Chapter 293

Exe hadn’t eaten much, hadn’t responded to knocks, and was already frail to begin with. “Could she have fainted? Adriel entrusted her to me–if something happens to that girl under my roof, how would I…”

Kaderly called gently through the door. “Elsie, if you won’t answer, I’m coming in.”

Inside, particles surged through Elsie's bloodshot eyes. “No–please don’t open the door.”

The door creaked open and Kaderly stepped into the dim room. “Elsie?”

Insight dawned. The bed was empty. Where was she?

Kaderly swayed, stumbling back as she was tackled to the ground.

Kaderly cried out, her voice rising in terror.

But the girl towering over her wasn't…

It wasn't Elsie looking at her. It was a weapon.

Her eyes were glowing red, veins bulging, and her stare was hollow.

Kaderly tried to struggle. “Elsie, what are you doing? Stop! Somebody…”

But the words choked off in her throat as Elsie’s hands closed around her neck.

An uninvited spite played on the girl’s lips–one belonging to someone who knew nothing but blood.

The other had taken over.

Voices echoed outside the door.

The servants had heard the commotion and rushed in–only to be stunned by what they saw.

Two of them dared to move forward, trying to pull Elsie off. “What are you doing? Let her go!”

But the moment they touched her, Elsie lashed out. With terrifying ease, she threw both adults across the room. Their bodies slammed into the walls like rag dolls.

Kimberly gasped, her vision dimming as Elsie’s grip tightened.

Her skin turned purple. Air refused to reach her lungs.

Then suddenly–the pressure released.

Elsie’s face twisted in pain. She rolled off Kimberly, clutching her head and slamming it into the floor, over and over.

Blood spilled freely.

Kimberly staggered toward the bleeding girl, but Elsie snapped her head up, eyes wild. “Stay back!”

Kimberly froze in her tracks.

Elsie was shaking violently, hands digging into her scalp. “I can’t control it. They gave me an order to kill you all. Please… while I still have some control, run. Hide, all of you.”

And again–she bashed her head into the floor. Blood splattered across the wood, even staining Kimberly’s legs.

Kimberly’s voice broke. “Elsie, what about you–what are you going to do?”

But Elsie was barely clinging to herself. When Kimberly hesitated, she shouted, “Go! Do you want to die?!”

That snapped Kimberly out of it.

She bolted to her feet and ran for the door. Before leaving, she turned back. “Elsie! Think about Adriel! Please–hold on for Adriel!”

Chapter 293

At the mention of his name, Elsie…

“Adriel…”

She clung to that thought, shaking her head violently. “I don’t want to go back to that monster. I want to be Adriel’s bride, not a weapon!”

Kimberly and the staff slammed the door shut behind them, racing out of the house.

Just as they reached the driveway, Adriel arrived, alerted by the emergency call.

Seeing his mother disheveled, bruised, and breathless, his heart stopped. “Mom? What happened?!”

Kimberly didn’t waste time. She grabbed Vincent’s hand and started dragging him away. “We need to get out of here. Elsie lost control. She said the lab ordered her to kill us.”

Vincent paled. “Wait–your neck. Was that her doing?”

“I almost died, Vincent. But she was fighting it–just like Noelle that night. She didn’t want to…”

Vincent frowned. “And now she’s what, bashing her head on the floor to stay conscious? She’s going to give herself brain damage!”

Kimberly snapped. “You think brain damage is worse than death?”

They piled into the car, and Kimberly frantically called Vincent to explain everything.

Meanwhile, Adriel was already making a U-turn.

“Dad, Mom,” he said calmly over the phone. “I have to go back.”

Vincent gripped his son’s arm before he could leave. “Adriel, think this through. She’s fully lost it, she might kill you, too!”

Adriel’s gaze was steady. “Or she might be clinging on, barely waiting for me.”

He turned to Kimberly. “Mom said she was hurting herself to stay in control?”

Kimberly nodded tearfully.

“Then how can I turn my back on her now?” he said gently. “She’d rather die than hurt you. How can I just abandon her?”

Then he drove straight for the house.

Back at the now-empty Anderson estate, Adriel made his way through the silent halls.

He headed up to the second floor. The door to Elsie’s room was already open.

His heart pounded.

Blood pooled just inside the doorway.

Adriel swallowed hard–and stepped inside. “Elsie?” he called softly. “It’s me, Adriel.”

The next moment, he was tackled to the ground.

His eyes widened in horror. Her once-beautiful face was smeared with blood, her forehead torn open, crimson trickling down her cheeks. Her eyes gleamed with feral madness.

She looked like a wild beast.

Adriel stayed still, then slowly reached toward her.

She recoiled, swatting his hand away. Stepped back, trembling.

He sat up, speaking gently. “It’s okay, I’m not here to hurt you. It’s me–Adriel. Come here.”

Chapter 293

Her eyes flicked to his hand. Then, without warning, she lashed out.

Her nails raked across his skin, leaving a deep gash on the back of his hand.

Adriel hissed in pain–but didn’t pull away.

Elsie flinched. Her eyes darted to the wound in horror. She backed away, looking like a child who’d just broken a toy.

She didn’t reply.

But she didn’t run.

Adriel realized she was in a haze–caught between herself and the darkness inside.

He seized the moment and lunged forward, wrapping her tightly in his arms.

Elsie shrieked, struggling to escape.

But he held on. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you, Elsie–remember me. It’s Adriel. Come back to me.”

She thrashed wildly.

But gradually, as she breathed in his scent, something shifted.

Her muscles loosened.

Her frantic movements slowed.

Her head rested against his shoulder.

He held her tighter.

“Elsie?” he whispered.

A beat passed. Then another. Finally, her trembling fingers clutched his shirt. And in a voice barely above a breath, she said, “Adriel.”