Chapter 152: Chapter 152 Not Over
SOPHIA’S POV
I looked at Zane in shock.
What the hell was he doing here? how the -?
Well, I’d learned to stop asking questions when it ca to Zade. I was still gasping for air when Zade yanked Marcel out of my car and threw him onto the pavent like he weighed nothing.
Marcel scrambled backward. His eyes went wide with terror as Zade advanced on him. Zade raised his hands to punch him.
The first punch connected with Marcel’s jaw with a loud crack. Then, Zade punched his ribs. Then, he landed another punch to Marcel’s face.
My wolf watched with satisfaction as Marcel curled into a ball, trying to protect himself from Zade’s anger. Zade kept punching him. He didn’t stop. Zade’s eyes had gone completely dark. His wolf had definitely taken over.
"Stop! Please!" Marcel whimpered between blows.
Zade pulled him up by his collar. "You put your hands on her. You tried to choke her. Give
one reason I shouldn’t kill you right now."
"I’m sorry! I didn’t an-" Marcel cried.
Zade threw him down again. Marcel scrambled to his feet and staggered away. Marcel had blood pouring from his nose.
"This isn’t over!" Marcel shouted from a safe distance. "You’ll pay for this! Both of you!"
"Touch my woman again," Zade roared after him as his alpha presence filled the street, "and you’ll regret ever being born!"
Marcel fled, disappearing around the corner.
I slumped in my seat. My hands went to my throat. I could breathe again, but each breath hurt. My wolf was whimpering, shaken by how close we’d co to real harm.
Zade appeared in the doorway. His expression shifted from rage to concern. "Are you hurt? Did he-"
"I’m okay," I managed. My voice was hoarse. "Thank you. If you hadn’t-”
I noticed he was keeping his right hand behind his back, but I could see blood dripping onto the pavent.
"You’re bleeding," I said, reaching for him.
"It’s nothing." He pulled his hand further out of sight. "Just scraped my knuckles on his face. Don’t worry about it."
But I’d seen the amount of blood. That wasn’t just a scrape.
I tried to give him a weak smile of gratitude, tried to show I was okay.
Zade’s expression suddenly darkened. "If you really want to thank , honor the promise you made."
I blinked, confused. "What promise?"
"Figure it out yourself." He snapped. His voice was angry in a way I didn’t understand. "I’m done being your convenient savior only to be pushed away the mont you feel safe again."
His words made
even more confused. What was he talking about?
Before I could ask what he ant by that, he turned and walked to his car - a sleek black vehicle parked across the street.
Through my rearview mirror, I watched as he got in and my breath caught.
There was a woman in his passenger seat.
She was stunning. She had long dark hair. She wore a violet dress that probably cost more than my monthly salary. Her face was perfectly made up. She leaned toward Zade as soon as he sat down.
Zade placed his other hand casually on her thigh. His bloody knuckles left marks on her expensive dress. She didn’t seem to mind.
They drove away with the woman laughing at sothing he said.
I sat there in my car, watching them disappear, and let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding.
Of course there was soone else. Zade was a flirt. He was charming, attentive, protective. But that didn’t an I was special. I was just another woman he’d decided to pursue, another challenge to overco.
His sweetness, his tenderness, his promises - they were all part of the ga he played. And clearly, he played it with multiple won at once.
I was nothing more than a distraction, a conquest he couldn’t quite claim.
The realization should have hurt. Instead, it just made
feel... empty.
I drove ho to Sky Manor slowly. My hands still shook on the wheel. Every ti I swallowed, my throat burned. Every breath reminded
of Marcel’s hands around my neck.
What if Zade hadn’t been there? Would Marcel have actually killed ? Over Bianca’s location?
The thought made my wolf whimper with fear.
I needed to warn Bianca. I had to make sure she knew how dangerous Marcel had beco.
Once I was safely inside Sky Manor, I locked the door behind
and called her.
"Sophia? Hey, I was just thinking about you. How was-" she started.
"Marcel attacked
tonight," I cut her off. "He got in my car at a red light. He tried to choke
to get
to tell him where you are."
Bianca scread “WHAT?!!!!”
I sighed “Bianca-”
"What the actual hell? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"
"I’m fine. Soone pulled him off before..." I touched my throat gently "But Bianca, he’s escalating. This isn’t just harassnt anymore. He’s dangerous."
"Oh god." Bianca’s voice shook. "I’m so sorry. This is my fault. I’m so sorry Sophia. I -"
"It’s not your fault. It’s his." I sat down on my bed. The exhaustion hit
all at once. "But you need to take this seriously. Has he still been bothering you?"
"Yes. The texts have gotten worse, more desperate. He sent
a digital will last night, saying he’s leaving
everything because he’s going to kill himself if I don’t co back."
I shook my head "That’s manipulation-"
"I know but it’s still scary." Bianca took a shaky breath. "What if he actually does it?"
"He won’t. n like Marcel don’t want to die. They want control. This is just another way of trying to get it." I rubbed my aching throat. "But after tonight... Bianca, I need you to move in with , just temporarily, until Marcel moves on or we can get a restraining order."
"I appreciate the offer, but I can’t impose-"
"You wouldn’t be imposing. I’d feel better knowing you’re safe."
"I’m being careful. I changed my locks, I’m docunting everything, I varied my routine-"
"Bianca." My voice was sharp. "If he could do this to , imagine what he’s capable of doing to you - the person he’s actually obsessed with."
There was a long pause. "I’ll think about it."
"That’s not good enough."
"Sophia, I appreciate your concern really. But I need to handle this my way." Bianca’s voice was gentle but firm. "I can’t run and hide every ti he acts out. That just gives him more power over ."
I wanted to argue, to insist, to make her see reason. But I also knew Bianca. Once she made up her mind, pushing harder would just make her dig in more.
"Fine," I said reluctantly. "But if anything happens, anything at all, you call
imdiately. Day or night. Promise ."
"I promise."
"And if he shows up at your apartnt, don’t open the door. Don’t engage. Just call the police."
"I know, Sophia. I’ve been through this before with him." Bianca’s voice softened. "But thank you for caring, for worrying about ."
"Soone has to." I lay back on my bed, staring at the ceiling. "You’re too stubborn to worry about yourself."
"Look who’s talking." Bianca laughed. "Speaking of which, are you sure you’re okay? Should you go to the hospital? Get checked out?"
"I’m a doctor. I can assess myself." I touched my throat again, feeling the tender bruises forming. "Nothing’s broken. I’m just bruised. I’ll be fine."
"If you’re sure..."
"I’m sure." I closed my eyes. "Just be careful, okay?"
"I will. Oh, and Sophia? Don’t forget about the event tomorrow. The one I invited you to?"
The content creator networking thing where Marcel might show up. How could I forget?
"I haven’t forgotten," I said. "What ti should I et you?"
"Six p.m. Co over to my place. We’ll get ready together."
"I’ll be there”
"I’ll feel safer knowing you’re there."
We said our goodbyes and hung up.
I lay in bed for a long ti with my hand on my bruised throat, thinking about Marcel’s hands trying to choke the life out of .
I also thought about Zade’s fury as he’d beaten Marcel bloody, about the beautiful woman in the violet dress, Zade’s hand on her thigh.
I thought about Damien, who probably had no idea his soon-to-be-ex-wife had been attacked tonight.
I thought about my daughter, who was sleeping peacefully at Stone Villa, probably dreaming of Tiffany instead of .
Lastly, I thought about my life, which felt like it was simultaneously ending and beginning.
And I wondered if I’d ever feel safe again, if I’d ever feel whole, if I’d ever be more than just... surviving.
But those were questions for another day.
Tonight, I just needed to rest.
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