just as selfish and heartless as your Uncle Samuel,” Miles taunted with a cold laugh.
Rowan backed up to the window, giving me a final glance before speaking. “Miles, I’m sorry about your father.”
“You have no right to mention my father.” The once smug Miles was suddenly enraged, stepping forward. “You spoiled brats born with silver spoons, do you have any genuine feelings?”
“But your father broke the rules back then, not wearing his safety gear. We compensated for that.”
