Chapter 266 Josh Witnesses the Real Mia
Mia froze in ce, her hand slowly lowering the de. "Josh?"
"Yeah." He nodded, his eyes shadowed with something unreadable.
Mia stayed quiet for a beat. When she finally spoke, her voice was rough. "You saw all of it?"
"Yeah.” Josh didn''t flinch. He just stood there, staring at her with that deep, unreadable look.
Silence settled over them like a weight.
Finished
The wind slipped through the alley, cool against Mia''s face. The sharp, metallic smell of blood lingered thick in the air.
Finally, Josh broke the silence. "Mia... what you did-it''s a crime."
She raised her chin. "So what? You gonna call the cops on me?"
Josh looked at her, then sighed. "No."
"Then move," she said, shoving him. But he caught her wrist.
His grip was like iron. She couldn''t break loose.
"Come with me," he said. Firm. No room for argument.
Mia pulled back. "Why the heck should I?"
Josh stared at her. "Are you nning to walk back to campus looking like a murder scene?"
She froze again. Looked down.
Her clothes were soaked in blood. Under the harsh glow of the streemp, the red looked almost fluorescent.
She didn''t fight him after that. She let him take her to the car.
The car cut through the night, city lights flickering across the ss. Neon streaks danced over Mia''s nk, frozen face.
Josh brought her back to his apartment.
He unlocked the door, stepped aside, and gestured for her to go in. She did
without a word. He followed and shut the door quietly behind them.
"You should clean up," he said evenly.
Mia didn''t say anything. She headed straight for the bathroom.
Momentster, the sound of running water filled the silence.
Chapter 266 Josh Witnesses the Real Mia
It was hard to tell how long he sat like that before the water finally stopped. Mia emerged from the bathroom in a white robe.
Finished
Her hair was still damp, strands clinging to her cheeks. Droplets slid from the ends of her hair, catching the light. Her skin looked pale and wless under the glow-fresh from the water, cool and untouchable
Josh looked over and paused.
His gaze darkened slightly. He didn''t look away right away.
Mia didn''t hesitate. She walked straight up to Josh, snatched the wine ss out of his hand, and downed it in one gulp.
Then she grabbed the bottle and tilted it back, drinking everyst drop like water.
By the time it was empty, her cheeks were flushed pink and her eyes had that unfocused, dazed look
She set the bottle down and stared at Josh, her voice raspy. "Got any more?"
"No," he said.
She squinted at him. "You''re lying."
Josh stayed silent.
Mia turned and stormed into the kitchen. She opened the cab, pulled out a
bottle of whiskey, twisted the cap, and raised it to her lips.
Josh was in front of her in seconds. "What are you doing?"
"I can''t take this. Just let me drink."
He looked at her, something pained in his expression. "Drinking isn''t gonna help.
It''ll mess you up worse."
She shot him a bitter look. "Toote for that. I already am messed up."
Her voice cracked, her eyes watering.
"Do you even know who I just destroyed? She''s the one who deafened Laurie. The one who shattered her leg. Laurie''s whole life is wrecked-and that woman gets to walk free? Gets a second chance?"
Her voice rose, her control slipping.
"And
guess what-she got 140,000 dors from Keh''s parents. She said she wants to live her best life. Can you believe that? Isn''t it sick? She hurt Laurie. My kind and sweet Laurie. So I made sure she got it all back. I didn''t stop at making her deaf or crippled—I made her blind, mute, and left her with broken hands and feet. Even if they patch her up, she won''t be able to speak, see, hear, or walk again. She''s done. Finished. Hahaha!"
Mia burst into loud, wildughter. But even as sheughed, tears streamed down her face.
She tinned the bottle and took another hard drink
09:13 Sat, 5 Apr
Chapter 266 Josh Witnesses the Real Mia
Josh caught her just in time, both hands steadying her body before she could copse.
#Finished
Mia leaned into his chest, muttering through heavy, slurred breaths. "It doesn''t matter how much I get back at them... Laurie''s never going to be the same. Why is life so damn unfair? She''s one of the best people I''ve ever known-and look what happened to her. You have no idea what she went through living with the Bets. Three years of hell. She was in high school, drowning in assignments, but still had to put on a smile for those monsters. She worked through holidays just so that bastard Lucas could afford school. She even tutored me. And despite all that, she still ranked number one every year. Still earned every schrship."
Josh had already looked into Lauren''s background. He knew she''d suffered. But hearing it straight from Mia -shaking, crying-it hit differently.
"Hey," he said softly, "don''t cry. It''s gonna get better."
Mia shook her head hard, her tears streaming. "It''s not. Laurie''s not getting better. She''s disabled, for life. So I''ll do what she won''t. She''s too good for revenge-but I''m not. If thew won''t punish the people who did this to her... then I will. I''ll make them pay. Ten times over. A hundred. I''ll make sure they never get to breathe easy again."
Josh''s jaw tightened.
What Mia had done... it
she''d end up in a cell.
sn''t just revenge anymore. It was criminal. And if the wrong person found out-
"Mia, you''re wasted. Stop drinking," Josh said, reaching over and snatching the bottle out of her hand.
"Give it back!" Mia barked, eyes zing. "I don''t need your help."
Josh exhaled slowly, trying to keep calm. "Alright, enough. Go to bed."
But Mia was too far gone. The liquor had hit full force, and she was in no mood to be reasoned with.
She yanked him closer by the cor, her breath hot and heavy with whiskey. "You think you get to tell me what to do? I don''t even know your full damn name. Who the heck are you to boss me around?"
Josh looked at her seriously, pausing between each word. "My name is Josh ke. Got it? Josh ke."
"B-Bug? Why would anyone name you Bug? That''s gross... I don''t like bugs..." Mia slurred, her voice trailing off in confusion, eyes ssy from the alcohol.
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