In Another Life, I Let You Go

Chapter 3

My limbs went weak almost at once. My head grew heavy and foggy, and my thoughts began to blur.

My stomach dropped.

'I've been drugged.'

The drug took effect frighteningly fast, draining the strength from my body by the second.

I knew I couldn't stay in the crowd. If I did, there was no telling what might happen.

Gritting my teeth, I stumbled out of the ballroom and into the hallway.

The corridor was dimly lit. My steps wobbled, my vision blurred, and my whole body felt so weak I could barely stay upright.

Then a tall figure suddenly appeared in front of me.

It was Ethan.

My heart tightened, and a faint spark of hope stirred inside me.

After everything that had happened between us, I shouldn't have expected anything from him. But I was cornered and desperate, and my first instinct was still to ask for help.

I forced myself to lift my heavy head and looked at him, about to ask for help.

Before I could say a word, he lunged forward and grabbed the necklace at my throat.

He pulled so hard that the chain cut into my skin and stole my breath.

I struggled in panic, staggering backward.

In the struggle, the necklace snapped.

The jade pendant fell from my neck and struck the cold floor with a hard c***k.

The last of my strength vanished. My knees buckled, and I dropped straight to my knees on the cold floor.

I stared at the shattered pieces of jade scattered in front of me, my heart aching so badly I could barely breathe.

It was the keepsake my mother had left me.

I reached for the pieces, but my fingers were limp and weak. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't pick them up.

Ethan stood over me, fury blazing in his eyes.

"Renee, how can you be this shameless? How long are you going to keep taking things from Vanessa? You even stole the necklace I gave her?"

I opened my mouth, desperate to explain.

'No. That's not true. You gave this to me one year ago.'

But my throat was painfully dry, and I couldn't force out a single word.

Humiliation, grief, and heartbreak swelled in my chest until I felt as though I were drowning in them.

All I could do was lift my eyes to the man I had once loved for an entire lifetime.

He stared down at me with open disgust, humiliating me without a shred of restraint.

Then he jerked his hand away, turned his back on me, and stormed off without another glance.

I was left alone in the hallway, kneeling helplessly on the cold floor.

The drug grew stronger, and my consciousness slipped further away.

The burning heat in my body mingled with the crushing pain in my chest.

Just as I was sinking into complete despair, I heard several sets of footsteps approaching at an unhurried pace.

It was the same group of sleazy men who had been crowding around me at the party.

Their greedy, leering gazes stayed fixed on my limp, helpless body.

"Well, if it isn't the Caldwell heiress. What's a pretty girl like you doing all alone on the floor?"

Another man laughed. "Looks like she needs some company. Good thing we're here to give her plenty."

Their crude laughter sent a chill through me.

'Am I really going to live a second life only to end up like this?'