Chapter 9
Nora smirked: “Yes, you know they’re all mine, so why haven’t you left yet? How can you still hang around Asher? What face do you have len?”
“Asher said he feels responsible for you, and as long as you’re still around, he can’t publicly acknowledge our relationship or leave you! Why? Why were you the first violin? Why do you have such a good man and best friend?!”
She leaned in close to Riley’s ear like a venomous snake, her warm breath raising goosebumps: “My dear Riley, wasn’t slicing
pen your fingers enough? Aren’t you afraid that next time… I might cut open your face?”
Riley’s throat went dry as she instinctively began to shake.
She pushed down her fear: “I will leave. I’ll let you have everything from the Blackwells.”
Nora frowned: “But I don’t quite believe you! So… I need to use my own method to send you away.”
With a vicious smile on her face, Nora suddenly let go and deliberately fell backward down the stairs.
Screams instantly filled the party. Riley stared in shock at the sudden turn of events.
Asher rushed out from the ballroom, shouting “Nora!” before running to pick her up: “Are you okay? Does it hurt?”
Nora cried pitifully: “Riley, if you wanted this diamond hairpin, I could have given it to you. Just please spare my life, okay?”
She clutched the broken hairpin, ignoring the blood on her head, struggling to get up.
“No, the hairpin can’t be damaged…”
“It’s Asher’s gift to me. Even if I die, I need to get it fixed…”
Asher’s eyes reddened with concern and emotion.
He held Nora tightly against his chest, his glare at Riley so fierce it could have shredded her: “It’s just a damn hairpin! Is it worth all this? Riley Hawthorne, I never thought you’d risk Nora’s life for money!”
He carried Nora off to the hospital.
When Riley tried to follow, Vivian stopped her and delivered a stinging slap across her face.
“Vivian…”
Vivian’s eyes were filled with disappointment: “Nora was willing to let bygones be bygones despite even going to prison, but you keep pushing her! Riley, I don’t have such a vicious friend! If you’re truly sorry, go wait at the hospital entrance to apologize to Nora! Otherwise, don’t blame me and my brother for kicking you out!”
Everyone left for the hospital. Only Riley remained, stupidly holding her numb cheek, standing like an idiot amid the sea of flowers.
Asher had humiliated her.
Vivian had struck her.
Two people who had sworn to believe in and protect her forever refused to even investigate or hear her side of the story.
21:58
Two Chances, One Bullet: How His “Next Life” Promise Failed
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Chapter 9
She stood there for what felt like forever until her phone suddenly pinged with a message: [Sweetheart, the flight’s been moved up. Don’t forget to check the timel Mom’s all ready to welcome you!]
[Okay, Mom.]
After replying, Riley wiped away her tears and calmly returned home to gather her documents.
Her love story with Asher had no future.
Her friendship with Vivian had no future either.
he took one last look at the framed photo of the three of them on the side table before turning away decisively.
While waiting at the airport, she deactivated all her social media accounts and snapped her SIM card in half.
This time, it was Riley who was leaving them behind.
Her seven years of love and friendship would remain here forever as she moved forward.
Goodbye to all three of them. From this moment on, they would never meet again.
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