Chapter 852: Chapter 852 Enough of being kind
The drug, known as Vexara-Nyx, was designed to shatter the mind, to trap its victims in a waking nightmare where they couldn’t distinguish reality from illusion. It caused paranoia, memory loss and in severe cases, complete mental collapse. Some never recovered. Their minds became prisons and their bodies became empty shells, living corpses trapped in their own heads.
Clara had administered it slowly, carefully, once a week or sometimes twice. She had told herself it was necessary. That it was for the greater good.
But she had grown to love the girl she was poisoning.
Bella felt nothing.
Her heart was empty and hollow. The girl who had once been so full of kindness, who had forgiven everyone who hurt her, who had believed in the goodness of others, was gone.
She had been replaced by someone who felt only killing intent for the woman in front of her.
She didn’t deserve her kindness.
She didn’t deserve her kindness.
She didn’t deserve her kindness.
ENOUGH OF BEING KIND! The thought screamed through her mind. Her family and her close friends deserve her kindness! No one else.
She will not let anyone go who harms her family.
Clara didn’t know Bella was awake.
Suddenly, she was thrown to the ground. Her back hit the cold floor with a thud, knocking the air from her lungs.
Bella stood up. She had picked up the gun that Pablo had left on the table.
Clara looked at Bella in shock.
Bella was wearing cute, oversized clothes. Her brown hair was messy, her face still soft with youth but the expression on her face was unrecognizable.
Her beautiful, sweet face was devoid of any kindness or innocence. It looked sharp, dangerous and cold. Clara felt like she was seeing a second Leonardo Moretti.
"So you’re the spy?" Bella’s voice was cold, flat, devoid of the warmth Clara had grown used to.
Clara’s eyes widened. "How... how are you fine? The medicine should have—you should be—"
Bella’s laugh was hollow, empty, the sound of a shattered soul. The corners of her eyes became red, her pupils dilated with fury. "Yeah, how should I be fine? Thanks to you! But when the will is strong, the mind can’t be controlled by some medicine!"
Clara felt Bella was different. This wasn’t the sweet girl who had smiled at her, who had trusted her, who had called her Aunt Clara.
This was someone who had been pushed too far.
Bella pointed the gun at her.
Clara’s eyes widened in shock.
She didn’t think Bella would really kill her. She looked at Bella with teary eyes, her voice trembling.
"Dear... please..."
The way she spoke, the way she said the word, was the same way she had always spoken to Bella. The way Bella used to like.
But Bella didn’t even blink.
She shot Aunt Clara in the shoulder.
The gunshot echoed through the room. Clara screamed, clutching her shoulder as blood poured through her fingers. She looked at Bella in shock, her face pale with pain and disbelief.
A single tear escaped Bella’s eye, sliding down her cheek as some blood splattered across her face.
At that moment, the door opened.
Leo stood in the doorway, his gray eyes taking in the scene in shock.
He didn’t know the details, but he understood immediately. All of Pablo’s guards had been taken out, and no new batches of his Pablo f*cking zombies had arrived. His men were now behind Pablo, who had suspiciously run to another building.
He is such a coward mtherfucker! Leo thought, his rage burning. He always hides!
He and his men had quickly started looking for Bella’s room. They had searched corridor after corridor, kicking down doors, clearing rooms.
And now he had found her.
When he opened the door, he found a shocking scene. Bella had shot Aunt Clara.
Bella saw the visitor. Her eyes teared up, the cold mask disappeared.
Leo rushed toward her, his arms wrapping around her, pulling her into his chest. He cupped her face, tilting it upward and kissed her lips. It was fierce, desperate, full of all the fear and relief that had been building inside him.
"My brave girl," he whispered, his forehead resting against hers. "My brave, brave girl."
Bella’s body trembled against his.
"Pablo... Pablo put a bomb in this room..." Clara gasped, her voice weak and fading. "It will diffuse... in one minute... maybe some seconds are left..." She paused, struggling to breathe. "But... but I..."
Leo’s eyes widened.
He felt vibration in the room. A low hum that grew louder and more intense.
Beep... beep... beep...
Bella’s eyes widened. "Leo..." she whispered, her voice filled with shock and fear.
The countdown had started. Ten seconds.
Leo didn’t hesitate.
He grabbed Bella’s hand and pulled her toward the door. They barely made it out of the room when the heat hit them. The explosion was deafening, a wall of fire and debris that chased them down the hallway.
Leo threw himself in front of Bella, shielding her body with his own as they crashed to the ground. The blast rattled the walls and a shower of dust and rubble rained down around them.
Bella looked up at him, her eyes wide with fear.
Leo sat up, pulling her into his lap, cradling her against his chest. He cupped her face with both hands, forcing her to look at him.
"Look at me, Bella!" His voice was full of authority.
She met his eyes.
He leaned closer and kissed her lips. Soft but deep. Full of all the words he couldn’t say.
"I love you so much, Bella," he whispered against her lips. "I love you. I love you. I never loved anyone as much as I love you. You’re my—"
His voice was shaking.
Bella’s eyes blurred with tears.
He hugged her tightly, burying his face in her hair. His eyes were red, his face holding an almost human expression of vulnerability that he had never shown anyone before.
BHOOM!
The world went white, and then it went dark.
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