Revenge After Death ( Michael Ford ) novel Chapter 373

Perhaps I was unsettled, so I couldn't sleep soundly. After all, I had nearly been raped and trafficked.

I wondered how the old Stephanie Carlson would have handled it if she had been in that situation. She probably would have attacked Howard and Bobby with the knife before handing them over to the police, wouldn't she?

Regardless, I wasn't that Stephanie anymore.

Sometimes, I couldn't help but wonder if I was the Stephanie Carlson whom Steven loved. If Steven still loved that Stephanie, then was I — who had lost those memories and personality — the person he loved?

If a person's character had changed, would they still be considered the same person?

"Stephie… I want you to live on, that's all I ask."

"Steve… You can't hold me back."

"Stephanie Carlson, please don't be so cruel to me."

"But I have no heart… "

I had a nightmare. In the dream, I kept hurting myself, trying to end my life with all kinds of methods. I was seeking an escape.

Steven chained me up, cried, and begged me not to continue. He even went as far as hurting himself in front of me, threatening to end his life alongside mine if I wouldn't stop hurting myself — I watched him coldly, without intervening.

"If you want to die, I'll go with you; if you want to hurt yourself, I'll do it too," Steven threatened, though his voice sounded pleading.

I gazed at him coldly, struggling to break free from the chains. "It's no use, Steve. We can't escape from this… I'm a monster. I won't genuinely have feelings for you. Even if you were to die in front of me, I won't shed a tear for you."

Steven looked at me in despair, the knife in his hand fell to the ground, blood dripping from his fingertips. After a long silence, he spoke with reddened eyes, "Are you hungry, Stephie? I'll go buy you something to eat."

Then, he left, consumed by deep despair.

In the dream, I struggled desperately, the clashing sound of the iron chains causing my chest to ache terribly. I wanted to shout out to Steven, to stop him from hurting himself.

"No… Steve, don't. Steve!"

I woke up from the nightmare, breathing heavily, sweat dripping from my forehead and saturating my hair.

Steven hugged me from behind and whispered, "Stephie… did you have a nightmare?"

I looked at Steven, still breathing heavily, and after a long pause, I leaned into his embrace.