Page 138 of My Ruthless Opponent

Hope is burning bright within me. It is a small update but after months of no luck, I finally have a lead.

I’ll avenge my mother’s death. I promise to ruin the man who ruined my life.

“Hannah.”

The sound of my name scatters my thoughts and I jerk. The movement causes my foot to slip and I yelp. I fall to the ground, landing on my hands and knees.

“Oh, God! Hannah, shit! Are you okay?” Brielle releases a series of curses as she kneels beside me.

A choked whimper burst from my lips at the pain in my palms and knees.

I lift one trembling hand off the grass and turn it over. Tiny shards of glass are pierced in my skin, blood dripping from the wounds.

“Fuck! You are bleeding! I am so, so sorry, Hannah. I shouldn’t have startled you like that.” She mutters in dismay.

I don’t reply. I stay mute as I watch the blood dripping down my palm, streaming across the pale skin of my forearm and onto my white dress.

I landed on the small light bulbs that were lying on the ground. It got crushed under my palms and knees.

People gather around me. Some of the men help me get up but my knees wobble and I stumble down, whimpering again.

I struggle to draw oxygen into my lungs. I start to panic. Moisture pools in my eyes. My scraped hand reaches up to wrap around my throat as I try to suck in a breath. I wince when the glass that’s still in my skin, digs deeper.

“Hannah, honey… please don’t cry. There’s a doctor on standby here. We are taking you there.” I hear Brielle’s voice and they try to help me up again.

I look down at myself. My white dress is now covered in red splotches.

I start trembling. Sweat covers my skin. I feel my legs giving out again.

“Hannah!”

I stumble again, glancing behind through the gap in the crowd that’s gathered around me.

Through blurry vision, I see Raleigh striding toward me.

In just a few seconds, he is beside me, barking at people to move aside.

His arms wrap around me, hauling me off the ground and against his hard chest.

“Raleigh…” I gasp as he carries me in his arms and begins walking.

He tightens his grip around me, his lips to my temple, whispering, “You need to breathe, princess. You are going to be fine. We are almost there.”

“I c-can’t…” My head lolls as he picks up the pace, my eyes falling shut.

“Hannah, take a deep breath. Focus on my voice.”

I try to do as he says. Blocking everything else and focusing on his voice.

I focus on his stubble grazing my forehead. I inhale his scent. The familiar scent that my senses recognize as comfort.

Slowly, the weight on my chest is lifted and my ability to breathe is back. I gasp out loud, breathing hard.

“Yes, just like that. Deep breaths, princess.” Raleigh croons softly.

I breathe in, then slowly breathe out.

Raleigh stalks inside the resort and barks, “Move!”

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