Chapter 6
He left Riley alone, hurrying away.
She watched silently as his figure disappeared, while people behind her dealt with the aftermath of the violence.
His panicked expression–it must be something about Victoria again.
Riley suddenly laughed hollowly, taking out her phone. Sure enough, the anonymous thread had updated:
[I have a fever, and he chose to come to me again, abandoning his “true love” once more.]
Looking at the words “true love,” Riley’s bitter smile deepened.
As she smiled, tears suddenly flowed.
True love? What kind of true love was she?
What kind of “true love” would allow herself to be trampled by the other woman?
The driver took Riley back home, and Nathaniel didn’t return all night.
For many days after, Nathaniel didn’t come home.
Upon asking, Riley learned that Victoria had escaped from Lakeside Manor during a moment of relaxed security.
Nathaniel had searched for her for an entire week without success.
He continued looking for Victoria, even as preparations for his wedding to Riley fell behind.
Finally, on Riley’s birthday, he returned home.
When she saw him again, he looked utterly dejected. How ironic–her lover was distressed over another woman’s disappearance.
At the dinner table, before the birthday candles were even lit, Nathaniel struggled to hide his distraction as he helped light them.
“Riley, make a wish.”
“Darling, wish for anything–whatever it is, I’ll make it come true.”
Over the years, they had a private tradition. While others kept wishes secret, Riley always spoke hers aloud.
Because no matter what she wished for, Nathaniel would fulfill it–even if she asked for stars from the sky.
Riley forced a smile, though her eyes remained empty.
Looking at him, her expression wooden, she said: “I wish you would stop looking for Victoria.”
Hearing this, Nathaniel froze.
12:46
I Died He Cried Now We’re Stuck in This Tovia Dabirth Lon
Chapter 6
Riley continued watching him. “Since she escaped, let her go. I’m tired. I want to move on.”
Her answer was met with lengthy silence.
Eventually, Nathaniel embraced her, his tone harsh as if concealing something: “Riley, this isn’t enough punishment for her yet. Once I’ve fully avenged you, I’ll let her go.”
Even now, he refused to stop searching for Victoria.
Riley suddenly felt utterly pathetic.
At that moment, James burst through the door, breathless.
“Sir, we have news about Victoria!”
Nathaniel’s arms tightened around Riley before completely releasing her.
“Riley, wait for me at home. I’ll be back soon.”
With that, he immediately turned and left with James.
Riley was abandoned once again.
The birthday candles on the table had burnt out. As Riley stared at them, she suddenly felt it wasn’t the candles being scorched by heat, but her own heart.
Why else would it hurt so damn much?
Her phone buzzed with a notification–another update on that forum thread. With a hollow expression, Riley tapped on it.
[I deliberately leaked my whereabouts on his precious girlfriend’s birthday. Sure enough, he couldn’t wait to ditch her and come find me.]
For days now, Victoria had been sharing updates about her movements.
She never actually intended to escape.
She was deliberately using this method to make Nathaniel realize how important she was–watching him abandon Riley time after time to come looking for her.
And each time, he went.
As the words on the screen blurred before her eyes, a wave of unbearable pain surged through her body.
Riley’s breathing became rapid as she gripped the edges of her wheelchair, her knuckles turning white.
She quickly wheeled herself back to her bedroom and pulled out a prescription bottle from the pouch hanging on her chair, her hands trembling as she shook out two antidepressant pills.
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