Chapter 3

Julian strode towards me, grabbed me, and dragged me out the door.

My skin scraped against the rough ground, quickly leaving me covered in blood.

Some patches of skin were completely torn away.

I let out continuous gasps of pain, but Julian ignored me.

He looked at me with disgust, his voice hoarse, filled with deep sorrow. “So you know what pain is, don’t you? But my Chloe was only eighteen this year. How could you be so cruel, seeing her in trouble and doing nothing, ruining her life?”

Listening to Julian’s harsh accusations, I shook my head repeatedly.

“Julian, I was going to get help! I didn’t think Chloe would…”

Julian cut me off. His large hand shot out, clamping around my neck, strangling me.

His eyes were bloodshot, and the strength in his grip steadily increased.

“Harper, if it wasn’t for you, how could my Chloe have died?!”

He wouldn’t listen to my explanations, his expression one of pure hatred, as if he wanted to kill me.

Only when my eyes rolled back into my head, my vision blurred as I gasped for air, did he violently shove me into the car.

I slammed into the window, and in an instant, streaks of blood appeared on the glass.

A flicker of guilt immediately crossed Julian’s eyes, but it vanished just as quickly.

He repeatedly told himself that the person in front of him was a murderer. Chloe was someone he had raised himself. How could she be so heartless?

In an instant, a renewed resolve flashed in Julian’s eyes.

*Harper should pay for her mistakes. I’m just helping her.*

When the car door opened again, I was terrified to see that it was *that* alley again.

Julian saw the fear in my eyes and simply stroked my hair, trying to soothe me.

“Just stay here one night, and I’ll forgive you, okay?”

Since Chloe’s incident, it was the first time I’d heard Julian use such a gentle tone.

But I shook my head, biting my dry, peeling lips, my voice hoarse. “Julian, I really didn’t do it. Please, believe me?”

My heart was filled with despair. I couldn't think of any other way but to beg Julian.

Julian’s body stiffened for a moment. After a pause, he spoke again in that gentle voice, “Harper, I believe you. If you stay here for one night, I won’t pursue this any further.”

My joy hadn't even had a chance to bloom before the latter half of his sentence plunged me into hell.

My heart was heavy with disappointment. Julian still wouldn’t believe me.

Seeing that I remained silent, Julian’s patience ran out.

He tugged at his tie, his expression annoyed as he stared intently at me.

After a while, someone reminded him that things were about to start.

He looked at me with hesitation. After a long moment, he closed his eyes, and when they opened, only grim determination remained.

He yanked me out of the car. I lost my footing and fell to the ground.

The rough pebbles on the asphalt once again bit into my skin.

Julian watched, unblinking, his fingers clenching and then relaxing.

“Harper, I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning.”

With that, he heartlessly left me, tossing only a thin jacket to cover myself.

I watched in despair as his car drove further and further away.

That jacket was one Chloe had picked out for him.

Chloe was the child of a family friend he had adopted.

Every time something related to Chloe happened, Julian would lose control.

I thought he just loved kids. But then, that night in his study, I discovered he harbored such disturbing intentions!