Chapter: 32

Desperation surged through Bethany. She lifted her leg and kicked him in the crotch.

Kenton's face contorted with pain, and in retaliation, he raised his hand and slapped her across the face with brutal force.

“You bitch! I'll kill you!" he roared at the top of his lungs, his face livid with rage.

The slap sent Bethany stumbling into the wall, her vision blurring from the impact.

Despite the pain, she knew she had to escape. She mustered her remaining strength and fought to leave the room, her heart pounding with fear and determination.

Suddenly, she felt a pair of strong hands embracing her from the front.

Bethany instinctively fought back until she heard Jonathan's familiar voice, which had an almost magical effect on her. Almost instantly, she stopped struggling.

"Don't be afraid. It's alright. It's me. I'm here..."

ALL of a sudden, Bethany's body gave out, and her world went dark.

It was as though her body instinctively trusted Jonathan with her life, and now that she was safe in his arms, she passed out.

She failed to see the expression on Jonathan's face. His eyes, usually devoid of emotion, were now filled with menacing coldness.

“Mr. Bates?" Shell-shocked, Kenton was trembling like a life. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to cross such a big shot today.

“You'd better pray she's okay," Jonathan said in a low voice, enough to send shivers down Kenton's spine.

Kenton watched helplessly as Jonathan walked away with Bethany in his arms. He was so scared out of his wits that his legs buckled from underneath him and he collapsed to the floor, unable to pull himself together.

While unconscious, Bethany drifted into a nightmare.

Scenes of her mother's blood-soaked suicide attempt, the sterile classroom, and Carson's furious face flashed by like a sick, twisted slideshow.

Suddenly, a sharp pain jolted her awake.

She frowned and slowly peeled her eyes open, the unfamiliar, stark white ceiling of the hospital making her squint.

Instinctively, she tried to raise her hand to shield her eyes, but then she realized that someone was holding it.

Turning her head, she saw Jonathan sitting on the chair next to her bed. His shirt was crumpled, one hand resting on the bed and the other gripping hers tightly. Judging by his steady breathing, he must've fallen asleep.

The dark skies outside the window indicated it was likely midnight.

Had he stayed with her all night?

Otherwise, a neat freak like him would've definitely gone home and changed his clothes.

Looking at his slightly furrowed brows and handsome face, Bethany felt something inexplicable changing inside her.