Mandy gasped for breath, struggling beneath Bradley’s unyielding grip. She reached for her self-defense pepper
spray, her last resort, and unleashed it directly into his eyes.
“Bradley, what happened to Esther?” Mandy asked, her voice trembling with anxiety. She couldn’t help but wonder
if Esther was even alive. Given Bradley’s obsession with her, he might have preserved her in some grotesque
manner, even in death.
Bradley fixed his gaze on Mandy, a look in his eyes she had never seen before. It was a profound sadness, a
glimpse into a Bradley she had never known, a man who had always exuded strength and confidence.
His belief had crumbled, and he now stood amidst the ruins, searching desperately for something he could no
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtlonger find. He clawed at the rubble, a futile quest that yielded nothing.
As Bradley slowly retreated, Mandy observed the changed man, though he still retained his striking appearance.
Something had shifted within him.
Mandy reached for her phone and settled on a nearby sofa. She sent a message to Kevin, feigning concern but
driven by curiosity.
Mandy: [Dr. Slade, Bradley seems to be in an unusual emotional state. What’s going on?]
Kevin’s reply was icy.
Kevin: [He brought this on himself!]
For Kevin, whatever Bradley was experiencing was well-deserved, a trail of tragedy.
Mandy frowned at Kevin’s response and decided to press further.
Mandy: [Has something happened to Ms. Quill?]
This time, Kevin didn’t reply.
Mandy’s heart ached, a sensation akin to gentle claws scraping at her chest. She headed to the garage, found
Bradley’s previous car, and removed its dashcam’s memory card.
Mandy inserted the memory card into her laptop and watched the footage, experiencing the events from a first-
person perspective. She couldn’t believe her eyes as Bradley used his car to collide with Esther’s vehicle.
Mandy’s hand flew to her mouth in disbelief. Had Bradley
As she pondered this, she watched in horror as Esther’s car plummeted off a cliff. Mandy’s eyes widened in shock. It
was difficult to fathom the reality of what she was witnessing.
Bradley had forced Esther over the edge.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmMandy realized she might have made the same choice in Esther’s shoes. Who wouldn’t resist being locked away in
secrecy by Bradley?
No one would willingly endure such a nightmare. Esther was no masochist.
Mandy recognized the road—it was Coastal Highway 9, known for its breathtaking views. Despite being her enemy,
Mandy couldn’t help but silently applaud Esther’s courage in the face of her decision to drive off the cliff to escape
Bradley.
Esther had finally broken free.
Then, a blaze of fire lit up the night, transforming darkness into daylight.
As Mandy watched in terror, she increased the video playback speed. The paramedics and firefighters pulled a
charred body from the cliff’s edge, sending a shiver down her spine. She felt utterly numb, as if submerged in icy
waters.