The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Chapter 141

N&S Psychiatric Hospital in Havenwood was steeped in urban legends. It was said that than of the patients locked within its walls were not just mentally ill but dangerous criminals who, due to their psychological conditions, could not be incarcerated in a regular prison.

Even the doctors and nurses who work there have been known to fear some of the patients. Aside from confining them within the hospital, they seldom exerted further control. In fact, if was rumored that staff members had been killed by patients on occasion.

Now, Arabella found herself in a truly terrifying situation. Surrounded by five menacing men, she screamed out in fear. Kicking the brooding figure who grabbed her, she scrambled to her feet and took off running.

She dashed down the corridor, passing many patients who were wandering aimlessly, engaging in bizarre behaviors that marked them as anything but normal.

Some patients ignored her, others beckoned her to join their games with eerie grins, and some lunged towards her with twisted faces and terrifying shouts.

The commotion of her footsteps and screams woke the sleeping patients in nearby rooms. Lights flickered on one by one, revealing dozens of mentally ill individuals who emerged to either observe her with indifferent eyes or leer at her with unsettling smiles.

The man chasing her, a rather large individual, was still bellowing behind her, demanding that

she become his wife.

“Open up! Hurry! Open the door!” Arabella fled back to the main entrance, but she had previously locked the small door in her panic. She banged on the security office window, shouting for help, but the room inside was pitch black, void of any sign of life.

Terror gripped her, causing her body to tremble as she broke down into a fit of desperate crying.

She made another frantic call to the police. Before the operator could even respond, she cried out, “Why haven’t you sent anyone to save me yet?! I’m at N&S Psychiatric Hospital! Please! Send someone to help me!”

Just as she finished her plea, the large man caught up to her once again. She spun around and dashed away, darting around the hospital like a scared animal, playing a horrifying garne of hide-and-seek with her pursuer.

In her desperation, she attempted to call the Hawthorn family for help. She reached out to Joseph first, but was promptly declined. The same happened when she tried to contact Michael and Beatrice. All of them had switched off their phones.

The chilling automated message, “The number you are trying to reach is currently unavailable,” sent a shiver down Arabella’s spine.

Who else could help her?

Suddenly, she saw Dorian’s name in her contacts, and a spark of hope ignited within her.

Yes, she still had a foster father. She still had a dad.

Dorian would surely come to her rescue, just like he did the last time.

her hope was quickly extinguished when Cordelia, Dorian’s wife, answered the phone. She dismissively refused to believe Arabella’s plea for help, accusing her of trying to trap Dorian again. Arabella was reminded of the

Cordelia or Dorian, they would never come to her aid again, no matter the

phone, Arabella felt herself teetering on the brink of

deserted corridor. He had shaggy hair, wore black-rimmed glasses, and was dressed in a hospital gown. He was absorbed

title “Hippocrates’ Corpus” on the cover, Arabella

books must have been kind-hearted. He

me!” Arabella pleaded while tugging at the man’s clothes. “Someone

looked up from his book, casting a curious glance at Arabella, who was not dressed in the usual patient attire. “This isn’t

waltz into.”

I ran in to hide. I didn’t know this was a mental hospital.” Arabella cried

The man mumbled, his eyes

wife!” The large

me hide!” Arabella’s hand trembled as

clothes.

my room over there. You can hide in it.” The man kindly pointed

Arabella hesitated.

nobody strange inside.” The

you, thank you.” Arabella muttered her gratitude before

large man’s heavy footsteps approached.

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Chapter 141

skipped

man with the glasses

Arabella’s heart settled.

that’s strange. I saw her run… run this way.” The large man gnawed on his fingers, his anxiety mounting as he started to yell and cry. “I… I

to his lips, signaling for silence before gently coaxing him. “I’ll help you look for her,

man, seemingly a bit scared of him, stopped his tantrum

two men’s footsteps receded. Their search took them to various places. The corner with a giant potted plant, the cabinets in the main hall, and the stairwell. Each

the large man grew increasingly anxious, his fingernails bloody from his anxious gnawing. He looked

before suggesting, “Let’s

large man, still seemingly afraid

fainter, her frantic

and the bed was neatly made with sheets that

the bed was stacked with books,

she was safe. She pulled out

understand why they hadn’t

bubbled within her, especially towards Cordelia. She’d answered her call only to cruelly reject her, giving her hope and then snuffing it out.

she’d lied once

way? In the end, it was all because she