I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 146

Now that she had been caught, she was ready to die. And she was determined to take someone down with her.

In her eyes, everyone in this room represented the gross injustice of the world, and Bonnie was the ultimate target.

Winona kept ranting, half muttering to herself, half screaming at the room.

"Why is life so unfair? I just wanted to survive! I broke my back working day and night for years, completely ruining my health! And when my son got his own family, he treated me like a burden! What did I do wrong? I just want to live!"

"Please, just calm down," Nora said, forcing her voice to remain steady despite her racing heart. "Your illness isn't incurable. Medical technology is incredibly advanced now. If you let her go, Mr. Harrison can get you the best doctors in the world. You have a way out. Don't throw your life away."

Winona froze. In that microscopic second of hesitation, the tactical officers behind her moved within arm's reach.

But just as one of the officers lunged to grab Bonnie, Winona sensed the shift in the air behind her.

Her pupils dilated violently. All hesitation evaporated, replaced by pure, psychotic rage as she drove the knife straight down toward Bonnie.

The moment Winona's eyes shifted, Nora lunged. Her body reacted faster than her brain. Before the blade could fall, she violently yanked Bonnie out of Winona's grip, shielding the child with her own body, unable to dodge in time.

The blade slashed viciously across her left arm. The cold, sharp bite of steel slicing through fabric and flesh was agonizingly clear, instantly followed by a rush of scalding heat as blood poured down, soaking her sleeve a deep, gruesome red.

Terrified, Bonnie wailed against her chest, her tiny fists death-gripping Nora's collar. "Nora! Nora, are you okay?!"

Then her knees buckled. Her consciousness rapidly slipped away, plunging her into total darkness as all sound faded out.

Bonnie shrieked, "Nora!"

She fought frantically against her father's hold, trying to get to her.

Xander frowned, a deeply complex emotion warring in his eyes. He set Bonnie down, bent over, and scooped Nora effortlessly into his arms.

She was much lighter than he expected. Her blood smeared against his wet suit cuff. Looking at the dark crimson stain, his face darkened, and he barked at his assistant, "Get the car! We're going to the hospital!"