Chapter 6

Cherry POV

"Shut up!"

Ethan tightened his fingers, and watching me struggle in pain probably gave him some perverse satisfaction.

"Since you already know, I don't need to keep acting for you anymore." He leaned close to my ear, his voice like a venomous snake.

"That's right. All those paintings are for Vivian. You're nothing but a dog to me. Being able to make way for Vivian is your honor!"

He suddenly released his grip. I fell to the floor like a broken doll, coughing violently.

"Tomorrow, you're not going anywhere. Stay home like a good girl." Ethan looked down at me, his eyes cold to the extreme. "After the exhibition ends, I'll give you some money. Get out of New York. If you dare say a single word outside, I guarantee you'll disappear from this world."

With that, he turned and walked out of the bedroom, locking the door from the outside.

Hearing the lock click into place, I lay on the floor and suddenly began to laugh quietly.

The laughter grew louder and louder, finally turning into heart-wrenching, maniacal laughter.

Ethan, you think one door can contain me?

You really underestimate me.

Late at night, the villa was completely silent.

I pulled out a black backpack from under the bed, filled with tools I'd prepared long ago.

I walked to the window and looked down at the drop below.

Second floor. For someone like me who used to do parkour on the streets, this was nothing.

I tore the bedsheet into strips, tied them into a rope, secured one end to the bed leg, and let the other end drop out the window.

Just as I was about to climb out the window, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door.

Then the lock turned.

Ethan pushed the door open, holding a glass of water.

Seeing me standing on the windowsill, his pupils contracted sharply. The glass in his hand crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.

"Cherry! What are you doing?!" he shouted and rushed forward.

I looked at him coldly and jumped without hesitation.

"No!"

Ethan lunged to the window, only catching a corner of my clothing.

I slid down the bedsheet halfway when it suddenly snapped. I fell heavily onto the lawn.

Intense pain shot through my ankle. I grunted, cold sweat instantly beading on my forehead.

"Cherry!"

Ethan's furious roar came from the second floor.

Gritting my teeth, I forced myself up from the ground despite the excruciating pain and limped toward the villa's main gate.

I couldn't let them catch me! Absolutely not!

Rain poured down, instantly drenching me.

The pain in my ankle made every step feel like walking on knife points, but I didn't dare stop.

Behind me, I heard the villa's main door being violently pushed open. Ethan, holding an umbrella and accompanied by several bodyguards, rushed into the rain.

"Catch her! Don't let her get away!" Ethan's voice sounded especially vicious in the thunderstorm.

I clenched my teeth and desperately ran toward the mountain road.

I knew that if I could just reach the road and flag down a car, I'd be saved.

But my ankle had swollen like a bun, and I was getting slower and slower.

Just as the bodyguards were about to catch up, a black SUV suddenly burst around the corner, its blinding high beams forcing everyone to shield their eyes.

The SUV screeched to a stop in front of me, and the door flew open.

"Get in!"

A deep, powerful male voice rang out.

I didn't have time to think. I scrambled into the car.

The SUV roared like a wild beast and shot forward like an arrow, leaving Ethan and the bodyguards far behind.

The car's heater was on. I collapsed in the back seat, soaking wet, gasping for air.

"Thank you..." I said weakly.

The man in the driver's seat handed me a clean towel, his voice cold and hard. "Dry yourself off."

I took the towel and, by the light of the streetlamps outside, got a clear look at the man's profile.

His features were chiseled, sharp as if carved by a blade. His eyes were keen as an eagle's. He radiated the aura of someone battle-hardened.

"Who are you? Why did you save me?" I asked warily.

The man didn't turn around, only saying flatly, "I was asked to do a job. Crete sent me to pick you up."

Hearing Crete's name, my taut nerves finally relaxed.

I leaned back against the seat, closed my eyes, and let exhaustion and pain wash over me.

Ethan, we'll settle our accounts slowly.