“I’m sorry,” Bianca said, lowering her head.
Dave looked at her with deep emotion and gently hugged her. His voice was soft and full of love as he said, “I can’t imagine my life without you.”
“I’m so sorry,” Bianca tried to coax him. She held him tightly, feeling her words weren’t enough to comfort him.
Bianca had thought about the worst-case scenario, but she felt she needed to make her plans immediately.
She knew that if something happened to her, Dave might be sad for a while, but eventually, he could find happiness again.
But Bianca couldn’t give up on seeking justice for her mother. She’d be haunted by regret and self-loathing if she didn’t get revenge.
She knew it was time to face Stacey.
Just then, Bianca’s phone rang. It was her brother, Leonel.
“Answer it. He’s been trying to reach you,” Dave said, looking at the caller ID.
Bianca quickly picked up the phone and said, “Hello, Leonel.”
“Bianc, why haven’t you been answering? What was that voice message about?” Leonel asked, his voice filled with worry.
Earlier, Bianca had recorded Stacey’s confession on her phone and sent it to Leonel, rather than using a recorder, making sure not to keep the evidence with her.
“Leonel, it’s Stacey’s confession of guilt. You can give it to the police. With what we’ve already found, we can make sure Stacey faces the consequences,” Bianca explained gently.
“I get that, but I’m worried about how you got this. Are you in danger? Why did Stacey want to kill you? Please tell me what happened.”
Bianca glanced at Dave and gave a small, reassuring smile. “I used some tricks. Don’t worry; I’m safe and still here talking to you. I’m okay.”
Leonel let out a sigh of relief. “As long as you’re okay. I’m heading to the police station now to deliver this evidence. Expect good news soon.”
“Okay,” Bianca replied and ended the call.
Looking up, she saw Dave raising his eyebrows and studying her intently.
Clearing her throat, she admitted, “Please don’t give me that look. I’m a bit embarrassed.”
Dave lightly poked Bianca on the forehead. “You’ve got some nerve. Even though you’re scared of the dark, you used this trick to get Stacey’s confession.”
Bianca pursed her lips and scratched her head awkwardly. “You seem to know everything…”
Dave glanced at Bianca’s phone and said, “I can recognize your voice, no matter how you disguise it.”
He was talking about the ghostly voice Bianca used when talking to Stacey.
Bianca suddenly felt embarrassed at the thought of others finding out what she had done. She looked down, unable to meet Dave’s eyes.
“Aren’t you scared at all?” Dave asked.
“Scared of what?” Bianca asked, furrowing her eyebrow.
Dave studied her. “Why are you so sure this method will work on Stacey? What if she doesn’t believe in supernatural beings or recognizes your voice?”
Bianca looked up, meeting Dave’s eyes seriously. “Do you think I acted Impulsively? I didn’t. I carefully researched this and studied psychology. When someone feels guilty, their mind is under a lot of stress, making them more open to subconscious influence. Moreover, lack of sleep can put them in a trance-like state, making it harder for them to think clearly.”
She paused before continuing, “Some people use similar methods to manipulate others in pyramid schemes. They used subliminal messages, limited sleep, and suppressed independent thinking to turn people into puppets who follow instructions.”
Dave stared at Bianca, impressed. He knew she wasn’t acting impulsively; she had clearly put a lot of thought and preparation before doing her plan.
Dave’s brow furrowed with lingering doubt. “So, having an onset and being taken to the emergency room was part of your plan, too?”
Bianca whispered softly, “This wasn’t part of my plan. I have to admit, I didn’t expect you to show up.”
She looked up and met Dave’s intense stare.
“I never thought I’d be saved,” she said with a faint smile. “I know myself and Stacey well. I couldn’t handle the darkness for long. She would find me eventually and wouldn’t show any mercy. So, I prepared for the worst from the beginning.”
That’s why Bianca had carefully collected evidence of Stacey’s plan to kill her and sent it to Leonel.
The evidence alone would be enough to put Stacey behind bars.
Bianca never expected to come out of this unharmed.
Still, revenge was crucial, even at the risk of her life.
If she survived, it felt like God’s mercy.
Dave felt pain as he looked at her, his face showing a mix of deep emotions.
He gently laid Bianca on the bed, placed his hands near her ears, and stared deeply into her eyes.
Though he had a lot to say, Dave said hoarsely, “Why do you keep being so reckless? You can tell me everything; I’ll help you.”
Bianca replied, “What can you do about things that the law can’t reach? We’re just ordinary people with limits. I’ll take drastic measures if the world’s unfairness can’t be fixed with regular methods. Even if it costs me my life, I won’t let the wicked go unpunished. This is my choice, and I don’t want you to get involved. Besides, if you knew, you’d definitely try to stop me, wouldn’t you?” Her stubbornness made Dave’s heart race.
“Bianc, actually, I-”
“What do you want to say?” she interrupted, seeing his hesitation.
Dave clenched his fists, wanting to tell Bianca who he really was. He had the ability to help her and had already done it, but he remained silent due to the potential consequences of revealing his identity.
After a moment, Dave sighed. “You’re right. I’ll try to stop you.”
“But I’m still going to do it,” Bianca said firmly, looking him in the eye.
As they stared at each other, Dave gave in first. He leaned over and buried his head in Bianca’s neck, his warm breath tickling her skin.
“It’s itchy,” she said, adjusting her neck.
“Just a moment,” Dave replied. With his head down, Bianca couldn’t see his face, so she wrapped her arms around his waist.
They hugged briefly before Bianca asked softly, “I have a question for you.”
Dave looked into her bright eyes, encouraging her to go on.
“Why did you suddenly come to save me?” Bianca wondered, thinking about how close she’d come to being in serious trouble if Dave hadn’t shown up. She was curious why he always seemed to appear right when danger struck.