Chapter 88 Run!
|| Author POV ||
After Killian left, Rosalie collapsed onto the couch, curling into herself like a broken thing.
Tears spilled uncontrollably, shaking from fear and pain, both unbearable. Her heart felt so weak and fragile, trapped in a little cage too tight to breathe.
His threats echoed in her mind. It paralyzed her. She was terrified, terrified to even try escaping, terrified of what he was capable of. It felt like he held her life in his hands, ready to crush her at any moment.
Because he didn’t want her love, he wanted her body. He’ll not hesitate to kill her. He’s heartless.
But again—a fragile hope told her he wouldn’t kill her. Maybe she was foolish to think that.
But after what felt like an eternity, Rosa forced herself to wipe the tears from her face with the back of her hands. Her breath came fast and shallow.
She couldn’t stay here under the same roof as a man who betrayed her, lied, killed. She wouldn’t survive this. He was cruel, twisted. If she stayed, fear would kill her before he ever laid another hand on her.
She had to leave, or she’d be destroyed. She had to find a way out before it was too late.
But the worst part?
Her poor heart still ached for him.
As twisted as it was, as cruel as he had been, some broken part of her couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him. It felt like dying... either way.
Rosa’s legs wobbled while she made her way to the mansion door with dreadful steps. Her mind screamed to run, to escape this nightmare but fear clawed at her from every direction.
What if she begged the guards? Would they help her?
Maybe.. maybe the guards would help. Maybe if she begged them, they’d let her go. But did they know what kind of monster lived here? Did they know their master was a mafia king?
What if they told him? Would they also betray her the moment she spoke a word? Rosa didn’t know who to trust. Maybe there was no one.
Still, trembling, Rosa reached out. Her innocent eyes filled with a fading hope. Her fingers wrapped around the giant door’s cold knob.
She pulled.
It didn’t open.
“Open.. please.” Rosa’s low voice shuddered in desperation. Her legs shook.
The door stayed shut, sealed like a coffin.
And just like that, Rosa’s fragile hope crumbled into nothing.
Her heart slammed against her ribs. Panic surged as reality crashed over her, she was truly trapped.
Tears blurred her vision again. He had given her a sliver of freedom, a cruel illusion, only to keep her caged within these towering, inescapable walls.
He knew. He knew she’d try to run.
Rosa couldn’t even scream for help. The main gate was too far from the mansion, far beyond the reach of her soft voice. Even her cries would be swallowed by silence.
No one would hear her. No one would come.
Helplessness consumed her fragile frame. Rosa stood frozen, eyes darting around the grand, empty hall like a lost child.
“Why?” she whispered.
There was no back door, she knew that, no way out of this nightmare. But she couldn’t give up. She needed to find her phone. Something, anything.
Rosa stepped onto the first stair, mind racing but then, a sudden thought struck her like lightning.
Her eyes widened.
Sniffling, Rosalie rubbed her nose with her sleeve and spun around, stumbling down the stairs in haste.
She ran, small feet padding quickly toward the kitchen, clutching at the last thread of hope clinging to her broken heart.
She’ll hide from him so he won’t find her.
Escape was her only chance.
Never in her life did she imagine she’d be running from the man she loves–the man who once made her heart flutter. But now, all her little heart felt was dread.
Her frame moved quickly. Rosa reached the kitchen. Her delicate hands clutched her dress tightly, breath shaky as she scanned the kitchen.
Her moist eyes landed on the large window behind the stove. Her lips parted slightly, chest rising and falling with panic.
That was her way out!
Rosa padded closer. Her trembling fingers brushed against the counter for support.
Her mind suddenly raced. Lilia. Where was she? Why hadn’t she come? Did she know about Killian?
Her big, watery eyes blinked in confusion “No.” she whispered softly to herself.
‘Lilia... she didn’t know. Right?’ Deep down, her fragile heart was sinking.
Rosa looked around frantically, searching for something to help her climb onto the counter. Her wide eyes darted across the kitchen.
What if he comes back? What if he sees her?
Rosa shook her head quickly. Strands of hair fell messily over her face. She couldn’t waste a single second.
Rosa didn’t even know where she’d go. She had nowhere to go. No one. But staying meant fear. Staying meant living with a killer.
Rosa swallowed hard, the lump in her throat aching. There was no stool, no chair. Her hands gripped the cold edge of the counter before rising on her tiptoes. She tried to hoist herself up. Her delicate knee scraped against the cabinet as she forced her light body upward.
Rosa whimpered softly. Fear made her weak but she pushed through, climbing onto the counter with trembling limbs, desperate to escape.
There were so many things cluttered on the counter. Rosa’s hands carefully pushed them aside, trying not to make a sound. Her fragile body leaned toward the window. Her breath trembled when she slowly reached for it.
The glass creaked faintly as she pushed it open and a burst of sunlight hit Rosa’s tear-streaked delicate face, making her moist eyes squint.
Her lashes fluttered when her gaze fell on the garden outside, so close, yet so far.
Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, thumping against her ribs like it wanted to escape too!
The window was wide, large enough for her to slip through. She could do this. She could finally escape.
Rosa took a shaky breath. Hope flickered in her chest. But just as she moved, her ankle nudged something behind her.
Clink! CRASH!
Rosalie froze in horror.
Her lips parted in a silent gasp and she turned her head. A glass jar lay shattered on the floor, broken pieces scattered like sharp glinting blades.
Her body stiffened. The sound echoed in her ears like a warning. He’d hear. He’d find her. Even when he was not around. Fear didn’t leave her.
Should she clean the glass first? If she escaped now, he’d know exactly where she’d gone.
The broken jar was evidence.
Rosa clutched her chest to feel her pounding heart. She felt so brainless and helpless. But this was her chance, she couldn’t lose it.
Swallowing her fear, Rosa forced herself to turn away from the mess. Her hand trembled violently when she reached for the window ledge again and in her panic, her palm slipped, causing her to stumble forward “Ah!” with a gasp.
Rosa caught herself quickly. Tears pooled in her doe eyes. Without wasting another second, she edged toward the window while lifting one leg and carefully dangled it outside.
Then—
A loud horn made her freeze.
Rosa’s head snapped toward the sound to see the main gate swung open. The guards bowed. She watched from distance. Her eyes widened in horror when the sleek black car rolled in.
Killian’s car.
Her soul nearly fled her body. “No.” Rosa cried out in terror.
Panic consumed her. She tried to move. Her form twitched to climb down but hesitation paralyzed her.
He’s back. If she ran now, would he catch her?
And if he found out she tried to escape even after his warning–what would he do to her?
Rosa sat there frozen, traumatized by confusion. Her body rested atop the counter. Her heart beat was so loud, she could barely hear anything else.
Run. Run. Run.
A part of her screamed inside her fragile mind. But another part whispered–
Don’t. Don’t risk it.
Her teary eyes darted to the car which was now parked silently in front of the mansion. What if the guard sees her? What if Killian walks in right now?
Her body moved on its own and she slipped another trembling leg outside the window with hesitation.
Now both legs dangled over the edge. Freedom was right there. Just one jump. But her lips quaked and a soft sob escaped. Rosa gripped the cold window frame.
Inside her little mind, confusion screamed louder than reason. Should she run? Stay? Would she be caught? Would she survive the punishment if she was?
She gasped in a heavy breath. Then suddenly, she turned back, pulling her legs back inside, landing shakily on the counter again.
She couldn’t run. Not yet.
Rosa sniffled and wiped her tears, trying to steady her breath. Her palms pressed against the cold counter as she prepared to climb down. Her motions were frantic. She just needed to get down before he sees.
Rosa’s leg moved hastily but in her panic, her foot missed the edge. And suddenly–
“Ah–!”