Chapter 5
In that moment, I was truly consumed by the urge to kill.
Right in the heart of the chapel, her words pushed me over the edge. My hands tightened around her neck with all my strength, wishing I could break her neck right then and there.
Blinded by my own fury, I didn't even notice someone sneaking up on me from behind.
It wasn't until a hand clamped over my mouth and nose that I jerked back to my senses, but it was already too late, and just like that, the world faded to black.
When I came to, Sophie and I were both suspended high up, dangling from harnesses.
Fighting through the splitting pain in my head, I forced myself awake just in time to hear Edward's voice.
He was completely losing it, his voice low and furious. "Where's Claire? Who the hell are you? How dare you kidnap her?"
I struggled to open my eyes, and as soon as I could make out his figure below, I saw him staring in shock at Sophie hanging right beside me.
"Sophie..." The moment he recognized her, his gaze locked onto her, and he couldn't look away.
"I don't care who the hell you are. If you hurt Sophie, I'll make sure you pay with your lives!" Edward shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice raw with rage.
The masked man finally spoke up, "Time to choose, Mr. Foster. It's one or the other. Only one of them gets to live."
Seeing Edward hesitate, the guy didn't waste any time and started the countdown. "Mr. Foster, if you don't pick, when the timer hits zero, neither of them walks out of here alive."
The man started, "Five, four, three—"
"I choose Sophie!" Edward yelled, his voice echoing with desperation.
Deep down, I knew this was coming, but it still felt like someone drove a blade right through my chest.
Sophie was slowly lowered to the ground, while the rope above me suddenly snapped.
I glanced down at the waves below, and the next thing I knew, I was crashing hard into the water.
The moment Edward saw me fall into the sea, he started yelling at his men, ordering them to get me out, no matter what.
But his guys quickly got tangled up with the men Sophie had bribed, and that was my chance. I broke free from the ropes and swam away as fast as I could.
By the time Edward's men finally tried to save me, I was already gone. There wasn't a trace of me left on the water.
Maybe they were scared of getting chewed out by Edward, so they all stuck to the same story: they'd taken me to the hospital, but I'd slipped away while they weren't looking.
By now, I'd already gotten my hands on my passport, visa, and everything else I needed. After changing into fresh clothes, I made a beeline for the airport.
My phone kept blowing up the whole way, but I didn't bother picking up.
It wasn't until I was almost at the airport that Edward finally snapped and blew up my phone with texts.
He sent: [Claire, my patience is running thin. Don't play games with me. If you don't come back, there'll be no place for you in this family.]
I glanced at the message and couldn't help but scoff.
Who did he think he was, acting like I still cared about that family?
There wasn't a single mark or memory of mine left in that place.
Any lingering affection I had for that villa, he'd already shattered it himself.
I didn't even want to bother with it. I was just about to yank out my SIM card and toss it when my phone buzzed with another message.
[I know you weren't happy with that engagement party. I promise you a wedding one week from now. You've got seven days. Just come back, and I'll give you the wedding you always dreamed of.]
Seeing that message, I didn't hesitate. I pulled out my SIM card in a flash and tossed it away without a second thought.
Honestly, it was ridiculous. When all I wanted was a wedding, he couldn't have cared less.
Now? I didn't want it anymore.
Edward, as long as I lived, there would never be a wedding for us.
Dumping all that painful baggage for good, I walked away without looking back.