She Took 861

Sebastian calls Ashley to inform her that Dan has been beaten up twice and is back in the hospital. Upon hearing this and learning that Marie is pregnant, Ashley immediately decides to flee Aria, convinced that Marie is dangerous. Lancelot has a similar reaction when he hears the news and decides to leave Falvaria, realizing they are not just hiding but running for their lives.

Meanwhile, Derrick tries to calm Marie, who is overwhelmed with anger and frustration. She cannot believe that Derrick ran away that night, especially since she thought he was too proud to do such a thing. Her fury intensifies when she learns that Ashley and Lancelot were also present that night, feeling betrayed by friends she once considered family. Derrick admits Ashley and Lancelot were there, which only fuels Marie’s rage and her desire for revenge.

Derrick attempts to explain the complicated situation, but Marie refuses to listen and lashes out at him. She is unable to understand his actions, particularly why he ran when she was beating Dan. Despite Derrick’s efforts to reach out and calm her, Marie remains furious and conflicted, struggling to process the betrayal and the chaos surrounding them. The chapter ends with Marie still seething, unable to make sense of the events and the people she once trusted.

861 The Calm Before the Storm

“Dan got beaten up again—twice—and he’s back in the hospital!” Seban’s voice cracked urgently over the phone.

Ashley stood frozen for a moment, her heart pounding, before she blurted out, “I’m leaving Aria right now. No questions.”

The news of Maric’s pregnancy combined with Dan’s hospitalization hit like a bombshell. Ashley didn’t hesitate for even a second; she was already packing her bags mentally, ready to escape.

See? They hadn’t been wrong about Marie. That woman was downright terrifying.

The violence had been relentless in Aria.

When Lancelot received Sebastian’s call, his reaction mirrored Ashley’s. Without a second thought, he declared, “I’m out of Falvaria. This isn’t safe anymore.”

They weren’t just laying low; they were running for their lives.

Meanwhile, Derrick tried desperately to soothe Marie, whose emotions were a chaotic storm. Every time she seemed to calm down, the memory of that night reignited her fury.

“Sebastian dragged you away alone? You really think he’s strong enough? Or maybe you just wanted to run,” she snapped, her voice sharp and accusing. Original content can be found at ⓝovelFind.net

Run away…

That was the last thing Marie ever expected.

If Dan had done it, she might have believed it. That bastard had faked his own death once before—sleeping with her and then disappearing sounded just like something he’d pull.

But Derrick?

And Derrick actually ran?

She couldn’t make sense of it. It was impossible to accept.

Derrick stayed silent when she pressed him.

He met her gaze but said nothing—after all, Lancelot and Ashley were his friends.

And friends… well, you didn’t just betray them so easily.

But seeing how furious Marie was, he finally spoke. “Ashley and Lancelot were there too.”

Marie froze in place.

When she realized Ashley and Lancelot had been involved, her anger flared even higher.

Ashley. Lancelot.

“Goddammit!” she shouted, voice trembling with rage. “Those two are your friends, which means they’re my friends too! We grew up together—Ashley was even my classmate! I treated them like family, and this is how they repay me? I swear, I’m going to kill them!”

Her entire body shook with fury.

Lately, Marie felt trapped in a web of betrayals—every corner she turned, another trap awaited her.

It seemed like everyone was out to ruin her.

Derrick, realizing Ashley and Lancelot were next on Marie’s hit list, quickly sent a text to Sebastian, warning them to hide.

Sebastian replied, “Already made the calls. They’re both leaving Falvaria.”

Smart move.

Marie couldn’t control herself when she was this angry. Hiding was definitely the safer option.

Her rage was so overwhelming it almost shut her down.

“Alright, alright, calm down, okay?” Derrick said softly, reaching out to take her hand.

But she jerked away, her eyes blazing. “What the hell were you thinking?”

He remained quiet.

“And you just stood there while I was beating Dan to a pulp?”

The thought almost made her dizzy.

Dan had nearly died from those beatings—all because of her uncontrollable rage.

And now she found out it was Derrick who had actually been there that night?

What was she supposed to make of that?

“I told you it was me,” Derrick said quietly. “You just didn’t believe me. That’s not my fault.”

To be fair, he had confessed.

No matter how many times he told her the truth, she refused to accept it.

There was nothing more he could say.

Marie fell silent.

Hearing him repeat it again only darkened her expression further.

She clenched her jaw, glaring at him as if she could tear him apart with her eyes.

But in the end…

“You ran,” she spat.

He said nothing.

“You—how could you run?”

For her, that was the hardest part to believe.

Derrick wasn’t that kind of man. He was too proud, too stubborn for something like that.

That was exactly why she never believed him when he said he was the one that night.

Derrick simply wasn’t someone who would run away.

“The situation was complicated,” he began. “I just—”

He didn’t finish. One sharp look from Marie shut him up immediately.

“You slept with me, and that’s what you call complicated?” she snapped.

He fell silent again.

That question was a trap—there was no good answer.

Marie exhaled sharply. “I don’t even know what to say to you anymore.”

What a mess everything had become.

Derrick tried once more, gently taking her hand. “Come on, don’t be mad, okay?”

“Hmph!”

Marie was still seething, unable to make sense of any of it. “Why did you even run?”

“When I came back, you were already beating Dan senseless,” Derrick explained quietly. “Lancelot and Ashley were begging me not to—”

“Enough!” she cut him off with a fierce glare.

Every word he said only fueled her anger.

Especially since that morning, the very first thing she did after waking up was to beat him up again.

The chapter closes on a tense and emotional note, capturing the raw turmoil that grips each character. Marie’s fury and sense of betrayal run deep, tangled with confusion and heartbreak over the actions of those she once trusted. Derrick’s quiet attempts to explain and soothe are met with resistance, his own silence speaking volumes about the complexity of their fractured relationships. Meanwhile, Ashley and Lancelot’s urgent decisions to flee highlight the dangerous consequences of the escalating violence and broken alliances.

Amidst the chaos, the characters are caught in a storm of conflicting loyalties and painful truths. The emotional weight of the chapter lies in the struggle to reconcile past bonds with present betrayals, underscoring the fragile nature of trust and the devastating impact of anger left unchecked. As the calm before the storm gives way to inevitable upheaval, the story poignantly conveys the cost of choices made in desperation and the uncertain path that lies ahead for everyone involved.

Tensions are reaching a boiling point as loyalties are questioned and emotions run wild. In the next chapter, expect the fragile alliances between Ashley, Lancelot, Derrick, and Marie to be tested like never before. The simmering anger within Marie threatens to explode, and the consequences of past actions will force each character to confront painful truths about trust and betrayal. The uneasy calm that once existed is about to shatter, leaving everyone scrambling to protect what little stability remains.

As the characters grapple with their inner turmoil, new cracks in their relationships will surface, revealing deeper layers of pain and resentment. The fallout from Dan’s brutal beating and the revelations about Derrick’s involvement will create a storm of conflict that no one can easily escape. Prepare for emotional confrontations that will challenge their bonds and push them toward decisions with far-reaching consequences. The next chapter promises a gripping exploration of loyalty, rage, and the desperate fight for survival amid chaos.