They Cuffed Me, I Destroyed Their World

Chapter 3

After Adele buried the lilies and the goldfish, she collapsed onto the bed in a trance and barely slept at all that night.

Early the next morning, Xavier pushed open the door and looked down at her. "No one else can take care of Dora, so she will live with us from now on. Don't get upset about this."

Adele gave no response.

What right did she have to be upset? Nothing was under her control; she could only endure it.

Xavier suddenly leaned down, gently touched the injured area on her finger, and let out a nearly inaudible sigh. "That's enough. Stop being upset. Put some ointment on your finger. I still have work to get to. Get along well with Dora, okay?"

Adele's face remained expressionless as she said hoarsely, "I want to see Charlie."

"Charlie is still in the intensive care unit. Even if you go, you won't be allowed to see him. Stop this nonsense and rest at home."

With that, he turned and left without hesitation.

Adele blinked her dry eyes. It took a long time before she got to her feet, lightheaded and unsteady. Walking out of the bedroom, she did not see Dora anywhere.

A sense of foreboding rose in her chest. She ran outside and saw Dora squatting in the middle of the road. Spread out in front of her were limited-edition cosmetics Adele had bought not long ago.

The cosmetics were squeezed across the ground, and Dora was scribbling on the road with one of Adele's lipsticks.

Though the road was not a main thoroughfare, there was still traffic passing by. Dora squatted in the middle of the road as cars rushed past her.

Adele's heart stopped for a split second.

"Dora!" Adele rushed over, her voice barely contained rage. "Go ahead if you want to die, but don't drag me down with you!"

Dora only hummed an off-key tune, "Draw pretty flowers, red pretty flowers."

"Come with me!" Adele reached out to grab Dora's arm.

No sooner had she touched Dora's arm than Dora suddenly jerked like a madwoman, twisted around, grabbed Adele's wrist, and yanked her forward.

"No! I want to draw flowers!"

Dora's strength was terrifying. Adele was already weak, and she instantly lost her balance and fell into the road.

A car horn blared. Adele only had time to see the car speeding toward her before a searing pain exploded through her body, and she was sent flying.

"Dora!"

"Adele!"

Xavier and Henry appeared out of nowhere and rushed over, both immediately running to the bewildered, panicking Dora.

Xavier pulled Dora into his arms, his face tight with worry. "Dora, are you alright? Were you hurt?"

Dora clung to Xavier, pointing at Adele. "Xavier... Henry, sh-she pushed me..."

Xavier and Henry's eyes turned icy cold, and they looked at Adele in unison.

Adele lay on the ground, barely able to breathe. Everything was blurred, yet she could clearly feel their judgment.

"I didn't..." Her voice was barely audible.

Xavier quickly called emergency services, then hovered over Dora, while Henry stood over Adele, his gaze full of disappointment.

"Adele, when did you become so vicious? Over something so trivial, you would push Dora into traffic?"

"I didn't..." Adele tried to reach him. "Henry, believe me..."

"If anything happens to Dora, I will personally send you to prison!"

The ambulance arrived. Medical staff came with a stretcher, but Xavier stopped them. "Check her last. She just got a fright and may have internal injuries!"

They hesitated, glanced at Adele covered in blood, then at Xavier, and ultimately attended to Dora first.

Adele lay on the ground as tears mixed with blood.

"Why..." she whispered before losing consciousness.