Chapter 498:
His expression darkened.
“You’re doing all this for Klein, aren’t you?”
Herbert’s voice was thunderous, his rage palpable. His sudden roar sent another wave of fear through me. Before I could react, he seized my wrist. A sharp pain shot up my arm, and the knife slipped from my grip, falling to the floor once more.
I had lost my weapon.
Herbert stepped forward and pinned my hands above my head. His grip was unyielding.
“Whatever you can do, I can do too,” he muttered fiercely.
Then he lowered his head and crushed his lips against mine.
I struggled, but it was useless. He was ruthless, forceful. I could barely breathe. Fury and desperation built up inside me.
This beast! Was he trying to force me again?
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from outside. Judging by the rhythm, it was a woman in high heels and a child.
Hope flared within me. I slapped at Herbert’s arms, desperate to make noise, to catch their attention. If they heard me, maybe he would finally let me go.
But Herbert was a man who never backed down.
How could he care about anyone outside? No matter who it was, it wouldn’t affect him.
“Mom, what’s that sound?”
A little girl’s voice came from outside the door.
“This is a public restroom! How dare you behave like this in here?”
“Mom, what are they doing inside?” the girl asked curiously.
“Nothing. Let’s go.”
Footsteps faded into the distance.
For the first time, Herbert seemed slightly ashamed. His grip on me loosened just enough for me to seize the opportunity. Summoning all my strength, I shoved him as hard as I could. My hand struck his wound, making him lose balance and stagger backward.
Without hesitation, I scrambled to unlock the door and stumbled out of the bathroom.
“Bella!”
I heard him call my name.
The more he shouted, the faster I ran.
I burst out of the building, pressing my back against the wall as I gasped for air. My heart pounded as I looked behind me. Only when I was certain he hadn’t followed did I allow myself to breathe.
It had felt like a nightmare.
He had appeared in my dreams again.
I had thought he had finally forgotten me. He hadn’t come to see our daughter in over ten months. I never expected him to return.
