Louis opened the car door for Verena, his expression showing a mix of curiosity and concern as she settled into the seat.
He took his place behind the wheel and started the engine, leaving Vincent standing alone on the sidewalk, his gaze following the departing car.
Vincent couldn't help but feel a bitter pang of rejection, a stark contrast to the power and control he had wielded in their school days.
In that cafeteria from years ago, Vincent had been a bully, and Ariana had been his ringleader. They targeted Verena, who had been sitting alone; her vulnerability was a stark contrast to their cruelty.
Vincent approached Verena with a false smile, feigning friendliness. "Hi, Verena. You're alone?" he had asked, luring her into a false sense of security.
Verena, startled but eager for a friendly face, had smiled shyly and nodded. It was a mistake she would never forget.
In an instant, Vincent snatched her lunch tray and poured its contents onto her head. Noodles splattered across her hair, soup dripped onto her dress, and the table was a mess.
Laughter erupted in the cafeteria, and Verena found herself alone, humiliated, and unable to defend herself.
As she glared at Vincent, he noticed her defiance and responded with a vicious slap to her face, his words dripping with venom. "Look down!" he ordered.
Verena obeyed, tears welling in her eyes, as Ariana's laughter echoed from the other side of the cafeteria, where she sat with her minions, revelling in the power she held over others.
Years had passed, and Verena had transformed herself into a confident, successful individual, leaving behind the painful memories of her school days.
Vincent, on the other hand, was left to ponder the life he had chosen, a life now marked by rejection and isolation.
Louis couldn't help but notice the distant look in Verena's eyes as they drove, and he knew that the memories of her past must have been flooding back.
Concerned for her well-being, he gently asked, "Are you alright, Verena?"
Verena nodded, appreciating his empathy, but the turmoil inside her was hard to ignore. She had come a long way from those painful school days, but the scars still ran deep.
Suddenly, a surge of anger coursed through Louis, and he found himself clenching the steering wheel, his mind racing.
"Is Vincent a friend of Ariana's?" he asked, his voice tight with an intensity that surprised Verena.
Verena, somewhat taken aback by the question, nodded again, unsure of where this line of inquiry was leading.
Louis accelerated, the car picking up speed as he plotted his course of action. His thoughts were consumed with the idea of revenge for what Verena had endured.
When they arrived at their destination, Verena was the first to step out of the car. She rushed to her room without waiting for Louis, leaving him to contemplate his plans.
Inside the mansion, Liliya, the ever-watchful maid, had learned of Young Mistress Verena's arrival. She hurried to Verena's room, only to find it locked.
Concern creased her brow as she approached Louis, greeting him respectfully. "Young Master Louis, greetings. Young Mistress has locked herself in her room."
Louis eyes left Liliya's and fixed on the locked door. "Let her be," he replied, a sense of determination in his voice. "And don't forget, we are expected at the grand mansion. Remind her, and the rest, well, you know."
Liliya nodded, watching as Louis walked away with purposeful strides.
She couldn't help but wonder if something had transpired between Verena and Louis during their absence and what he might have planned.
Liliya stood outside Verena's locked door, her concern deepening. Seeing her lock herself in her room was unusual, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something had happened during their absence.
After a few moments of hesitation, Liliya knocked gently on the door.
"Young Mistress Verena," she called softly, her voice filled with genuine worry. "Is everything alright? Young Master Louis said we are expected at the grand mansion."
From inside the room, there was a long pause and then the sound of a shuffling, as if Verena had moved closer to the door. "I... I need a moment, Liliya," Verena replied, her voice trembling slightly.
She was torn between confronting her past and the protective instincts Louis had awoken in her. And now she had to go to the Heisenbergs' grand mansion and pose as Louis' fiancée.
Liliya sighed softly. "Of course, Young Mistress. Take all the time you need. But remember, the grand mansion is waiting, and we should not keep them waiting too long."
As Liliya retreated from the door, she couldn't help but wonder about the changes she had observed in Young Master Louis.
He had always been reserved and composed, but today there was a fire in his eyes, a determination she hadn't seen before.
Meanwhile, inside the room, Verena paced back and forth, grappling with her emotions. She had come so far from the bullied girl she used to be, but the wounds from the past still had the power to hurt her.
She glanced at the mirror, seeing her reflection and the strong woman she had become.
Verena entered the spacious bathroom, her steps echoing against the tiles as she made her way to the bathtub lazily.
Feeling emotionally overwhelmed, Verena needed a release, a way to cleanse herself from the haunting memories of her past.
She hesitated only for a moment before turning the faucet, allowing the water to gush into the bathtub. The sound of rushing water filled the room, a soothing backdrop to the turmoil in her heart.
As the water filled the tub, Verena undressed slowly, her movements deliberate.
She could feel the coolness of the tiles beneath her bare feet, a stark contrast to the warm, inviting water that beckoned her.
Verena lowered herself into the tub, the water enveloping her body in its soothing embrace. Her trembling hands reached out, and she scooped handfuls of water, letting it cascade over her face.
The water splashed across her cheeks, mingling with the tears that had begun to stream down.
The sobs wracked her body as Verena rubbed her skin with the water, as if trying to wash away the touch that filthy man had left. She let the water flow over her, feeling it cleanse not just her body but her soul as well.
Time seemed to stand still as Verena allowed herself this moment of vulnerability. The water around her became a sanctuary where she could let her emotions flow freely.
She cried, her tears merging with the water, and in that private sanctuary, she found a small measure of solace.
As the water level rose, Verena lay in the tub. She dipped her head, fully covered with water.
"Dip her head down!" Ariana's voice was harsh and demanding, and Verena could hear the fear in her own voice as she gasped for air.
"AHH!" Ariana kicked Amelia's back hard, and she cried out in pain.
"Do as I say!" Ariana was not one to ask twice, and Amelia, Verena's best friend, hesitated but obeyed the cruel command.
"You should have listened to her before getting a kick." Kate remarked and teased Amelia. Everyone burst out laughing at the bestfriends.
Verena's heart raced as she struggled in the water, her fear escalating with each passing second. The swimming pool, once a place of fun and relaxation, had become a nightmare.
She knew Ariana's orders were not to be ignored, especially when she repeated herself.
Amelia's tears mixed with the pool water as she reluctantly followed Ariana's lead, pushing Verena's head underwater repeatedly.
Verena's cries for help were muffled by the water filling her mouth; her desperate attempts to break free met with even more force from Amelia.
Verena's long-standing fear of water intensified her panic. She thrashed and kicked, desperately trying to break free, but it was a losing battle.
The pool's depths seemed relentless, and the terror that had plagued her since childhood threatened to overwhelm her completely.
"Let's go, everyone," Ariana ordered her minions, and with sinister giggles, they began to leave the pool area.
Ariana's cold eyes remained fixed on Verena as she continued to struggle in the water. Her smirk revealed the twisted pleasure she took in Verena's torment.
With a sudden, cruel jerk, Ariana pulled Amelia out of the water, leaving Verena to fend for herself.
Panic and desperation took hold of Verena as she fought to stay afloat, her cries for help unheard amidst the echoing laughter of the bullies.
As the seconds ticked by and Verena's strength dwindled, the pool's water seemed to grow even darker and more unforgiving.
With a final, feeble gasp for air, Verena succumbed to the relentless pressure and lost consciousness beneath the water's surface. There was no helping hand, no rescue in sight, just a chilling void that swallowed her into darkness.
Verena rose out of the tub and gasped for water. Her eyes were burning from hate and tears as she tried to gather her thoughts. The memories of that fateful day at the pool flooded back, reminding her of the pain and humiliation that still haunted her.