The rain seemed to be getting heavier, filling the mud puddle with more water.
Trapped in the mud, Elena couldn't stand up. She had no choice but to take the beating.
She waited silently for an opening. If Emily dared to get close enough, she would use the same method to kill her, too.
But Emily had learned her lesson. She kept her distance, knowing Elena couldn't get up, and struck her repeatedly with the long club.
Thwack!
Thwack!
Elena gritted her teeth, holding on.
She was beaten into the ground, feeling consciousness slipping away.
Rainwater streamed down her face, blurring her vision.
"Stop!" A voice suddenly called out, interrupting Emily.
"Why are you bullying a homeless person?" the newcomer demanded.
"None of your business! Get lost! Don't meddle in things that don't concern you. I'm going to kill her today!" Emily screamed like a madwoman.
The newcomer stepped forward and looked down at Elena. When she saw her face, she gasped in shock.
"Elena! It's you!"
Hearing someone call her name, Elena forced her eyes open and saw a familiar face.
"Bian..." It was Bianca.
What was Bianca doing here?
Elena didn't have the strength to ask.
"You better get out of here. Do you know who she is? She's Elena Whelan, of the Whelan family, and Dylan's fiancée. If you don't leave right now, I'll call people over, and you'll be in more trouble than you can handle!"
Emily panicked.
"You saved me?" Elena asked.
"Who else? It's just my bad luck to run into you in this godforsaken dump," Bianca rolled her eyes.
"Why did you save me?"
"Because I have a good heart. Besides, we were classmates, and you helped me once before. My conscience got the better of me, so I brought you back. There aren't many beautiful, kind-hearted people like me left. You got lucky."
Elena managed a faint smile. "Why are you in Riverton County?"
"My grandmother lives here. It's my mom's hometown. My grandmother got sick a few days ago, so I came with my mom to take care of her. Who knew I'd run into you? How much do the Sterling siblings hate you to do this? The doctor said you're the worst case she's ever seen. You've got knife wounds everywhere. Luckily, none were fatal, but the rain caused infections. If I hadn't brought you in, you would have died."
"It wasn't them. They aren't capable of this. I just had bad luck and fell into the wrong hands. Kicked while I was down, basically."
Idiots like Emily and Harrison couldn't have inflicted these injuries on their own. They just took advantage of the situation.
Bianca sensed that Elena's situation was complicated.
Even on the boat that time, facing a heavily armed group, Elena had held her own. She had been fine.

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