Natalie trembled, desperately clinging to the French window frame, hoping Charis wouldn’t push her. In that critical moment, the office door swung open abruptly, and Brandon entered, holding a document in his hand.
As he stepped into Charis’s office, something seemed off. Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream pierced the air, causing Brandon to snap his head up. His eyes widened in horror as he saw Charis gripping Natalie’s head, dangerously close to the broken window.
“Charis! What the hell are you doing?!” Brandon froze, unable to comprehend the scene before him.
With a deranged look in her eyes, Charis shouted, “Don’t come any closer! If you take one more step, I’ll push her!”
Fear gripped Brandon, draining the color from his face. He never imagined such a horrifying scenario when Charis asked him to discuss work in her office.
Charis’s forehead veins bulged with anger as she continued, “Are you hurt yet, Brandon? I brought you here so you could witness Natalie’s death firsthand!”
She raised her head and let out a hysterical laugh, her disfigured face resembling a monstrous creature. Brandon was overwhelmed by shock and confusion.
“Why are you doing this? The psychologist said you had recovered,” Brandon pleaded, trying to make sense of the situation.
Charis laughed again, her voice filled with bitterness. “Recovered? Brandon, do you think life is that simple? I don’t care anymore! That fire turned me into a monster inside and out! My life is ruined, while you’re still happily with Natalie! It’s driving me insane!”
Her roar echoed like that of a wounded beast. The scars from the fire had left an indelible mark on her face and heart, making her feel unbearably ugly.
In that moment, Brandon understood. Charis had never truly recovered. She had deceived everyone, including her doctor, into believing she had healed. In reality, her madness had festered and grown to unprecedented heights.
“Did you come back just to hurt Natalie?” Brandon’s eyes darkened with anger.
“Exactly. I waited for the perfect moment when you let your guard down, so I could return to the Larson Group. I planned everything meticulously to ensure you witnessed Natalie’s death!” Charis’s bloodshot eyes widened as she burst into maniacal laughter.
Brandon knew he couldn’t act rashly. Natalie stood precariously close to the window’s edge, held only by Charis. Calling the police or seeking help would only provoke Charis further. He was trapped between a rock and a hard place.
What should he do? Regret flooded his being like never before. It was his decision to bring Charis back to work, putting Natalie in danger. He gritted his teeth, wishing it were him that Charis wanted to kill.
Attempting to remain calm, Brandon discreetly covered his phone with the document in his hand and dialed Garrett’s number while Charis was distracted. He needed to buy more time. Desperately, he tried to negotiate.
“If you release her unharmed, I’ll pretend this never happened. I promise to let it go, okay?”
Charis threw her head back, laughing even harder. “Brandon, are you seriously trying to negotiate with me now? Do you think I want to live after this? I’m ready to go down with her! I’ll take the woman you love and ensure you live the rest of your life in pain and regret!”
Brandon was perplexed by Charis’s intense hatred for Natalie. He couldn’t comprehend why she despised her so much. Charis detested Natalie to the point of contemplating suicide just to eliminate her.
Furrowing his brow, he struggled to recall their interactions. As far as he could remember, they rarely spoke to each other. What had transpired? Why did Charis harbor such animosity towards Natalie? Could his memory loss have caused him to forget something crucial?
Carefully, he inquired, “There used to be no grudge between you two. Why do you suddenly want to kill Natalie?”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updates…
Charis grimaced and glared at Natalie with fury. “We’ve always hated each other, Brandon, but you’ve completely forgotten. Well, let me refresh your memory.”
And so, Charis proceeded to recount everything.
In the past, Brandon had been infatuated with Natalie, which ignited an intense jealousy within Charis. After all, she had known him first and believed she deserved him, not Natalie. She had attempted various methods to separate them but failed repeatedly. In a desperate act, she resorted to setting fire to the bewitched house, intending to kill Natalie. However, her plans backfired, resulting in her own disfigurement instead.
The more Brandon listened, the greater his shock grew. He strained his mind, attempting to recollect the details Charis revealed, but a throbbing pain in his head incessantly interrupted his thoughts.
Pressing his hands against his temples, he looked helplessly at Natalie and asked, “Is this true? Why didn’t you tell me all of this before?”
Lying awkwardly on the floor, Natalie closed her eyes and explained, “It’s true. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn’t find any evidence to support it. Charis managed to cover her tracks. You had lost your memory, and you trusted her with your life. I couldn’t risk acting recklessly…”
“Should I thank you for not telling me, Natalie?” Charis scoffed sarcastically. “You’re a hated bitch! Even after Brandon lost his memory, he still chose you. You must be so proud, right?” As she spoke, Charis yanked on Natalie’s hair, forcing her to raise her head and meet her gaze.
Natalie stared into her eyes, trembling with fear. In that moment, Charis revealed her true colors. She shed her gentle facade and transformed into the monster that had always lurked beneath her skin.
“Let go of me, you lunatic!” Natalie screamed in pain.
Coldly, Brandon asked, looking directly into Charis’s eyes, “What can I do to make you release her?”
How could he have placed his trust in such a vicious person? He glanced at his phone, discreetly hidden behind some documents. He noticed that Garrett had answered the call, but no sound had come through. Perhaps Garrett had realized what was happening and was desperately searching for a solution.
At present, all Brandon could do was buy as much time as possible.
“Wake up, Brandon! Can’t you see what’s right in front of you? I won’t let this wretched woman live another day! She’s the reason I ended up like this. I’m going to kill her!” Charis bellowed, her disfigured face contorted with rage.
Gritting his teeth, Brandon clung to a glimmer of hope. Charis kept threatening to kill Natalie, but she hadn’t taken any action yet. Perhaps she was merely boasting. After all, the Charis he knew wouldn’t give up her own life so easily.
Taking a deep breath, he attempted to reason with her. “Charis, you need to calm down. We can talk about this. You have your parents, who love you dearly. You’re already luckier than most people. Can’t you see that?”
It was early December, and the cold wind howled as the sky remained gloomy. Countless snowflakes glittered in the sky, forming piles of snow on the ground. Charis gazed down from the broken French window and caught a glimpse of a white snowflake.
“How ridiculous. This time last year, I was surrounded by loving friends and family, celebrating the first snowfall. But now, my face is disfigured, I suffer from mental illness, and I have no friends left. Life is cruel.”