Chapter 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thick. Wet. Heavy. Like the room itself was pressing down on my lungs. My chest burned every time I tried to breathe, sharp and unforgiving, and I knew I must have passed out from the pain because my wrists were on fire, skin torn, blood dried and sticky against the ropes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I heard them before I saw them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roxanne laughing. Soft. Delighted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Troy\u2019s low voice, amused, impatient.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The light snapped on.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cold flooded my bones.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They were standing right in front of me, close enough that I could smell her perfume and his sweat, close enough that the humiliation felt deliberate. Like they wanted it carved into me, remembered forever.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roxanne leaned against Troy, her fingers tracing his arm, her smile slow and vicious. \u201cLook at you,\u201d she said, tilting her head. \u201cThis is what you amount to now, Isabella. Tied up. Bruised. Barely breathing. David never really wanted you. Not once. He chose me every time. I was the one he loved. I was the one he stayed for.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Troy shoved the chair back with a hard kick, rattling my spine. \u201cStill trying to sit pretty,\u201d he said with a grin. \u201cStill acting like you\u2019re something special. It\u2019s almost cute.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pain flashed white, but I swallowed it. I lifted my chin anyway. \u201cYou\u2019re both pathetic,\u201d I said, my voice shaking but sharp. \u201cYou need me broken so you can feel powerful. That\u2019s how empty you are.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roxanne snapped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She crossed the room in seconds and slapped me hard, her palm cracking against my cheek. My head rang, vision blurring, but I didn\u2019t cry out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou will never win!\u201d she screamed, breath hot against my face. \u201cDo you hear me? Never. You were never better than me. You were always just in my way.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then I heard it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A small, broken sound.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMom\u2026 Mom\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart twisted so hard it hurt worse than the ropes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned my head, panic tearing through me. Ryle was tied to a chair across the room,\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:14 Wed, Jan 28\u00a0<\/p>\n
0\u00a0<\/p>\n
his little wrists bound, tears streaking his face. His lip trembled as he sobbed, trying\u00a0<\/p>\n
so hard to be brave.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, please,\u201d he cried. \u201cI\u2019m scared.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRyle,\u201d I whispered, my voice cracking for the first time. \u201cBaby, look at me. I\u2019m here. I\u2019m not going anywhere. You hear me? You\u2019re safe. Mommy\u2019s right here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roxanne laughed again, sharp and ugly. \u201cDisgusting,\u201d she said. \u201cEven now you still think you\u2019re strong.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shut my eyes for one second.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I thought of Colt. His voice low and steady. His hands warm and sure. The way he said my name like it meant something dangerous and precious at the same time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I whispered, barely moving my lips, just for me. \u201cI will not beg. Not for them. Not ever.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The door exploded open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shouting. Boots. Gunfire ripping through the room like thunder.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everything went feral and fast.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Men stormed in, armed and relentless. Troy barely had time to move before he was slammed to the floor, screaming as guns pinned him down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Someone cut Ryle free and I heard his cry turn into sobs as he was pulled away, safe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then David was dragged in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He froze the moment he saw me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tied. Bloody. Barely holding myself upright.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something shattered in his face. All the lies. All the denial.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Colt stepped into the light.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tall. Calm. Deadly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes found me instantly, nothing else in the room existing. My strength finally gave out when his hands cupped my face, warm and trembling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you not to leave me,\u201d he said quietly, his voice breaking despite himself. \u201cI told you I\u2019d protect you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Behind him, Roxanne shrieked, fighting the men restraining her. \u201cDavid! Look at me! Save me! Don\u2019t let them take me! I did all of this for us!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
David turned to her slowly, disgust written clear and ugly across his face. \u201cFor us?\u201d he said hoarsely. \u201cYou tortured her. You hurt my son!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
David\u2019s face twisted, rage consuming what was left of him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTake her away,\u201d Colt said coldly, never looking at Roxanne. \u201cShe doesn\u2019t get to speak\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:14 Wed, Jan 28\u00a0<\/p>\n
anymore. I\u2019ll decide what happens to her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Troy suddenly broke free, lunging with a blade, eyes wild.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He never made it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gunshots echoed. He dropped instantly, blood spreading across the floor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
86\u00a0<\/p>\n
David fell to his knees beside me, tears streaming. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he choked. \u201cIsabella, I\u2019m so sorry. Please don\u2019t give up. I swear I\u2019ll never hurt you again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But then bang!\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roxanne shot me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNadia!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I wanted to answer. I wanted to tell him I was still fighting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the sounds faded, the world dimmed, and the darkness took me again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
COLT\u2019S POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
I took Nadia back to my clinic. My place. My rules.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was limp in my arms, blood soaking through my shirt, her skin cold in a way that made my jaw lock tight. The alarms were screaming, sharp and unforgiving, like they were mocking me for being too late.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMove,\u201d I snapped at the staff. \u201cGet the hell out of my way.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
No one argued. They never do when my voice drops like that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I laid her down myself, hands shaking only when I wasn\u2019t looking at them. The monitor flatlined.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Three seconds.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Three seconds where my lungs forgot how to work.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I growled, already pressing down on her chest. \u201cNo. You don\u2019t get to die. Not now. Not like this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Blood was everywhere. The bullet had gone straight through her heart. Clean shot. Professional. Whoever pulled the trigger knew exactly what they were doing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shocked her once. Nothing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Twice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her body jerked, hard, then fell still again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCome back,\u201d I said, low and vicious, like I could scare death itself. \u201cYou don\u2019t leave\u00a0<\/p>\n
The machine finally caught something. Weak. Fragile. Barely there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
91.0%\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:14 Wed, Jan 28\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sucked in a breath that burned all the way down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
86\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ax was beside me, pale as hell. \u201cBoss. The damage is too severe. Her heart\u2019s gone. We can\u2019t patch this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked at him. Calm. Cold. \u201cSay it clearly.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe needs a transplant. Right now. A real heart. No machine. No delay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My vision narrowed. \u201cThen you find one.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no donor on standby.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen steal one,\u201d I said flatly. \u201cCall every hospital. Every underground surgeon. I don\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
care who screams. Bring me a heart in one hour or I burn this city until someone\u00a0<\/p>\n
hands me one.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ax nodded once and ran.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Behind me, a voice broke the air.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cUse mine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned slowly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
David.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He looked wrecked. Blood on his sleeves. Eyes red. But his voice did not shake.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at him like he\u2019d lost his mind. \u201cSay that again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTake my heart,\u201d he said. \u201cGive it to her. I\u2019m serious.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The room went dead quiet\u00a0<\/p>\n
11:15 Wed, Jan 28\u00a0<\/p>\n
Prepare the divorce and ruin your husband by Mark Twain 23 Chapter 23\u00a0 Thick. Wet. Heavy. Like the room itself […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23554","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-his-regret-my-victory-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23554","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23554"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23554\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23554"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23554"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23554"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}