The Wrong Girl and the Wronged Girl (Stella and Ethan) novel Chapter 861

861 The Calm Before the Storm

“Dan got beaten up again—twice—and he’s back in the hospital!” Seban’s voice cracked urgently over the phone.

Ashley stood frozen for a moment, her heart pounding, before she blurted out, “I’m leaving Aria right now. No questions.”

The news of Maric’s pregnancy combined with Dan’s hospitalization hit like a bombshell. Ashley didn’t hesitate for even a second; she was already packing her bags mentally, ready to escape.

See? They hadn’t been wrong about Marie. That woman was downright terrifying.

The violence had been relentless in Aria.

When Lancelot received Sebastian’s call, his reaction mirrored Ashley’s. Without a second thought, he declared, “I’m out of Falvaria. This isn’t safe anymore.”

They weren’t just laying low; they were running for their lives.

Meanwhile, Derrick tried desperately to soothe Marie, whose emotions were a chaotic storm. Every time she seemed to calm down, the memory of that night reignited her fury.

“Sebastian dragged you away alone? You really think he’s strong enough? Or maybe you just wanted to run,” she snapped, her voice sharp and accusing.

Run away…

That was the last thing Marie ever expected.

If Dan had done it, she might have believed it. That bastard had faked his own death once before—sleeping with her and then disappearing sounded just like something he’d pull.

But Derrick?

And Derrick actually ran?

She couldn’t make sense of it. It was impossible to accept.

Derrick stayed silent when she pressed him.

He met her gaze but said nothing—after all, Lancelot and Ashley were his friends.

And friends… well, you didn’t just betray them so easily.

But seeing how furious Marie was, he finally spoke. “Ashley and Lancelot were there too.”

Marie froze in place.

When she realized Ashley and Lancelot had been involved, her anger flared even higher.

Ashley. Lancelot.

“Goddammit!” she shouted, voice trembling with rage. “Those two are your friends, which means they’re my friends too! We grew up together—Ashley was even my classmate! I treated them like family, and this is how they repay me? I swear, I’m going to kill them!”

Her entire body shook with fury.

Lately, Marie felt trapped in a web of betrayals—every corner she turned, another trap awaited her.

It seemed like everyone was out to ruin her.

Derrick, realizing Ashley and Lancelot were next on Marie’s hit list, quickly sent a text to Sebastian, warning them to hide.

Sebastian replied, “Already made the calls. They’re both leaving Falvaria.”

Smart move.

Marie couldn’t control herself when she was this angry. Hiding was definitely the safer option.

Her rage was so overwhelming it almost shut her down.

“Alright, alright, calm down, okay?” Derrick said softly, reaching out to take her hand.

But she jerked away, her eyes blazing. “What the hell were you thinking?”

Derrick wasn’t that kind of man. He was too proud, too stubborn for something like that.

That was exactly why she never believed him when he said he was the one that night.

Derrick simply wasn’t someone who would run away.

“The situation was complicated,” he began. “I just—”

He didn’t finish. One sharp look from Marie shut him up immediately.

“You slept with me, and that’s what you call complicated?” she snapped.

He fell silent again.

That question was a trap—there was no good answer.

Marie exhaled sharply. “I don’t even know what to say to you anymore.”

What a mess everything had become.

Derrick tried once more, gently taking her hand. “Come on, don’t be mad, okay?”

“Hmph!”

Marie was still seething, unable to make sense of any of it. “Why did you even run?”

“When I came back, you were already beating Dan senseless,” Derrick explained quietly. “Lancelot and Ashley were begging me not to—”

“Enough!” she cut him off with a fierce glare.

Every word he said only fueled her anger.

Especially since that morning, the very first thing she did after waking up was to beat him up again.