Chapter 145

Andrew, blinded by rage, only wanted Shelmaine to beg for mercy. He hadn't intended to kill her genuinely. But when he saw her close her eyes and gradually stop responding, a flicker of reason returned. Just as he was about to release his grip, someone grabbed him from behind, locking his neck and pulling him back forcefully, nearly causing him to suffocate. He was forced to let go. Shelmaine collapsed back onto the bed, her face turned red and purple, with an apparent scar on her neck where his hands had choked her. "Shelmaine? Open your eyes!" Before she lost consciousness, she thought she heard Samuel's anxious voice and wondered if it was a hallucination. Even in those final moments when Samuel's voice echoed in her mind, she found it utterly repulsive. ... When Shelmaine regained consciousness, she found herself back in the hospital bed. The room was filled with people—doctors, nurses, Samuel, Isabelle, and Luke. "Shelly!" Isabelle's eyes were red and swollen, a testamen