Chapter 12 Don’t Leave Tonight Stay With Me…


    “Elsa…”


    In the past, when Elsa coughed up blood, John would feel nothing but pain and worry.


    But now, seeing the blood at the corner of her lips, he was filled with an unexinable irritation that gnawed at him.


    She didn’t look good at all.


    Still, he didn’t go looking for Lily. Instead, he grabbed a tissue from the side table and carefully wiped the blood from her lips.


    Elsa didn’t have much time left. John didn’t want to say anything harsh to her.


    After a long silence, he furrowed his brows and finally said, “This is thest time. Don’t ever do something like this again. I promised I’d stay with you until the end, and I will. But Lily is my girlfriend. I won’t stand by while she gets ndered and hurt.”


    Lily is his girlfriend…


    Elsa’s long fingernails dug viciously into her palm, breaking the tender skin.


    She hated sharing anything with anyone–especially the man she loved the most.


    But she knew that no amount of hysteria could win back his heart.


    The proud and icy rose finally lowered her head and murmured softly, “John, I’m sorry for causing trouble. I never meant to hurt anyone. I just wanted you to care about me a little more… to spend more time with me.”


    “Mm.”


    John’s mind wandered again to the bloody wound on Lily’s forehead. He seemed distracted.


    He didn’t even really hear what Elsa said—he just responded absentmindedly.


    While his mind drifted, Elsa shifted her body and curled softly into his chest. “I’ve been having nightmares every nighttely. I dream that I’m bleeding so much… and no matter how hard I try, I can’t open my eyes. John, am I going to die soon? I’m so scared I’ll never see you again… Please don’t leave tonight. Stay with me. Please?”


    John looked down and met Elsa’s face–so proud, yet on the verge of copse, so full of helpless panic.


    He couldn’t say no to her like this.


    With a quiet sigh, he loosely wrapped an arm around her. “I’ll stay here with you in the room. Just get


    some rest.”


    Hearing this, Elsa knew he wouldn’t leave tonight. A quiet sigh of relief settled in her chest.


    But her hatred for Lily only grew stronger.


    John really was too good–looking.


    She had never seen a man more handsome than him.


    Four years ago, when he was badly injured in a car crash, the doctors said he would never walk again.


    The Jones family, cold and ruthless, abandoned him. Her parents urged her to stay away too, to avoid being dragged down.


    She’d been afraid of being dragged down as well. So she dumped him and left the country without hesitation.


    But once she got married abroad, she regretted everything.


    Her husband had money, sure–but he was ugly, promiscuous, mentally twisted, and abusive.


    If he hadn’t gone bankrupt and died in a car crash, she never would’ve escaped him.


    After such a disastrous marriage, she realized just how outstanding John was now that he had made aeback. There was no way she’d let that bitch Lily steal him away!


    As night fell deeper, Elsa didn’t move in his arms, and John assumed she had fallen asleep.


    He gentlyid her down on the bed and stepped out into the hallway to call Wayne.


    The image of Lily’s bloodied forehead and the sorrow and disappointment in her eyes when she looked at him tore <i>at </i>his heart.


    He had to ask Wayne to deliver some ointment to her–and her favorite strawberry cake…


    He had barely stepped out of the hospital room when Elsa opened her eyes.


    The door was ajar. She faintly heard Lily’s name.


    Even when he was physically beside her, his heart was still wrapped around Lily. The thought made her grind her teeth in fury.


    She had to destroy Lily’s reputation—make John dump her like trash!


    She quickly grabbed her phone and texted her mother, Wendy.


    “Mom, it’s time to use those men Dad found.”


    The reply came almost instantly: “Don’t worry, Elsa. That b*tch Lily dares to steal your man–I’ll make sure she pays!”


    Elsa knew better than anyone how ruthless Wendy could be.


    But her hatred for Lily was <b>so </b>deep, she still worried it wouldn’t be enough.


    She continued typing on the screen. “Mom, do any of the men Dad found actually have HIV? Are you sure that drug you got can make Lilypletely lose her mind and let them do whatever they want?”


    “That drug cost me three hundred thousand! Just one pill will make her forget what shame even means! Don’t worry. Tonight, I’ll make sure they feed her a few more!”


    Satisfied the drug would work, a vicious smile crept across Elsa’s lips.


    “Make them give her the whole bottle! And get plenty of photos and videos. I want everyone to see how filthy and shameless she really is! Once John sees her true colors, there’s no way he’ll ever fall for her again!”


    Wendy promised again and again that she’d make Lily look like a worthless slut, hated by everyone. Only then did Elsa finally toss her phone aside, feeling satisfied.


    Men all cared about their pride.


    Especially men like John, who had power and status.


    Proud as he was, there’s no way he’d ever want some filthy, cheap slut who’d been used by everyone!


    After Lily’s phone screen cracked, it had be harder and harder to use.


    At first, she could still type with effort. But eventually, even answering calls became a struggle.


    She had sent a lot of voice samples to casting directors. She worried they might call her back, and she wouldn’t be able to answer. After cleaning up her ce, she decided to go buy a new phone.


    There were no stores downstairs.


    She walked several blocks before she finally found a phone shop.


    It was in a slightly remote spot, and at this hour, the whole street was eerily quiet.


    Once she had the new phone and SIM card, she picked up her pace.


    But then, she heard footsteps behind her–and faint, lewdughter from men.


    She figured they were drunk and didn’t want any trouble. She started walking faster, almost jogging.


    “Where you running off to, sweetheart?”


    She had only gone a few steps when a man with tattooed arms and a muscr build blocked her path.


    He wasn’t alone. Four other big, burly men stood with him.


    It was a cold winter night, yet they were all in short sleeves, muscles bulging. They looked dangerous.


    Lily didn’t hesitate. She quickly sent a text to the police while charging ahead as fast as she could.


    hapter <b>12 </b>Don


    Leave Tonig


    But those men were faster.


    Before she could hit send, the tattooed man was already in front of her, grinning wickedly. He mmed a towel soaked in something over her mouth and nose<b>. </b>


    She knew they were up to no good–she couldn’t let them win.


    She thrashed and struggled with everything she had, trying to break free from his grip.


    But he was too strong. She couldn’t match him.


    And the scent from the towel filled her nose. It drained the strength from her limbs like someone had pulled the plug.


    She could no longer fight. All she could do… was surrender.