Chapter10
I took away the two remaining pieces. Though Gomoku was meant to be single–round, Rita smashed another piece onto her
four–in–a–row chain.
“I also won!” Her petulant voice cracked like spoiled jade.
The silence stretched.
“Then…” My gaze lingered on her like moonlight on withered petals, “…shall I continue?” My fifth piece clicked decisively.
Sixty seconds later, the board was dominated by green stones. Rita’s trembling fingers hovered over barren intersections.
“AGAIN!” Crimson flush crawled up her neck.
Round two. Three. Four.
I alternated between slow, deliberate moves and swift strikes, each victory carving deeper into Rita’s composure. When humiliated tears spilled down her cheeks, Julian’s hand shot out like winter lightning.
The chess box clattered as he snatched it away.
Rita flung herself into his arms, sobs echoing through the pavilion. Seraphina’s scolding pierced through the chaos-“Must aggressive?“–but I no longer heard words, only the static buzz of dying promise.
you
be so
Julian’s face blurred before me, a faded film reel. The boy who once glowed brighter than midsun now twisted into ash–gray decay.
Fine. Only twenty days remained. Let him rot.
I scattered the remaining pieces across the board like casting funeral coins.
Several drops of blood fell onto the chessboard as I tossed the pieces.
When I stepped outside and felt my fingers turn cold, I realized I had unknowingly dug my nails into my palms, drawing blood.
“Olivia!” Julian called me.
His voice cracked with frostbite–sharp panic. But when he got up to chase me, Rita held his waist tightly and cried even harder.
I left the Shaw residence. Along the way, Julian kept calling, and I blocked him directly. Then, I sent a message to my mother–in–law: Give me 150 million! One penny less, I will let you pay a painful price!
Seraphine almost had a heart attack when she read the message.
I was driving down the road. At some point, the sky turned dark and it began to rain. My mind wandered. Suddenly, a yellow motorcycle whizzed past me. I got a fright and hit the brakes.
The next second, there was a loud “bang” and my car was rear–ended, slamming my head into the steering wheel and a sharp pain spreading from my forehead. I looked up and the rain–fogged world turned red.
I wiped the blood from my eyes, realizing that I was rear–ended but the motorcycle that had suddenly shot out was already out of sight.
“Knock, knock,” the door rang. I roll down the window.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
