Chapter 9
Every word I spoke was like a sharp knife plunging into Laura’s heart before I twisted it mercilessly. She even looked in pain when breathing.
I picked up my suitcase, ready to leave, when Jock walked in.
“I thought you were dead,” he sneered, his tone dripping with mockery. “Turns out you were hiding out in this godforsaken place.”
Three years had passed, yet Jock hadn’t changed. His presence here contradicted
Laura’s claims that she had abandoned and
blacklisted him. One glance at him was enough to tell me she had lied.
“My, my, this place sure is lively. Even the dogs have come out to play,” I said as I met his gaze with equal disdain. Faced with. his taunt, I no longer held back.
“If I’m a dog, then you‘ re worse than
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sda
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Chapter 9
one. Back then, you watched me hold Laura in my arms and didn’t dare say a word. It must’ve felt awful, huh? To watch me sleep with her while you stood there, powerless. What a pathetic coward.”
Jock walked to Laura’s side and wrapped his hand around her waist as he said,
“Laura, the person who loves you most is
me….‘
Smack!
A sharp slap echoed through the room as Laura slapped him hard across the face and shoved his hand away.
“Get out. If you dare insult Jerome again, I’ll cripple you myself,” she snapped.
“You‘ re nothing but a dog to me. What makes you think you‘ re worthy of being compared to Jerome?” she added.
Jock placed his hand on his swollen cheek. His expression was a mix of shock and
disbelief as he stared at Laura, who now
looked at him with nothing but contempt.
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She had been so gentle with him in bed, yet now, for Jerome, she regarded him with utter disgust.
“Jerome, I didn’t call this dog here, I swear. Don’t misunderstand me. If you don’t want to see him, I’ll have someone throw him out right now,” Laura explained anxiously because she was afraid I would misunderstand her.
However, her explanations meant nothing
to me.
“You‘ re truly pathetic, Jock. Nothing but a kept man hidden in the shadows. Now that she’s done with you, she‘ s tossing you aside like trash. You‘ ve disgraced your parents. Even in death, you wouldn’t have the guts to face them.”
I crossed my arms while smirking as I watched the scene unfold before me.
Laura’s face turned as pale as a sheet. She hadn’t expected the man who once shielded her from everything to speak of
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her with such disdain.
Jock’s expression darkened and without warning, he lunged at me and swung her
fist.
I quickly stepped aside to dodge his punch. When the first swing missed, he came at me again.
Laura was so worried he would hurt me.
She screamed, “Jock, how dare you!”
However, Jock did not listen to her. He kept beating me up and roared, “Jerome, die! Just die already!”
“I knew her before you did, but I had to stand by and watch you steal her from me!” he screamed. “My company went bankrupt and you, like some kind of beggar, threw me scraps. I don’t need your pity!”
Ah, so this was the real Jock. He was so twisted and bitter inside. My kindness had
only fueled his resentment and made him feel I was mocking him.
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If I had known, I would‘ ve left him to rot in the streets back then.
As he swung again, I caught his fist mid–air and delivered a swift kick straight to his groin.
“Argh!”
“Jerome, I’ll never forgive you! I’ll kill you!”
Jock clutched his lower back in agony as he wailed.
Laura rushed over, but instead of helping him, she delivered another kick. Her
stiletto heel crushed his hand.
“If you dare harm Jerome, I’ll make sure you‘ re finished,” she hissed.
Jock began laughing hysterically through his tears.
“You‘ re so heartless, Laura. I loved you more than he ever did, but you’ve always loved him more,” he spat.
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pter 9
dain. had known, I would’ve left him to rot
the streets back then.
kedarkened
ged at me swung again, I caught his fist mid–air
d delivered a swift kick straight to his
- in.
easide tod
wing missa!”
rome, I’ll never forgive you! I’ll kill
ried he
Jock, howd
clutched his lower back in agony as he
lid not listed.
nd roared
a rushed over, but instead of helping
she delivered another kick. Her
fore youd to heel crushed his hand.
tch you ste
My company
me kind of
ou dare harm Jerome, I’ll make sure re finished,” she hissed.
n’t need began laughing hysterically through
ars.
the real Jocel
er inside.re so heartless, Laura. I loved you
resentment than he ever did, but you’ve always ing him. him more,” he spat.
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“Shut up!” Laura snapped and dug her heel into his leg until it was too painful for him to speak.
Watching the two of them tear each other apart like dogs was truly satisfying.
However, after a few minutes, the novelty wore off. I grabbed my suitcase and turned. to leave.
Realizing I was walking away, Laura quickly reacted and scrambled to chase. after me.
“Jerome! Wait for me!“Laura called after
- me.
However, I did not realize that when Jock stood up, he was holding a knife. He glared at my back and rushed toward me.
“Jerome, go to hell!” he shouted.
In the blink of an eye, Laura threw herself in front of me and blocked the blade with her body. By the time I realized what had happened, blood was already pouring out
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of her wound.
….
“I finally protect you for once, Jerome We’re even now. Do you still love me?” she asked weakly.
I lifted my foot and kicked Jock with all my strength sending him crashing into the wall.
I turned my attention back to Laura. Seeing her so fragile, a mix of emotions surged inside of me. I quickly held her up, crouched down and pulled out my phone, I was ready to call for the ambulance.
However, Laura used the last of her strength to grab my hand. “It’s no use. He stabbed my heart… I won’t make it,” she whispered. “Can you … can you hold me one more time?”
In front of the woman who had used her own body to save my life, even if she was a stranger, I would grant her request.
I gently pulled the knife from her back and wrapped her in my arms. Laura smiled
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Chapter 9
serenely.
Behind us, Jock collapsed to the ground and sobbed. “I’m sorry… It’s all my fault…” he wailed, over and over again.
Moments later, the police burst into the room with pistols in their hands and pointed them at Jock.
My junior apprentice sister entered as well. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Laura in her last breath, she chose to stay silent and stood behind me.
Before long, Laura closed her eyes slowly. Her hand that had been gripping my hand tightly loosened and my hand, in turn, became empty.
I was in turmoil. Laura was gone. Jock tried to crawl toward her but the police
restrained and pinned him to the ground
so he could not move.
In the end, the police arrested Jock for attempted murder and he had to serve in prison.
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When Laura’s body was also taken away, I followed her because her family despised her and would be unwilling to take her
remains.
After the cremation, I held her ashes in my arms and buried her beside her parents.
I stared at her black and white photo. In the photo, she smiled so gently. If only she did not cheat with Jock and kept me in her heart, would things have turned out differently?
Unfortunately, life had no answer, everything will not start over nor does it grant second chances.
I sat by her grave for hours, lost in thought. Eventually, I stood up, turned my back on the past and walked away.
(The End)
