Chapter 3
If that heavy solid wood bookshelf crashed down on Aileen, she'd either die or be left crippled for life.
Aileen was trapped, with no way to escape.
In that split second, Kevin instinctively reached out to Aileen, who lay helpless on the floor.
Just one pull, and he could save her from disaster.
A strange, faint glimmer lit up in Aileen's eyes.
But a split second before his fingertips could graze her sleeve, Kevin spun around abruptly.
He twisted in mid-air, forcefully changing direction, and swept Ena, who was still a good distance from the bookshelf, into his arms, holding her tight.
Aileen let her eyes fall shut.
That last bit of hope was snuffed out completely.
She relaxed her body, lying there, waiting for death to take her.
But the bone-crushing pain she was expecting never came.
A tall figure suddenly lunged forward, cutting through the air like a storm, and shielded Aileen with his own body.
The heavy solid wood bookshelf slammed down onto his back, the terrifying thud making everyone's blood run cold.
Aileen's lashes trembled as she slowly opened her eyes.
The moment she saw his face, all the strength she'd held onto by gritting her teeth all afternoon collapsed.
Her tears spilled over, breaking through all at once.
"Gary..." Her voice shook, carrying a sense of grievance she hadn't even realized was there.
It was Gary Muller.
He was the Murdock family's eldest son, at least on paper, since he wasn't related to them by blood. But he was the only one in the world who ever saw Aileen as a person.
Gary took the blow head-on, his face turning pale.
He pushed aside the broken boards without a word, gently wiping the blood from the corner of Aileen's mouth with his thumb.
Then he took off his suit jacket and wrapped her trembling body securely in it. "Get up. We're going home."
Gary helped her to her feet and moved her behind him protectively.
Aileen looked past Gary's shoulder, her eyes landing on the scene a short distance away.
Ena was curled up in Kevin's arms, her face pale and still scared out of her wits.
Kevin was half-kneeling, one arm around Ena's waist, the other resting gently on her stomach as he whispered to calm her down.
That whole scene was so sickening she could throw up.
Gary gently took Aileen by the hand, leading her out.
When they brushed past Kevin, he suddenly rose to his feet and seized Aileen's wrist.
He tried to pull her away from Gary, attempting to drag her back to his side.
"Aileen." Kevin's voice was strained. "It's not that I didn't want to save you earlier. It's just... Ena is pregnant. You can understand, right?"
Understand?
It felt like someone was tearing her up from the inside with knives.
She stared at Kevin's ridiculously handsome face and let out a brief, hollow laugh.
She didn't have the strength to fight back anymore.
When Kevin saw her laugh, he thought she was convinced.
He leaned in closer, his voice turning pleading and affectionate. "Just one month, Aileen. I know you've heard some awful rumors lately, but trust me, none of it is true. I'm already planning our wedding. Only twenty-nine days to go.
"Everything I promised you, I'll make it happen. Just stay home and be good for now. Don't pay attention to what anyone says out there and don't believe a word of it, okay?"
Aileen felt utterly repulsed.
But she was too drained to even protest.
The pain was so overwhelming, all she felt was numbness.
She nodded numbly.
All she wanted now was to see with her own eyes how much worse Kevin could get in these last twenty-nine days.
Gary swatted Kevin's hand away and took Aileen out of that hellhole.
*****
Back at Gary's place, he handed Aileen a cup of hot coffee.
He watched her quietly for a long time. "Want to talk to me? Maybe... about you and Kevin?"
Aileen shook her head, pressing her lips to the rim of her cup, not saying a word.
Gary let out a soft sigh and gently tousled her hair.
He said, "If you don't want to talk, that's okay. That study abroad idea you mentioned a few days ago? I've already started making arrangements. You can go anytime you want."
He paused, his eyes growing serious. "When it's time for you to leave, do you want me to erase every trace of you? The Boswell family might run Brestin City, but if you want to disappear, I can make it happen."
For the first time, a flicker of life returned to Aileen's empty eyes.
She nodded hard, her resolve clear.
She wanted her every trace erased for good, and never see Kevin again.
"I'm going on a business trip for a week," Gary said, picking up his suitcase by the door. His tone was serious as he warned her, "For the next seven days, you have to stay home, no matter what. Don't go anywhere, and don't answer any calls.
"The Boswell family is way out of your league, and Ena's dirty tricks are impossible to guard against. No matter how much you're wronged, wait until I get back."
Aileen nodded obediently.
Back when she used to act all high and mighty in Brestin City, it was only because she thought Kevin had her back.
But now she knew there was nothing behind her but a bottomless abyss.
*****
On the third day after Gary left, neither the doorbell nor the security system made a sound.
But Kevin's calls kept coming, each one like a harbinger of doom.