Chapter 3

3、

After Bennett knocked me out, he was paranoid I'd wake up too soon, so he forced a sedative down my throat.

He took me to a soundproof basement he had specifically prepared for this.

The room was fully equipped with medical-grade blood transfusion equipment.

He was always a man who planned ten steps ahead.

The moment he realized I was a match for Maddie, he had started setting up this secret clinic.

His plan was simple: if I cooperated, I'd never see this room.

If I rebelled, he would keep me chained here as Maddie's private supply.

By the time I started to regain consciousness, I was strapped to a cold hospital bed.

The pain in my neck was throbbing, making it impossible to even open my eyes.

The basement was deathly quiet, except for the low murmur of voices nearby.

"Bennett, are we really going to keep Cassie locked down here forever?"

"Don't worry, Maddie. I'll let her out once she learns how to behave and follows the schedule."

"I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. If I weren't so sick, you wouldn't have to take such risks. She must hate me."

"Maddie, don't think like that. This is my responsibility."

"You saved my life and destroyed your own health by inhaling those toxins. I promised I'd keep you alive."

"As for Cassie, I'll find a way to make it up to her. She's just emotional right now. I still plan on marrying her."

Hearing their conversation, my heart felt like it stopped beating.

Maddie saved him? What kind of sick joke was this?

Three years ago, a lab at Brooks Pharmaceuticals was on the verge of a breakthrough.

I was there with Bennett, working late into the night.

Because of a lab assistant's mistake, a fire broke out, threatening to blow the whole floor.

The room was filled with experimental chemicals that turned into lethal gas when burned.

Bennett refused to leave without the data, but he was overcome by the fumes the moment he opened the door.

I was the one who put on a gas mask and dragged his heavy body out of the flames.

I collapsed from exhaustion the second we reached the safety zone.

A month later, Bennett found me and asked if I wanted to date him.

I thought my secret crush had finally come true and that he loved me for me.

Looking back, I had been walking into a trap from day one.

All his affection was a performance to turn me into a willing blood bag for the woman he thought was his hero.

But he had the wrong woman!

I tried to scream the truth, but my throat was parched and no sound came out.

Suddenly, I felt a rubber tourniquet being tightened around my upper arm.

I forced my eyes open just enough to see a masked person holding a thick needle, aiming for my vein.

My heart hammered against my ribs, ready to explode with fear.

But the pain never came because the basement door was suddenly kicked off its hinges.

"Police! Hands in the air! Don't move!"