Pain seared through me. I couldn't move.

Sophia aimed her stiletto heel at my eye. One press and it'd pop like a grape.

Marco's guards loomed nearby, gripping bats like they couldn't wait for a reason.

I didn't stand a chance.

"S-Sorry, Ms. Caro..." I gasped, desperate. "Please... I have a patient waiting. I'm begging you. Let me go."

For a second, she actually looked surprised.

Then she yanked my hair and slammed my head into the floor.

"Lying to me when you're about to die?!" she shrieked. "You think playing doctor's some kind of game? You're not even a real driver—and even if you WERE a doctor, I could still kill you just like that!"

I tried to cover my head.

She stomped on my fingers.

I screamed, shaking, whispering, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

As a surgeon, my hands were everything. One wrong break, and I'd never hold a scalpel again.

"Scared now?" Sophia sneered. "Too late."

She pointed at my car. "Didn't you wanna drive? Let's make it fun."

With a flick of her hand, the guards rushed me. Tied me up. Dragged me to the back of the car.

I started trembling. I knew exactly what she was about to do.

"I'll die!" Panic closed in fast. "You can't—"

Smack.

She slapped me hard. Then tossed a fat stack of bills in my face.

"Twenty grand—for your life." The guards laughed. "Ms. Caro once ran someone over in this car without a license. Paid only ten grand. You should feel honored."

The engine roared.

Next thing I knew, I was being dragged across scorching pavement.

Sophia hit the gas and swerved hard, laughing as my body slammed into thorny rose bushes.

Skin shredded. Blood mixed with dirt and gravel.

I was wearing a light outfit—nothing to protect me. At this rate, I wouldn't make it.

Then the car stopped.

Sophia stepped out, moving like she was on stage. "Tsk tsk. I thought you'd at least scream. I've done this to five people. You're the dullest."

I couldn't reply.

One of the guards had already taped my mouth shut.

Satisfied, she climbed back in.

This time, she veered onto a sand road.

Grains sliced into my wounds, grinding deeper with every bump.

My elbows and ankles were shredded—bone nearly showing.

Pain blurred everything.

I wanted my heart to stop. Just give out. End it.

Right as I was about to black out—Sophia slammed the brakes.

"Marco!" Sophia squealed, running toward the car.

I barely lifted my eyelids. I needed answers.

But it wasn't Marco. It was Adrian—his secretary.

Sophia's smile dropped. She pouted. "Ugh, YOU? I'm in a mood today. Didn't even get my nails done. He sends you to brush me off? No way. I want HIM here."

"Mr. Varonetti's with his grandfather for the surgery," Adrian said.

She crossed her arms. "So? I hired some foreign expert—it'll be fine! And he still won't come comfort me?"

Adrian frowned. Then his eyes met mine—and he froze.

He rushed over, dropping to his knees beside me, eyes locked on the blood and torn skin.

"Mr. Varonetti said to take her to the hospital right away."

He reached for the ropes.

Barely hanging on, all I felt was bitter irony.

He must've realized the surgery went south—and now he wanted me back.

That operation was high-risk. No one but me could've pulled it off.

"Her?"

Sophia stared at me like she'd seen a ghost, jealousy warping her face.

"So THAT'S why you snuck into Marco's house!" she shrieked. "Pretending to be a driver just to mess with me? Admit it! You've been seducing him, you tramp!"

She smacked Adrian's hand away.

"You think you can replace ME?" she spat. "I've seen your type a thousand times. Marco's just toying with you. And when he's done, he hands you to ME. I get rid of girls like you. Even if I kill you, he'll thank me for it!"

Completely unhinged, Sophia bolted back into the car.

The engine roared to life.

She floored it.

Adrian was left in the dust as the SUV tore forward.

My back split open—skin and fabric shredded together.

My wrists? Ground down to bone.

"AAAHHHHH!"

Sophia shrieked.

Bang! The SUV slammed to a stop.

Adrian had rammed her car with his own.

"Enough!" he yelled, chest heaving. "Mr. Varonetti said bring her back!"

"He doesn't love me anymore?" Sophia sobbed. "He'd rather be fooled by some cheap whore than comfort ME..."

While she melted down, I made my move.

With the last ounce of strength, I ripped through the frayed ropes and crawled toward Adrian.

My bloodied fingers gripped his phone.

My hands—raw, torn, useless. I'd never hold a scalpel again.

The mission was over. I couldn't save Chancellor Ravel.

Bleeding out, I took one last breath.

Through the pain, I forced my ruined fingers to type:

[I failed you. I failed the Council's trust. I can never repay this.]