The convoy finally stopped near an old mountain church outside the city. It was a famous place where people went to pray and make promises.
But what happened next shocked everyone.
Westley suddenly stepped out of the car and removed his coat.
Then he dropped to his knees at the bottom of the long stone staircase leading up to the church.
The guards immediately rushed forward.
“Mr. Grimshaw, what are you doing?”
Westley’s voice was calm.
“When Natalia was dying, I promised I’d crawl these steps if she survived,” Westley said calmly. “I don’t believe in God. But I keep my promises.”
Natalia’s eyes filled with tears instantly. “Westley, you don’t have to do that,” she said softly. “It was just something you said when you were worried. Nobody expects you to actually…”
But he had already bowed forward. His forehead hit the stone step with a heavy sound.
Then he moved up one step.
And did it again.
Step by step he kept bowing down. The hard stone quickly split the skin on his forehead and blood began running down his face. People around the church started whispering.
“Look at that man…”
“He must really love his wife…”
“What a devoted husband.”
Wife.
The word stabbed straight through my chest.
By the time we reached the church on the mountain, the rain had slowed to a drizzle.
Westley’s knees were already soaked with blood from the stone steps he had crawled up earlier, but he still insisted on walking Natalia inside first. He held her hand like she was something fragile, guiding her carefully through the old wooden doors.
The inside smelled like candles and incense. Natalia liked places like this. Quiet places where people prayed and whispered to God.
Westley didn’t believe in any of it.
Everyone knew that.
But because she did, he respected it.
So he stood beside her while she knelt in front of the altar.
Natalia closed her eyes and folded her hands. “Please… let everyone I love stay safe,” she murmured softly.
Westley didn’t kneel completely. He just stood there beside her and rested a hand lightly on her shoulder.
“If praying makes you feel better,” he said quietly, “then do it.”
I stayed outside near the entrance, rain dripping from my hair and down my back. The bandages under my clothes were already soaked again.
After Natalia finished praying, the pastor of the church came forward. He was an older man who looked both nervous and honored.
“Mr. Grimshaw,” he said respectfully, “you’ve donated to this church for years. We’ve always been grateful for your support. I wanted to give you something small in return.”
He pointed to a wooden table beside the wall where several rare potted plants were displayed.
“This is a rare mountain orchid. It’s known for bringing peace to the household.”
Natalia leaned closer to look.
But then her eyes landed on a different plant beside it.
“What about this one?” she asked curiously.
The pastor hesitated. “That one… was actually promised to another guest today.”
Westley glanced over.
A young rich man standing nearby stepped forward politely. He looked like one of those spoiled heirs from a political family.
“That plant is mine,” the man said casually.
Westley studied the plant for a moment.
Then he looked at the man.
“How about we trade,” he said calmly.
The man blinked. “Trade?”
“I’ll give you my nightclub on 8th Street,” Westley continued. “The one downtown.”
The guy’s eyes widened immediately.
“Mr. Grimshaw… that club is worth millions.”
Westley shrugged like it meant nothing.
“If Natalia likes the plant,” he said simply, “then it’s worth it.”
My chest tightened when I heard that.
So he did understand love.
He just never loved me.
The young heir laughed awkwardly. “Well… if you insist, I’d be stupid to refuse.”
The pastor quickly handed the plant over to Natalia.
She smiled brightly and reached out to pick it up.
Then suddenly she gasped.
“Ah!”
She jerked back her hand. Tiny puncture marks appeared on her wrist.
Everyone froze.
A rare red venomous scorpion had crawled under the pot and stung her. Westley’s expression changed immediately.
“Natalia!”
He grabbed her wrist and bent down, pressing his mouth to the wound to suck out the venom.
“Nobody fucking moves!” he barked between breaths.
Natalia’s lips quivered. “Westley… I feel dizzy.”
I gritted my teeth. I remembered when I was poisoned years ago. He had only glanced at me and said, “Bear with it,” then walked away.
The doctor arrived quickly, checking her pulse. “The venom’s spreading fast,” he said. “There’s a rare herb growing on the cliffs nearby that can neutralize it, but it’s dangerous.”
Westley stood immediately. “I’ll get it.”
Natalia grabbed his sleeve. “No… please don’t. It’s dangerous. What if something happens to you? I’ll be even more scared.”
His eyes swept the room and finally landed on me.
“Amelia,” he said.
I stepped forward.
“Go get it.”
“Yes, sir.”
…
The mountain behind the church was steep and covered in wet rocks. Night rain had turned everything slippery and dangerous.
I climbed using my bare hands.
Every movement felt like knives tearing into my back. My fingernails cracked against the rocks and blood mixed with rainwater as it ran down the stone.
The wind was cold and sharp and my thin clothes stuck to my body.
At one point a loose rock shifted under my foot.
My body slipped instantly.
For a moment I thought I was going to fall straight down the cliff.
My hand grabbed a sharp branch sticking out of the rock wall just in time.
The branch stabbed straight through my palm.
Pain shot up my arm but I forced myself not to scream.
Just keep climbing.
Just finish the job.
Why was I still doing this for him?
Why?
The question passed through my mind for a moment. I didn’t have an answer.
By the time the sky began turning gray with morning light, I finally saw the herb growing inside a crack in the cliff.
I carefully pulled it out and held it tightly in my bloody hand. On the way back down I blacked out twice.
The blood loss was getting worse and my vision kept going dark. But somehow my body still kept moving. By the time I stumbled back into the church backyard, the sun was already rising.
My legs almost gave out.
But the herb was still clutched in my hand.
…
I handed Westley the rare herb, shaking, hands slick with blood. He didn’t even look at me, just snatched it and shoved it toward the doctor. “Make the medicine. Now.”
I stumbled back against the door frame, chest heaving, legs like jelly. My whole body still ached from the fight, from the rain, from everything.
The doctor started boiling the herb into some bitter-smelling drink, but Natalia just sat there, staring at it. Westley crouched next to her. “Come on, Natalia, just drink it. I know it’s awful, but you need it. Don’t fight it. You want to get out of here alive, right?”
She shook her head, tears streaming. “I can’t… it’s disgusting…”
He stared at her for a beat and then tipped the cup into his mouth himself. Before I could even think, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, feeding her the medicine mouthful by mouthful. “See? It’s fine, just a little, that’s it, just keep going…”
I froze, my chest tightening. I wanted to look away, run away, disappear, but I couldn’t. Part of me broke right there. My back burned like hell, but it didn’t matter. This—this was worse.
Once she drank it, he called the guards. “Move. Now. Everyone stay sharp.”
Then the first shots rang out. “Ambush!”
