After Him Chapter 4

The day I was discharged happened to be my birthday. Jameson came to pick me up himself and threw me a lavish birthday party at the Officers' Club.

The banquet hall was elegant and formal. He stayed by my side the entire time, pinning his highest military honor medal to my chest.

Drawing envious looks from everyone.

But all I felt was that medal weighing on my chest like a mountain.

Was he doing this out of guilt? Or did he think that if he placated me enough, I'd forget all the pain?

Halfway through, I couldn't breathe. I excused myself to the restroom.

I'd just turned the corner in the hallway when Riley blocked my path.

"Well, if it isn't tonight's happiest Major's wife," she said, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, her face full of mockery.

I didn't want to deal with her. I turned to leave, but she stepped in front of me.

"Jameson threw you this party, gave you that expensive medal—you must be pretty proud of yourself, huh?"

"But when you tried to report me and get me court-martialed, he still made you sign that forgiveness statement to get me out, didn't he?"

"You know how obsessed Jameson is with me? We've done it everywhere. And you're just a pathetic nobody, clinging to him desperately. What makes you think you can compete with me?"

Her words were like poisoned knives, carving up my already shattered heart over and over.

My face went pale. I just wanted to get away.

But she wouldn't let up. She suddenly grabbed my hand, her nails digging into my flesh, sending sharp pain through my arm.

"You should've taken the hint! Since you won't get the message, I'll have to teach you a lesson!"

"Last time I didn't manage to kill you. Let's see if you're lucky this time!"

The moment she finished speaking, two men in tactical gear emerged from the shadows and grabbed me from both sides, dragging me toward a suite on the top floor without giving me a chance to resist!

I struggled in terror, but my strength was nothing compared to theirs.

Riley's eyes were vicious yet triumphant. "Emma, since Jameson likes you so much, I'm going to destroy you completely! Let's see if he still wants damaged goods!"

A grotesque man with a leering smile approached the bed. I struggled desperately, drowning in despair.

Riley even pulled out her phone, ready to record everything!

Just as that disgusting hand was about to touch my clothes, there was a tremendous "BANG"—the suite door was kicked open!

Jameson stormed in like an enraged lion, radiating terrifying violence.

The moment he saw me on the bed, restrained and disheveled, his eyes went bloodred. With one perfectly executed military combat move, he instantly threw the man approaching me to the ground. The man didn't even have time to scream before losing consciousness.

"Emma!" He rushed over, released my restraints, and pulled my trembling body into his arms. "Don't be scared! I'm here! You're safe now..."

The terror of near-rape and overwhelming grief broke through my defenses all at once. I collapsed sobbing in his arms.

He lifted me in his arms, carefully wrapping his jacket around me, preparing to leave.

As we passed Riley, he stopped, his eyes ice cold. "Riley! I've overlooked your reckless behavior before because of our history, but you dare use methods this vile!"

"If anything had happened to Emma today, I would've had you executed under military law!"

Riley staggered back at the undisguised murderous intent in his eyes, then seemed to snap, screaming shrilly: "Execute me?! Our entire childhood together means less to you than these few years with her?"

"Fine! Jameson Carter, since you want me dead, I'll give you what you want right now!"

Without warning, she rushed toward the open floor-to-ceiling window and, before anyone could react, threw herself out without hesitation!

"Riley—!" Jameson's face went deathly pale. Almost instinctively, he dropped me and shot toward the window like lightning!

I fell hard onto the cold floor, unprepared, a sharp pain shooting through my ankle.

I crawled to the window and looked down to see Jameson running down like a madman, scooping up Riley's bloodied body and jumping into a military vehicle.

The engine roared violently as it sped away into the distance. Not once did he look back at me.

I collapsed on the cold floor, watching the car disappear, my chest nothing but endless cold and deathly silence.

Finally, I limped back to that so-called "home" alone.

Before I could catch my breath, Jameson burst through the door.

He grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight it felt like he'd crush my bones. "Riley's kidneys are damaged. She needs a transplant urgently. You're the only match in the entire city!"

"No! I won't donate! Jameson, are you insane? Why should I save her?"

I screamed, desperately trying to pull away, tears streaming down my face.

But he gripped my arm tighter, his eyes both obsessive and pleading. "Emma! I'm begging you! Riley jumped because of what I said. I can't watch her die! She's still young! Donating one kidney won't affect you much. I'll get the best doctors to care for you afterward. I'll make it up to you, I promise. Please?"

"No! I won't! You'll have to kill me first!"

I fought back hysterically, but against his absolute strength, it was useless.

In the end, he dragged me into the operating room and strapped me to the surgical table!

"Jameson Carter! I hate you! I hate you!!"

As the anesthesia took effect, my screams became my last conscious thought.