Chapter 24 Run Or Die ?
I am hurriedly stuffing my clothes into the suitcase. My hands are trembling, my breathing uneven. My heart keeps screaming only one thing, I need to leave. Right now. I zip the suitcase shut, lift it, and rush toward the exit.
Little Ira is in my arms. She isn’t ready to let go of me even for a second. Her tiny fingers cling tightly around my neck, as if she’s afraid I’ll disappear the moment she loosens her grip. In her soft, innocent voice, she asks, “Aunty… why are you going?”
My throat tightens. Without looking at her, I whisper, “Nothing, baby…” and place a gentle, loving kiss on her cute little cheek.
Following Diana’s instructions, I reach the back area of the villa. A helicopter is already landed there. The wind is fierce, the loud whirring of its blades colliding with the frantic beating of my heart. Diana is standing there, waiting. I walk up to her. She looks at me and says, “Oh… you’re here. Did you pack everything properly?”
Through tears, I simply nod yes.
Suddenly, Diana grabs Ira’s hand. Ira’s little body stiffens in fear. She clings to me even harder, trembling. Diana tries to pull her toward herself, but Ira refuses to go. She starts crying loudly.
That moment feels unbearable. With immense difficulty, I try to hand Ira over from my arms to Diana’s. Ira grips my dress tightly, refusing to let go. After a painful struggle, I manage to separate her. She breaks down, sobbing uncontrollably.
All of a sudden, Diana loses her temper. Right in front of me, she slaps Ira hard across the cheek.
For a moment, everything freezes.
Ira’s cheek turns red. She screams and cries. I stand there in shock, how can a mother hit her own child like that? My heart shatters.
Diana coldly orders, “Go, Sara… before Michael comes.”
With tears streaming down my face, I nod. I run toward the helicopter and place my foot on the first step.
Suddenly, a loud bang echoes. The very next second gunfire erupts from all directions.
The sound of bullets tears through the air. Panicking, I drop to the ground, clutching my stomach with both hands. Breathing becomes difficult. When I look up, I see Diana sitting on the ground as well.
Little Ira rushes to my side and clings to me.
I lift my eyes and see Michael’s bodyguards surrounding us from all sides. Michael stands in the center, arms crossed. There’s a chilling calm in his eyes.
He starts clapping and says with a smile, “Wow, Mrs. Wilson… so you were preparing to run away?”
I lower my head. My gaze falls on Ira, who is pressed against me with pure innocence.
Michael steps forward, walks straight to Diana, and slaps her hard across the face. She can’t keep her balance and collapses to the ground.
I watch everything in stunned silence.
In a deep, terrifying voice, Michael says, “I told you to stay away from Sara… but you people never learn.”
He snaps his fingers. Instantly, the bodyguards tape Diana’s mouth shut and drag her away. As she’s taken, she looks back at me.
My breath almost stops. I feel like it’s my turn now. Maybe he’ll hit me next. Just the thought brings tears to my eyes.
Michael slowly walks up and stands right in front of me. Out of fear, I squeeze my eyes shut tightly.
Then… I feel something wet on my cheek.
I slowly open my eyes. And what I see, I can’t believe it.
Michael is kissing my cheek, I am completely stunned.
I suddenly place my hand on his chest and push him hard, stepping back at once. My whole body is trembling, my breathing uneven and broken. He stares at me in shock, as if he never expected this reaction from me.
My voice comes out shaking, soaked in tears, “I… I don’t want to stay with you. I don’t want to live with you at all.”
He keeps looking at me for a few seconds, then a faint smile appears on his lips. In a calm tone, he says, “Did you misunderstand something? Did Diana say something to you?”
I shake my head firmly. My tears refuse to stop.
“I don’t want to stay with you,” I repeat, this time with more strength.
Suddenly, his face hard and Anger fills his eyes. He shouts, “Shut up!”
My heart starts pounding violently. His gaze slowly shifts toward Ira. The moment I notice it, a jolt runs through my entire body. I immediately grip little Ira’s hand tightly and pull her behind me.
With fear and fury mixed in my voice, I warn him, “Don’t you dare… if you even look at her, I swear I’ll kill you.”
Michael looks at me, surprised for a moment. Then he steps closer and grabs my wrist. His voice is low but commanding, “Come inside. You’ll catch a cold.”
The moment I feel his hand on my wrist, my anger explodes. I jerk my hand away forcefully. “Stay away from me!” I scream. “I want a divorce right now. This very moment!”
As soon as I say that, something dark flashes in his eyes. Without a word, he looks toward one of the bodyguards. The next second, the guard places a gun in his hand.
And then, Michael raises the gun and points it straight at little Ira.
In that instant, my world seems to freeze. My eyes widen in horror. My breath gets stuck in my throat. I pull Ira even closer to me, holding her as tightly as I can.
I can’t believe it, the man who kisses my cheek just moments ago is now standing there, aiming a gun at a helpless, innocent child.
In a deep, threatening voice, he says, “Go inside… or I’ll shoot her right now.”
My entire body starts trembling uncontrollably. I can’t even stand properly anymore. His cruelty is something I truly cannot bear now. Fear crashes into me all at once, sharp and suffocating. My heart feels like it’s tearing apart.
At that moment, I stop thinking about myself completely. My only thought is my unborn baby. A wave of panic washes over me as I instinctively protect my stomach, terrified for the little life growing inside me.
TO BE COUNTINUE...!!!