Chapter 49

**Sarah**

Trey swiftly positioned himself in front of me, shielding my trembling form from Jessica's wrath. The liquid Jessica had flung splattered onto his broad back, emitting an ominous wisp of smoke, indicating that the bottle's contents were anything but ordinary.

Jessica's eyes widened with fury. "Why did you intervene? You fool!" she spat at Trey.

Fear rippled through me, a shiver tracing down my spine as I grasped the gravity of Jessica's unraveling demeanor.

"Madam Sarah, keep your distance from that woman! She's not herself," Trey warned with urgency, lacing his words. Hastily, he shed his jacket, a precaution against the unknown substance Jessica had hurled. Only then did I spot the lingering splatters marring his frame, a stark reminder of the danger.

"You're stupid! I will kill that bitch!" Jessica seethed, her fury propelling her toward me, but in that instant, all I wanted was to strike her with whatever was within reach.

Closing the distance between us, I delivered a forceful punch to her face. Yes, that's right!  My palm was already stung against her surgically altered cheek. Yet, I was resolute in my determination to teach her a lesson.

"Ahhh!" Jessica's scream echoed her threats. "I'll sue you! Help! I'm being assaulted! This woman is a monster! She's attacking me!" Jessica's desperate cries reverberated through the air.

I have had enough of understanding her. I wanted to throw this bitch into the ocean and let the sharks deal with her!

With firm resolve, I gripped Jessica tightly.

"I didn't provoke you, you imbecile! Call the cops, Trey!"

Thank heavens Philip's bodyguard accompanied me; otherwise, this lunatic might have hurled that liquid at my face!

The police responded promptly. Within minutes, they arrived on the scene while Trey restrained Jessica, who appeared to be completely unhinged. I provided the officers with dashcam and surveillance footage from Apartment Number 5.

I called Amir to inform him of his ex-fiancée's alarming behavior.

"Amir, you need to come to my apartment," I said urgently.

I recognized that he might not have been in the best frame of mind, and honestly, I hesitated to involve him in this morning's chaos.

"What now?" he asked wearily.

"Your ex-fiancée almost seriously harmed me. The police informed me the substance she threw was acidic. Fortunately, Philip's bodyguard was with me. I hate to drag you into this, but what other choice do I have, brother? She's been stalking me since last night."

Currently, Jessica is in police custody due to her highly agitated state. She's visibly distressed, crying, and exhibiting dramatic behavior reminiscent of a stereotypical Karen. The police have had to restrain her in the vehicle as she's proving difficult to control. Dark circles under her eyes suggest she hasn't slept.

"No! It's not me! It's that bitch Sarah! She made me do this! She hurt me! Look, officer!" She pointed accusingly at her eyes, and I couldn't determine if my punch had caused the damage.

I was certain that by now, Amir had heard Jessica's frantic voice, even through the phone.

"I'm coming over," he stated.

I immediately called Jakob, conveying the message that we'd meet in the afternoon owing to the unexpected arrival of Amir's former fiancée at my apartment.

Some parts of Trey's neck, splashed with acid, had been treated. The liquid had caused burns on his skin, and the police were questioning me for a statement. Thankfully, the wounds were minor, but the thought of Jessica orchestrating this chilled me. Was disfiguring my face her ultimate intention?

Frustration gnawed at me relentlessly; consecutive problems prevented me from resting.

First, Philip's car pulled up, followed closely by Amir's. But it was the unexpected arrival of Bronn's car that truly caught me off guard.

"Sarah!" Both Amir and Philip called my name simultaneously before exchanging concerned glances and hurrying toward me.

Of the three men, my arms instinctively reached out to Amir, even though Philip had opened his arms.

"Are you alright?" Amir asked, his concern evident.

"Yes. I'm truly sorry," I apologized to Amir. I nearly brushed off Philip as he grew increasingly agitated, but he grabbed my robe and pulled me towards him, inspecting me closely.

"Amir!" Jessica's face lit up. She attempted to distance herself from the officer's grasp, but they refused to let her go. "Amir, you're here! I know you still love me!"

Hope radiated from Jessica's expression, as if she believed Amir might still reconcile with her.

"No, Jess. I'm severing all ties with you permanently. I won't forgive you if anything happens to Sarah," Amir said with ice in his voice.

"No, it's Sarah! She's the one behind the trouble at the engagement! She sabotaged our relationship! I won't betray you again, Amir! Please, please reconsider!" Jessica pleaded.

"It wasn't Sarah! I'm the one who operated that drone!" Amir revealed.

"What?" Jessica couldn't believe it.

"I witnessed your betrayal, Jess! I exposed to our guests the despicable things you did to me! Today was meant to be our wedding day, but instead, you'll be facing consequences for harming Sarah and her bodyguard!" Amir's words hit Jessica like a ton of bricks, realizing that Amir had indeed ended their relationship for good.

"Take that woman away! Bring her to the police! I don't want to see her again!" Amir exclaimed, his temples throbbing as he rubbed them.

Jessica wailed as the officers escorted her towards the waiting vehicle.

"Are you alright?" Bronn asked me.

"Yes, I'm fine. How did you find out about what happened this morning?" I inquired. I wouldn't be surprised if Philip were here; Trey likely reported to him.

"Jakob," Bronn replied.

"Oh! I never thought you would have a good relationship with him," I remarked, considering my friend's recent engagement with BM Technologies.

Philip abruptly pulled me away from Bronn. "She's mine!"

I rolled my eyes, Philip exuding his alpha vibe once again as if he were staking a claim. Who gave him the idea that I belonged to him anyway?

In the background, Jessica's voice pierced the air with chilling determination. "I'll seek revenge! I'll make sure you're ruined, Sarah!"

Her threats were all too familiar, yet they never failed to unsettle me.

Continuing her tirade, she added, "Amir, is this what you want? I'll find Marcus Blackwood and ensure that woman meets her end by his hand!"

Fear coursed through me at the mention of that name, Amir's eyes narrowing in response.

"I want that woman out of my sight!" Amir's chest heaved as fear drained the color from my face.

I glanced at Amir, desperation evident in my eyes. "How did Jessica find out about Marcus Blackwood?"

Guilt flickered across Amir's face. "I'm sorry I'll double your security."

Before Amir could react, Philip grabbed me, wrenching me away from my brother. "I'll be the one to double Sarah's security!"

Amir's jaw tightened. I sensed the urge rising within him, a fiery impulse to unleash a punch toward Philip's impeccably handsome countenance. "You're a fool! How can you do that when I don't trust you?"

My body trembled as I interjected, "How could you, Amir? Why did you tell Jessica?"

"I'm I'm sorry"

"Who the fuck is Marcus Blackwood?" Philip's rage surged, unable to comprehend the fear in my eyes or Amir's mounting anger at the mere mention of that name.

Trey's gaze met mine, a flicker of recognition igniting in his eyes at the mention of Marcus.

"Don't you dare raise your voice at me, Cornell! I'm not one of your subordinates!" Amir's eyes narrowed with a warning.

"I'll be the one protecting Sarah, as my bond with her surpasses any of yours."

Philip's smug expression grated on my nerves.

Amir couldn't help but snicker. I shot him a warning glance, silently urging him not to fuel Philip's ego.

Bronn's chuckle only served to escalate Philip's irritation.

Clearing my throat, I started, "Marcus Blackwood is..."