Chapter 10 +30 Bonus Chapter 10 Then she just snapped, shrieking, "Why don't you just die?!" The air went ice cold. Shayne's face shifted in an instant. He grabbed her wrist. "Do you even hear yourself?!" But she looked possessed, eyes wild as they clung to him. "Don't you love me? Were all those moments between us fake? And the amusement park-why won't you admit what's really in your heart?!" That was it-Shayne finally lost it. His hand flew before he could stop himself. Smack! The crack of it echoed down the hallway. Vanessa staggered, clutching her cheek, eyes wide in shock. "Wake up!" Shayne's voice cut like ice. "That was you begging me to play boyfriend for your parents. I never loved you. From start to finish, Leyla's the only one." Tears streamed down Vanessa's face. She shook her head, wild and broken. "No! That's a lie! You cared about me-you promised marriage!" Her voice shot higher, sharp enough to pierce glass. "That day at the amusement park, when you knelt down, you said you'd love me forever!" Shayne's stare went frostbite cold. "How long are you gonna keep lying to yourself? You were the one on your knees, begging me to put on a show. "How many times do I need to spell it out? I never loved you. From day one, my heart's only been with Leyla." Her face drained to chalk. She staggered back, lips trembling. "N-No... impossible. You did-" Then her gaze snapped to me, pure madness burning through. She jabbed a finger my way. "It's because of her! If it weren't for her, you would've loved me!" Shayne stepped in front of me, voice sharp as steel. "No. Even without Leyla, I'd never love someone as twisted as you." Vanessa's face warped, snapping completely. She yanked a fruit knife from her bag, screaming, "No! If Leyla dies, everything will be fine!" The blade caught the light as she lunged. *** "Leyla!" 1/2 Chapter 10 In a blur, Shayne yanked me into his arms. Shhk. The knife sank into his stomach. Time froze. His face twisted, blood spreading across his white shirt like someone spilled red paint. Vanessa's hand shook on the handle, voice cracking. "Shayne, you-" He clenched his jaw, somehow still on his feet. "There will never be an us." Sirens wailed closer. +30 Bonus Mrs. Kerwood, my neighbor, poked her head out from the hallway, eyes wide. "Ms. Landon, are you okay? I saw that lunatic with a knife and called the cops." "Thank you." My voice sounded robotic, all my focus locked on Shayne. He was pale, but still managed a weak smile. "I finally get it. I've been a coward. But Leyla... I can protect you too." I couldn't move. Just stared. Cops stormed in, cuffing Vanessa as she shrieked, "He was supposed to be mine!" The ambulance screeched up. I climbed in beside him. Medics worked frantically, my hands shaking uncontrollably. "Don't cry," he whispered, brushing at my tears with a trembling hand. "I'm sorry. I failed you." I squeezed his hand, sobbing. "Save your strength. Stop talking."