"You are not allowed to call my name!" Vera shouted, interrupting Nathan, her eyes full of disappointment as she stared at the man. "I foolishly believed you would never do anything to hurt me, but I was wrong, so terribly wrong!"

"That’s because you chose the wrong person. You should have chosen me, not Kris Cooper!" Nathan raised a brow and strode forward, grabbing her arm. "Come upstairs with me!"

"Let go of me!"

Vera struggled hard, and Nathan bent down, lifting her from the ground, carrying her upstairs. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Let go!"

Unable to break free, she flailed her hands, slapping and clawing at his face and body without hesitation, but Nathan just held her tightly and strode up the stairs.

At the bottom of the stairs, Irene’s face broke into a cold smile.

Nathan marched upstairs, arriving at the master bedroom’s door. Finding it closed, he set her down to open it.

Vera’s hand lashed out, clawing at his face, leaving several bloody marks immediately. She turned to run.

Catching her wrist, Nathan pushed the door open and dragged her inside the room.

Vera immediately twisted away from him, retreating far back. She quickly glanced around, rushed to the bedside, grabbed a table lamp, and smashed it on the floor. Picking up a shard, she held it to her neck.

"Don’t come any closer, or... I’ll die right here in front of you."

Nathan shut the door firmly, locking it, then turned to see her stance and rushed forward.

"Vera, don’t be rash!"

"Don’t come closer!"

Screaming, Vera retreated until her knees hit the bedstand, causing her to fall onto it.

Seeing her panic, Nathan quickly raised both hands.

"Vera, listen to me carefully. I truly didn’t know about this. If you don’t believe me, I’ll give you my phone right now, and you can call the police."

Saying this, he pulled out his phone from his pocket, offering it to her.

Frowning, Vera looked at him, unsure if he was telling the truth.

Nathan tossed the phone onto the bed not far from her, then turned and went to the door, gently opening it to peek outside. Seeing no sign of Irene, he breathed a sigh of relief, turning back again.

By then, Vera had already grabbed the phone, though her other hand still clutched the broken lamp shard.

"Hurry, I’ll keep an eye on her."

Nathan murmured a reminder, looking out the door again.

Vera quickly unlocked his phone, but instead of calling the police, she dialed Kris Cooper’s number.

The call connected after just one ring, and Kris’s voice burst through the earpiece.

"Nathan Leafcastle, what do you want?"

Hearing Kris’s voice, the tension within Vera eased slightly, and tears streamed down her face.

"Kris, it’s me."

"Vera!" Kris called out in surprise and delight, "Are you alright?"

"I... I’m fine now..."

"Don’t be afraid. I’m coming right away. Find a way to protect yourself."

Vera was about to say more, but Nathan had already turned around.

"Quick, she’s coming upstairs!"

"I can’t talk now." Vera immediately hung up, just as Nathan reached her. She quickly hid the phone under the pillow, as Nathan stepped over the glass shards and grabbed her arm, pushing her onto the bed.

Caught off guard, Vera screamed.

"Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you! Don’t let her see through us. I’m trying to find out where Grandma is!"