Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 184 One Wrong Step, Too Hard to Turn Back

I flung the door open, and there was Bella, soaked to the bone.

She croaked out, "Emily!"

I yanked her inside and slammed the door shut.

Seeing her like that, all I could think about was that wanted poster. I had a bad feeling.

"Bella, what happened?"

She wiped her face and said, "Zachary got caught."

Even though I kinda expected it, hearing her say it still hit me hard. I had no idea how to comfort her.

She glanced at Ethan, who was standing at the top of the stairs, and said, "Emily, I'm sorry for barging in so late."

I grabbed her hand. "Don't be silly. Let's get you out of those wet clothes first."

I took her to the guest room, ran a bath, and grabbed some of my pajamas for her.

"Bella, take a hot bath. You must be freezing." I led her to the bathroom and turned on the heater.

She forced a smile. "I'm okay. I ran all the way here, so I'm actually pretty warm."

She got undressed and slipped into the tub. I grabbed a towel and helped her wash.

"Bella, what exactly happened?"

She sank lower into the water, her hair floating around her, the necklace on her neck barely visible. She tilted her head back, thinking.

"We never left Starlight City. I was scared we wouldn't be able to come back. Zachary said at least my dad was still here."

I was stunned. "Where were you?"

"Zachary found a spot in the mountains. It seemed safe, and I thought we could stay hidden forever. But tonight, the cops surrounded us. I don't know how they found us."

The law finally caught up. I knew this day would come, but not so soon.

Bella splashed water on her face, letting it drip from her chin.

followed his advice. From a distance, I saw them put Zachary in a car. I wanted to run to him but held back, knowing it would ruin everything. I watched the police car drive away and then ran here." She told me all this calmly, but I could see her hands

bath, I stayed with

lay there, staring

still can't figure out how they knew we were there. It's such a remote place,

he's in custody, he hasn't been sentenced yet. If he behaves,

he ever got caught,

was so final; I didn't know what

of the baby, worried I'd struggle if he got caught. He even suggested I could remarry. But I never considered it. If he hadn't gotten involved with my dad, things would be different. Zachary said he hadn't done

some were harder to erase. Sometimes, one wrong step made it tough to turn

you still going to have this baby?" I asked, struggling with the

wasn't afraid of anything while I was running. The only thing I feared was losing the baby,"

than I thought. She wasn't devastated; she was calm, like

woke up, Bella was still staring at the ceiling. I couldn't tell if

coming out of his room. I glanced at him. He was wearing a loose jacket, and anyone who didn't know

and the three of us ate in silence. Bella seemed to sense something was off and

with you and Ethan?

tell her about that night. She had

said,

do, there's no guarantee you'll grow old together. You have

perfect couple. But only we knew the cracks in our relationship, some of which even we couldn't fully understand. "Enough about

to a law firm and hire a

arriving, her words still echoing in my mind.

been investigating the grave desecration these past

look at him.

be that it wasn't

with me," he said, keeping

and went with him. He drove with one hand, skillfully navigating the

stopped in front of Starlight City Psychiatric

was surprised and had a

car, Ethan naturally held

eerie environment

besides a few buildings, there was a large activity area surrounded by barbed wire. Many people were playing inside, all looking mentally unstable. Soon,

of them laughed foolishly, while others made various strange expressions and

healthcare worker, I shouldn't discriminate against them. But the

my gaze fixed on one spot. The person leaning against the barbed wire, staring at me, was Arthur. He looked much more normal than

series of actions since his return, I knew he wasn't normal.

gestures in the air, as if tracing my curves or touching me, all while making disgusting faces and sticking out

that I got