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nJerlina felt her heart beating in her throat as she heard the two dogs growling at each other and just by TJ's voice, they went away as if they weren't aggressive a moment ago.

nHis voice... she heard him commanding the dogs to go downstairs and the dogs left..!

nIf so, why were the dogs in here in the first place? How did they open the door and enter?

nShe heard his footsteps entering the room and she saw him standing in front of her. Maybe because of the stress, she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. Her entire body felt cold and she almost fainted.

nAnd then was his grating voice that seemed to hide a sneer as he explained that his dogs don't bite. It was as if he wanted to make fun of her for the fear of his dogs.

nRight!

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"Is everything fun and games to you, huh?

"

nShe looked at him. She was on her knees, while he was standing tall like a pine tree and it pricked her heart.

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"Why?

" her throat closed seeing him looking down at her.

"How much more do you want me to suffer for your heart to get pacified? Should I kill myself in front of your sister? Or do you-

"

nJeremy saw her trembling in such a vulnerable state. He fisted his hands to stop himself from getting close to her and scare her more.

n

"Do not mention Emma...

"

nDon't get more stressed thinking about Emma, Jerlina... She has nothing to do with anything happening to you.

nJerlina saw him fisting his hands and she let out a snort mocking herself.

nOf course, I don't even have the right to mention his precious sister... Is he going to kill me next?

nEmma... She made me stoop this low... She brought me to my rock bottom; to my knees in front of him. She won!

nWell... If death is the final destination of everyone, why am I scared of it? What is there left for me to protect?

nShe gritted her teeth and stood up. She didn't feel any pain anymore and she tried to walk out of the room. For her, her pride is everything. She had lived that way forever. She didn't want to let go of her pride anymore.

n

"What-

"

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"I'm leaving. Kill me if you want, TJ! I don't care. I won't let you toy with me anymore. I'm not your amusement.

" she walked out of the bed area and her arm was gripped hard.

n

"Don't be such a... There is a f*cking gang after you. Where will-

"

nHe was talking with gritted teeth and she interjected him.

"Let go!

" she screeched and pulled her hand out of his grip.

"I don't give a damn! I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees!

"

nShe stomped out of the room. She didn't care what happens to her anymore. She's lost a lot these past few months and she wanted to regain her pride once more. She didn't want to survive being the plaything of this monster.

n

"So... You're leaving your baby here, then.

"

nThat grating voice was heard from behind her just as she left the room and her legs stopped by themselves in the hallway.

nThat planter...

nShe covered her face with her hands and rubbed her face. She knew she cannot carry the planter around. There was a thought in the back of her brain, urging her to run away. It said that she doesn't have to turn back for a dead baby.

nBut there was another voice- her heart, that didn't want to leave her baby here with him where it is unsafe.

n*Slam*

nShe heard the balcony door banging open and her heart skipped a beat. Before she knew it, she ran back inside the room.

nHer heart stopped seeing him trying to pluck the rose shrub from the planter.

n

"Don't you dare touch it!

" She screamed and lunged at the planter as his hands were awfully close to the rose bush.

n

"Remember,

" She felt a sharp pain in her arm as the rough hand grabbed her by her arms and his grating voice irked her.

nShe used to feel scared to look at his face, but now she wanted to imprint that cruel face that is threatening to damage her baby's grave in her heart forever so that she never forgets.

nShe glared right at his eyes and proving his monstrosity, they were red. Even his iris had lost the luster and the blue looked grey now. He seemed to be shocked that she had the nerve to look at him in the eye, but she didn't break her eye contact.

nShe is willing to die after all! And this monster, who doesn't even have the basic sense to not damage a baby's grave didn't make her scared anymore. She was more resentful of him.

n

"You will live!

"

nAs he spoke, his breath fell on her face, making the stray hair falling on her face flutter. All she felt was this burning rage all over her body and she struggled to get out of his grip.

n

"You cannot die!

"

nHe let go of her and she felt her knees go weak. But she sucked in her breath and stood erect. She was entirely hopeless in front of the monster who doesn't even give the autonomy to die and it made her more enraged making her breathing hard.

n

"Jerry?

"

nThe soft voice made her look at the bedroom door. There was a woman who looked like she was a model who jumped out of a men's health magazine. She only could see half of her body as she was behind the doorframe. She had long, dark hair, was at least six feet tall, and her b**bs... 34-EE.

nAs someone who is scarcely endowed in the chest area with a pathetic bra measurement of 32-A, Jerlina had an eye to measure up other women's measurements with her eyes. It is a little creepy, yes. But one would always yearn for the thing they miss as it is human nature.

n

"Scar, get down!

"

nJerlina could hear the impatience in Jeremy's tone.

n

"But-

"

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"Close the door and get down!

" he screamed and the next Jerlina heard was the heart-wrenching wail of a child. Jerlina saw the woman holding a baby that would be 6-8 months old. The piercing blue eyes of the baby hacked her heart making her heart sink.

n

"Leave! Don't let Cia cry!

"

nHis softened voice made Jerlina lose herself.

nSo this guy already has a woman and a child... Why is he hell-bent on keeping me here?

n

"Give back everything you took from me, monster!

" she screamed at his back and he turned to look at her.

"How can you have everything when you took everything from me?

"

nShe started hitting his chest with her fisted hands. She was so mad she had lost her rationality.

n

"Give my life back...Give me my boyfriend back, give me my home back, give me my job back and give me my baby back...

" she hit him again and again while he stood there like a rock. The more he was unaffected, the more she lost her rationale.

n

"Why?

" she looked at him.

"Why do you despise me this much? Give my baby back, you monster!

"

nShe pushed him and he staggered and fell on the table nearby. The drawer opened and she saw a pair of scissors inside.

nLike a soul-less person who has no hesitation, her hand grabbed the scissors reflexively, and she raised her hand to stab him in the chest.

n*Drip* *Drip*

nDrops of blood pooled on the hardwood floor and splattered into little droplets.

n

"You fool!

"

nJeremy's thundering voice echoed in the room.

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