When she woke up in the hospital again, twenty–eight–year–old Declan sat by her bed, expression cold.
“Don’t bother looking for him,” he spoke first. “He’s in Ruby’s room. Been watching over her all night, just fell asleep.”
“Nina, you saw it yourself–this time, HE chose Ruby first. He’s already falling for her, just hasn’t fully realized it yet, or won’t admit it. Stop clinging. Leave yourself some dignity.”
After speaking, he got up and left without a backward glance.
Nina stared at the ceiling, her dry lips moving slightly in a voice only she could hear: “Actually… I gave up on
him a long time ago.”
That evening, the hospital room door opened again. This time it was Ruby, her eyes swollen like walnuts from crying.
She burst in and dropped to her knees by Nina’s bed, sobbing hysterically: “Nina… please… please let me
have Declan… I’ll literally DIE without him…”
Nina was exhausted: “I was never with him to begin with. What’s there to ‘let you have‘?”
She meant she’d already stepped back–their business had nothing to do with her anymore.
But Ruby clearly misunderstood, looking up with eyes full of desperation and resentment: “You… you really won’t give us your blessing? Fine… fine… I get it…”
With that, she ran out crying.
Nina was mentally and physically drained, too tired to explain or chase after her. She closed her eyes.
But the next morning, just as she was about to handle discharge paperwork, sharp pain hit the back of her neck. Everything went black as she lost consciousness.
When she came to, she found herself stuffed in a burlap sack, her whole body in agony, unable to move.
Clear conversation drifted from outside-
[‘wenty–eight–year–old Declan’s voice was ice–cold and furious: “…Ruby only saw HER yesterday! Came back and jumped in the lake! If we hadn’t found her in time, she’d be dead! She drove Ruby to suicide–she has to
pay!”
Declan’s voice carried struggle and hesitation: “Pay how? Ruby’s fine now, isn’t she? Don’t do anything crazy!”
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Boyfriend vs. Future Boyfriend–Pick Your Fighter!
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Chapter 7
“Fine? Ruby almost DIED! She hurt the person we love most! I can’t let this slide! Don’t worry, I’m just gonna teach her a lesson, scare her a little so she’ll think twice before hurting Ruby again…”
After a moment, Declan finally spoke.
“Don’t go too far. Or I’ll never forgive you.”
“Got it. Go back and stay with Ruby–she just woke up and needs you.” Twenty–eight–year–old Declan’s voice
softened.
Silent footsteps faded away–clearly Declan leaving.
Immediately after, Nina heard twenty–eight–year–old Declan’s cold, cruel voice: “Do it. Ninety–nine hits with the rod. Not one less. Make sure she remembers this lesson.”
The iron rod came down with a whistling sound, and Nina’s vision exploded in red.
“UGH-!”
The first blow to her spine made her arch violently, teeth sinking deep into her lip, her mouth instantly flooding with the metallic taste of blood.
The second hit her leg–bones felt like they were being smashed.
The third cracked across her arm–the sound of skin splitting was sickeningly clear.
Pain crashed over her in waves. She writhed in the sack like a fish out of water, fingernails digging crescents into her palms, but she bit down hard to keep from screaming.
Ninety–nine blows.
She lost count of how many times she passed out, how many times the pain dragged her back to
consciousness.
All she remembered was being dumped at her door afterward, every breath tasting of blood.
She had no idea how much time had passed when she finally dragged herself into the house, only to have her phone ring–Declan calling.
His voice carried a trace of exhaustion but no real guilt, as if he thought twenty–eight–year–old Declan had only “scared” her a little: “Nina? I’ll be at the hospital taking care of Ruby for the next few days–she’s really unstable emotionally… Take care of yourself at home, and in a few days… we’ll head to Metro University together.”
Chapter 7
He didn’t even… bother asking what she’d actually been through.
Nina listened to him, heart dead as ash.
He still didn’t know she wouldn’t be going to Metro University, and she’d never like him again.
She said nothing, just used the last of her strength to give a soft “mm” and hung up.
Over the next few days, she dragged her body–covered in horrific purple bruises that sent searing pain through her with every movement–and quietly packed all her belongings for studying abroad.
The day she was supposed to report to school, Declan was still at the hospital.
Nina wheeled her suitcase to the airport alone.
Before boarding, she sent twenty–eight–year–old Declan’s videos and photos of eighteen–year–old Declan’s intimate moments with Ruby, along with close–up shots of the ninety–nine horrific rod marks on her arms and back, all bundled together and sent to eighteen–year–old Declan.
The message was brief:
[I know you’ve fallen for Ruby. So I’ve decided to step aside and let you two be together.]
[I’m not going to Metro University. These ninety–nine blows have completely severed any possibility
between us.]
[Declan, we’ll never see each other again in this lifetime.]
After hitting send, she blocked and deleted all his contact information without hesitation.
As the plane roared toward the clouds, the window reflected her calm profile–no tears, only resolve.
Chapter 8
