Chapter 4 There was a full - grown tiger and a black wolf inside . They seemed to have caught some kind of scent , crashing around wildly in their cage . The black wolf howled at the sky , its fierce tawny eyes locked onto her with an intense wildness . Gabrielle instinctively took a step back , suddenly remembering the bouquet with its weirdly strong smell . Trying to shake off her fear and unease , she said , " Leonardo , I'm not feeling well . I want to go back to my room . In the past , whenever she mentioned not feeling well , he would get super worried and take her back right away . But this time , he just frowned and sighed . " Gabrielle , don't be difficult . She's been planning this for ages . Gabrielle felt like there was a lump in her throat . She forced out a bitter smile . The show kicked off , and Alaina was trying to direct the tiger and black wolf , but her moves were a bit clumsy . The two fierce animals weaved through the flaming hoops and crossed the narrow bridge , and at first glance , everything looked fine . " Awesome ! This is amazing ! " Chapter 4 288 Wouchers Leonardo kept cheering , his eyes glued to Alaina with so much affection . He completely ignored that Gabrielle couldn't even " see " this performance meant as an " apology" for her . But that wasn't even the biggest issue . The panic in Gabrielle's heart was growing stronger , and her hands were shaking more than ever . Because only she could tell that the tiger and the black wolf were glancing back at her more often . And in their eyes , there was a wild , hungry look . She started to step back slowly , one foot after another . Just when she thought she'd moved out of their reach , a scream pierced through . Alaina on the command platform swayed dangerously . She fell over , and the chain in her hand snapped loose with a sharp jolt . At that moment , the tiger and the black wolf suddenly started roaring like crazy . " Alaina ! " Leonardo yelled out without thinking , then rushed forward like a sword ready to strike . As soon as he took off , Gabrielle was left completely vulnerable to those two beasts . The tiger and the black wolf abruptly stopped their wild movements and showed their sharp teeth at her . Gabrielle's eyes widened in fear , her breath caught in her throat . Chapter 4 In an instant , two massive dark shapes lunged at her . " It hurts ! It's so painful ! " It felt like her insides were being crushed . " Ah ! " A desperate scream escaped from Gabrielle's lips . 288 Vouchers Her vision turned red with blood . Through the haze not far away , she saw the man holding Alaina tightly in his arms , protecting her completely . ******** When Gabrielle opened her eyes again , she found herself in a VIP room at the hospital owned by the Ferney family . The sharp pain in her chest and legs made her let out a muffled groan . " Don't move , " the nurse said as she pressed down on Gabrielle's shoulder . " You're really lucky to be alive . You've got three broken ribs and a bleeding liver . Last night , only Dr. Hackhet was left in the ER , and another patient's family member insisted that he treat his wife first- claiming she was pregnant . " Luckily , her injuries were just minor scratches , so it didn't hold up Dr. Hackhet from taking care of you , " By the way , where are your family members ? " Gabrielle felt like she'd been run over by a truck . Her voice came out dry and raspy . " I don't have any family . " The nurse paused for a moment , sympathy filling her eyes . Alaina's voice drifted in from outside the room . " Leonardo , I'm so sorry ! I had no idea things would spiral out of control like that . It's my fault Ms. Chapter 4 Padgett got hurt . " " Alaina , this isn't on you . You got hurt too . " He gently kissed away the tears at the corners of her eyes . " You're still carrying our baby . Don't cry , just go back to your room and rest . " 284 Vouchers Alaina cried even harder . " I don't want to go back . I want to apologize to Ms. Padgett . " This was the third time Gabrielle heard the word " apologize ," and she couldn't hold it in anymore . She raised her hand and smashed the cup on the floor . The noise outside went quiet right away , and Leonardo rushed in . " Hey , honey , are you thirsty ? Let me get you some water . " Seeing his genuine concern , Gabrielle suddenly felt completely drained . " Did you find out what happened ? Why did they freak out all of a sudden ? " Her voice was rough , and there was a final glimmer of light in her eyes . The tiger and black wolf clearly sensed something that sent them into a frenzy - and she was their only target . " It was just an accident , " Leonardo said quickly as he wrapped her up in a blanket . " Just focus on getting better , okay ? Don't overthink things . " The last spark of light in Gabrielle's eyes vanished completely . She stared at him for a long moment , her heart aching with sharp bursts of pain . Three years ago , she went out by herself to save a female cat that was Chapter 4 giving birth in the middle of a rainstorm . But she never thought she'd run into a bunch of thugs who had bad intentions toward her . When Leonardo showed up , he just happened to see the gang leader grabbing her arm and dragging her into an alley . 285 Vouchers A flash of rage lit up his eyes . " Beat them up and leave them with one last breath . " The screams from the alley went on for three whole hours , and there was so much blood it almost turned the ground red . Gabrielle had never seen him this angry before . In the end , all those thugs ended up in prison . The one who laid hands on her got his arm broken and was tortured to death behind bars . But now , she'd been beaten nearly black and blue , almost losing her life over it . Yet he didn't even bother to look into it at all or suspect Alaina in the slightest bit . A heavy silence settled in Gabrielle's heart . She calmly turned away and said , " I understand . " Leonardo had a feeling that something was off . But before he could figure it out , he heard some noise coming from Alaina's room , He quickly got up . " Honey , I'll go whip up some food for you . Just hang tight . " Gabrielle just lay there quietly , not even looking at him . In "A Lady Hard to Please" by CrushReels, a single mother makes a poignant return to the city she fled seven years ago. Her mission: to secure treatment for her son's leukemia, setting the stage for an emotional journey of love and resilience amidst past heartbreak. As her ex-lover reenters her life upon hearing of her return, old wounds resurface, sparking a complex web of emotions and decisions that delve deep into themes of forgiveness, second chances, and the enduring power of love. This modern romance novel stands out for its raw portrayal of familial bonds tested by adversity, offering readers a compelling exploration of human strength and vulnerability. With a captivating blend of heart-wrenching moments and tender revelations, "A Lady Hard to Please" promises a captivating read that lingers in the heart long after the final page. Available to read online at CrushReel for those seeking a tale that transcends boundaries and speaks to the resilience of the human spirit.