###8
By the time I realized it, the blood-red truck was almost upon me.
I froze in place.
Then my vision blurred, and in the next second, a figure slammed into me, throwing me out of harm’s way.
Shouts erupted from the crowd as Bert raised his head, bloodshot eyes glaring.
“What the hell were you doing?! If I’d been a second late—”
But then he went silent, holding me tightly, his body trembling.
He was terrified.
A wave of guilt washed over me. I scared him. I couldn’t help but apologize.
“I’m sorry, Bert. I… I won’t do it again.”
“Promises mean nothing.”
His voice was filled with anger.
Then, without asking, he dragged me back to his villa.
He’d never been so forceful before, and I couldn’t resist.
He brought in a doctor and a nutritionist and practically forced me to settle in.
That night, he leaned against the door of the guest room, arms folded.
“I’ve decided what reward I want, Ruth.”
I looked up at his unreadable face, stunned.
“You’re joking, right? Bert?”
But he stepped forward, voice low and gravelly, like a devil tempting me.
“Don’t you think killing him is letting him off too easily? Don’t you want real revenge? Seeing him unravel, helpless and furious, it’s more satisfying than any blade. Doesn’t that idea thrill you?”
He tilted his head and smirked like a mischievous child.
“So, marry me. Be my bride—and make that bastard suffer more than death.”
I remembered how he was as a boy—wicked to the core, always enjoying the torment of others.
It was his nature.
Over the next few days, I ignored all of Nate’s calls.
He bombarded me with messages.
“Baby, I know you're upset after everything. Take some time for yourself. I won’t bother you.”
“You should see the wedding dress I had custom-made. It has your favorite star motif—you’ll love it.”
“I even bought you several jade necklaces. I’m having a designer remake the old one just for you.”
But I never liked stars. They were her favorite—Miss Cassie’s.
When he sent me a photo, Cassie was spinning in the wedding dress he had “customized for me,” looking like a radiant butterfly.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and giggled.
“Let me wear it first. What if Ruth gets angry when she finds out?”
“Then don’t let her know,” he replied.
His voice was cold. He didn’t even glance at the beautiful woman clinging to him.
His eyes remained glued to his phone screen.
A week has passed.
Surely by now, Ruth had cooled off, he thought.
Every time we argued before, I was the one who came back with an apology.
But this time, I was completely silent.
He remembered the blood and heartbreak in my eyes that day, and his chest tightened.
Shoving Cassie aside, he paced restlessly across the luxurious living room.
“Ruth, where the hell are you? Don’t force me to dig you out from under the earth!”
Then he received my email—just before ordering his men to find me.
“Nate, I’m out for a walk. I haven’t had my phone with me.”
“Don’t come looking. I’ll be back in time. Just wait for our wedding—I’ve prepared a special gift for you.”
He stared at those words. A smile broke across his face.
I’d forgiven him. Wonderful.
“Boss, told ya! Ruth couldn’t leave you.”
His crony, Hyena, grinned with a mouthful of yellow teeth.
“Without you, how’s she gonna keep living the high life?”
Nate wanted to tell him that back when we first met, he had nothing—not a penny.
And I never cared about money or power.
But he said nothing.
Maybe Hyena was right. Maybe I really couldn’t leave him.
Why else would I still marry him?
Feeling reassured of my loyalty, Nate relaxed.
He turned to look at Cassie, still dressed like a bride in my wedding gown.
Satisfied, he ordered his men to escort her to the hotel.
“Boss, early congrats on your wedding night,” Hyena said with a sly grin, closing the door to the Skyline Presidential Suite.
It wasn’t until the morning of the wedding that he finally left Cassie’s arms.
He got dressed, tidy and elegant, and messaged me:
“Dear, I’m waiting at the venue. Can’t wait to see my most beautiful bride.”
But after sending it, a strange unease crept into his heart.
