Chapter 86 Saved
The lead kidnapper waved his hand dismissively in disgust.
"Better if you just finish her off."
My expression was blank. Strangely, I felt nothing inside at all. I couldn't help thinking of how Anna had abandoned all pride and dignity to shield me before they dragged me away.
So men really were this vile. Even facing a woman covered in blood and filth, they couldn't forget about satisfying their lower half.
I don't know how long they dragged me. My consciousness gradually faded into nothing. It had been so long since I'd felt this exhausted. I closed my eyes beyond my control, waiting for whatever was about to happen to me.
The sound of belt buckles being undone came from beside me. Their mouths spewed constant obscenities. I desperately wanted to fight back. I tried curling my fingers, but even the slightest movement felt unbearable.
They approached with leering grins. Like a broken rag doll, I was completely at their mercy.
"Getting to have some fun before you die—you can't hold that against us!"
As if saying that absolved them of any guilt.
At that critical moment, a male voice suddenly rang out overhead. "Try touching her and see what happens!"
My whole body jolted. I struggled to open my eyes and look.
Liam was holding a baseball bat. He jumped and viciously slammed it into one guy's head. He spared me a glance on the ground and casually tossed his jacket over me.
The two sides started fighting. Faintly, I seemed to hear more and more footsteps approaching my direction. A familiar scent hit my nose.
I saw Nicholas. He'd arrived with the police.
Those two goons were skilled fighters—after injuring Liam, they fled quickly. The police left one officer behind while the others gave chase.
Nicholas carefully lifted me up. With so many wounds on my body, agonized groans kept escaping my mouth. Something flashed through my mind.
Using my last shred of strength, I spoke. "Save... Anna!"
Both Liam and Nicholas heard my reminder. Liam's tone was irritated. "Half-dead yourself and still thinking about others. Catherine, you're a real saint!"
I didn't quite understand why he said that. Hadn't he come because of Anna? Much later, I learned that this time, Liam had come at Melissa's request.
Nicholas's cold voice cut in. "Shut up."
Then he spoke gently to me. "Don't worry. Edward took people to get her. She'll be fine."
Only then did the tight string in my heart loosen. My head grew heavier and heavier. Even maintaining basic consciousness became impossible.
Before everything went dark, I seemed to hear Nicholas and Liam arguing.
"Was I wrong? Look at her—she's half-dead herself but still thinking about saving others! She didn't even consider that if I'd been one second later, those guys would've violated her!"
"Liam! Catherine's already suffering enough. If you can't say anything decent, shut your mouth. Go find your sweetheart. Stop being an eyesore here."
I had no strength to speak. My consciousness vanished completely.
I don't know how long passed before I found myself in a pure white world. It stretched endlessly without any sound of wind or water.
I couldn't help murmuring, "Am I dead? Is this heaven?"
No one answered. I walked aimlessly forward. The scene before me suddenly changed.
I saw Mom and Dad. Too much time had passed—their faces had long blurred in my memory. But that warm feeling made me certain it was them.
My nose stung. Tears fell uncontrollably. Crying, I rushed toward them. Those two phantom figures instantly dissolved into bubbles. I caught nothing but air.
"Why? Even you don't want me anymore?"
I said in complete defeat. Tears poured out wildly. Aside from heartbreak, I felt nothing else.
Many people suddenly appeared before my eyes. Young Sabrina clutched my favorite doll, coming before me with her nose in the air.
"Catherine, what's the point of living again? Look—my brothers still gave me your favorite things. Even the brothers you loved most are my family now."
Her form gradually grew. The words from her mouth became more and more venomous.
"Catherine, you're completely worthless. You should've died long ago! You killed my dad. You made me an orphan. You owe me all of this! Why aren't you dead yet? You're the one who should've died in that car accident."
Face streaked with tears, I stared at the venomous Sabrina. I wanted to argue back but couldn't say a single word. Because no one wanted to hear what I had to say.
Andrew looked disappointed. "Cate, I remember you used to be so obedient and sensible. How can you be so ungrateful? Sabby's your sister too!"
James's face was cold, looking at me like I was a lab rat. "Cate, be good and take your medicine. Only when Sabby gets better can you atone. It hurts? This is what you should've been suffering all along. Sabby's dad died saving you. You're just helping test medicine—can't you even handle this little pain? Catherine, how can you be so selfish?"
Michael looked arrogant. "Catherine, you have no artistic talent whatsoever. Stolen work, no matter how well painted, will never be yours. Sometimes I really hate having the same blood as you. How do you even compare to Sabby? Catherine, can you stop bullying Sabby? You're really ugly like this! Apologize, Catherine. I don't care if you're wrong or not—apologize to Sabby!"
Jason's expression was icy. "Catherine, it's you again. This time I won't cover for you. Catherine, you bullied Sabby again. I'm telling the brothers. Catherine, how can you be so terrible? I'm going to have Andrew punish you!"
An overwhelming torrent of vicious words wove into an airtight net. I was trapped within it, suffocating as my living space continuously compressed.
Should I really die? I'd killed Mom and Dad. Killed Uncle Herman. I was bad luck.
No one liked me. The meaning of my existence was to test medicine for Sabrina. Was it really... like that?
Suddenly, a voice resolutely stood before me. Melissa's voice rang in my ears.
"None of you are allowed to bully Cate! Catherine is the sister with blood ties to you. What the hell is Sabrina?"
More voices speaking up for me gradually grew louder. Nicholas's tall form blocked their line of sight.
"As long as I'm here, no one can bully Catherine. Catherine is my friend, our DI employee. It's not your place to criticize."
And also... Samuel looked as gentle and refined as ever.
"Catherine, you're wonderful. You did nothing wrong."
They all turned to look at me together.
"Catherine, survive!"