Chapter 186
Chapter 186:
She launched herself at him. This wasn’t the socialite wife anymore. This was a mother protecting her young, fueled by every grueling hour of Krav Maga training Kegan had forced on her. She grabbed his wrist — the one holding the knife — and used her momentum to slam him against the wall.
“Drop it!” she yelled.
Hilliard roared, a primal sound, and shoved her back. He was stronger, driven by adrenaline and betrayal. He swung his arm wildly, trying to shake her off.
The blade sliced through the air.
Cailin didn’t dodge fast enough.
The tip of the fruit knife caught her left forearm, slicing through her silk blouse and biting deep into the flesh.
“Ah!” She gasped, clutching her arm.
Blood bloomed instantly on the white fabric — bright and red — and dripped onto the carpet.
The sight of it seemed to snap Hilliard out of his trance. He froze, the knife trembling in his hand. He stared at the wound, then at his own fist, as though he couldn’t understand how the weapon had gotten there.
“Cailin…” he whispered. The knife clattered to the floor.
Cailin didn’t wait for his apology. She kicked it away, sending it skittering under the bed. She grabbed a towel from the bathroom and pressed it hard against her arm, teeth gritted against the stinging pain.
Ch𝘪𝗻𝘦𝘴e ո𝗼𝗏𝘦𝗅𝗌 𝗍𝗋𝗮𝘯𝗌𝗅atе𝖽 𝘰ո
“You’re insane,” she panted, backing away from him. “Look at yourself. You’re a monster p>
Hilliard looked at her. He looked at the destruction surrounding him — the feathers, the broken glass, the blood on his wife’s arm. He took a step toward her, hands raised in surrender.
“I — I didn’t mean to p>
“Stay back!” Cailin shouted. “Don’t you dare touch me p>
Hilliard stopped. He looked utterly defeated. He slumped against the wall and slid slowly to the floor, sitting amidst the ruin he had made.
“I just want the truth,” he said, his voice breaking. “Why is that so hard? Why do I feel like I’m losing my mind p>
Cailin stared at him. For a moment, she almost pitied him. Almost. But then she remembered the three small hearts beating silently in the vent above his head.
Suddenly, Hilliard’s personal cell phone buzzed — not a normal ring, but a specific, jarring alarm he had set for emergencies.
He frowned and pulled it from his pocket. His face went pale.
He tapped the screen and put it on speaker.
“Hilliard! Oh God, Hilliard p>
It was Victoria English. Her voice was a shriek of pure panic.
“Victoria?” Hilliard asked, confusion cutting through his anger.
“It’s Charla! She’s at the old pier amusement park — she’s on the Ferris wheel! She’s going to jump p>
Cailin stiffened. Charla. Always Charla.
“What are you talking about?” Hilliard demanded, rising to his feet.
“She posted a video,” Victoria sobbed. “She said she can’t live without you. She said Cailin stole you back. She said if you don’t come — if you don’t bring her — she’s going to end it p>
Hilliard looked at Cailin. His eyes were wide.
“Bring me?” Cailin asked, disbelief edging her voice. “Why me p>