Nine C-Section, Nine Dead Sons, One Escape novel Chapter 9

And in my world, Nana June’s surgery went beautifully. heading to the hospital for a visit.

Outside the main entrance, a hand clamped around my arm.

I nearly dropped the thermos.

I turned. Julian.

I was carrying a thermos of chicken soup,

He was wearing what used to be a bespoke suit. Now it was shredded, stained, hanging off him in

tatters.

His hair was a wild mess. His eye sockets were sunken pits. His cheekbones jutted out like blades.

“Vivienne! Vivienne, I finally found you!”

He lunged and wrapped his arms around me, squeezing like he wanted to crush my bones into his.

“I was wrong. I was so wrong.”

“I know what you are now. I know you were sent here. Those children, you had them for the mission. Not for me.”

Tears welled up, bloodshot veins threading through his eyes.

“I failed you. Let me spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Come back with me. Please. I’ll never

betray you again…”

My body locked up. My blood turned to ice.

The bloody memories crashed back like a tide.

I shoved him off me and stumbled back several steps.

“I’m not Vivienne. I have my own name. My

name is Ruby Collins.”

“I have my own family. I’m Nana’s Ruby. I’m not going anywhere with you.”

Julian froze, then shook his head, eyes

rimmed red.

“No. You are Vivienne. You’re just still angry with me. Hit me then. Scream at me. I don’t care. Just come back with me, or let me stay here with you…”

He lurched forward again. I sidestepped.

I gripped the thermos and snapped a warning. “Take one more step and I’m calling the cops!”

Julian had no idea what that meant.

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He kept moving, reaching for me. “Vivienne, stop this. Just come with…”

I didn’t let him finish. I flung the entire thermos of scalding chicken soup at him.

“Ah!”

He screamed, stumbling back, burned.

I filled my lungs and shrieked.

“Help! This man is harassing me! Someone call security!”

The hospital entrance was crowded. Three security guards charged over in seconds.

Julian tried to push toward me again, but two guards grabbed his arms and wrenched them back.

He thrashed. His suit tore even worse.

touch me!”

“Let go of me! I’m the CEO of Ashworth Group! You can’t

Someone called 911.

The police arrived fast.

They hauled Julian away. He twisted his head back, screaming at me like a man possessed. “Vivienne, please! Forgive me! Hit me! Scream at me! I’ll take anything!”

“Don’t leave me! You’re all I have left…”

His voice faded. Distance swallowed it.

I didn’t look back.

I crouched down and stared at the spilled chicken soup splattered all over the pavement. Mourning it.

Right now, that man was worth less to me than a thermos of soup.

Time slipped past. Everything settled back into place. It was like he’d never existed in my life at all.

One day, the system’s voice chimed softly in my head.

[Host. Julian was arrested. He kept insisting he was the CEO of Ashworth Group, but he couldn’t produce any valid identification. He’s been declared mentally unfit. Transferred to a psychiatric hospital.]

I kept chopping vegetables. Didn’t respond.

The system continued.

[They’ve restrained him to a bed. Sedatives every day. The orderlies abuse him regularly. genuinely losing his mind now. He calls your name all day. Calls for the children…]

He’s

“Enough.”

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I cut it off. My voice was steady.

“I’m not interested in anything about him. Don’t bring him up again.”

The system paused. Then it let out a quiet sigh.

[Understood, Host. Thank you for completing all the tasks. I wish you a long and peaceful life.]

I kept cooking. Set the food on the table. Called Nana June for dinner.

She took a bite. Her eyes crinkled into crescents.

“Sweetheart, your cooking gets better every time!”

I smiled and piled more food into her bowl.

“Then eat more.”

We laughed and teased each other through the meal.

After dinner, washing dishes, I glanced out the window. Spring sunlight was spilling everywhere. A few

birds had settled on a branch, chattering away.

The road ahead was long.

And I was going to live it well.

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