Chapter 4

I threw everything Vivian had touched into the trash, dragged my suitcase, and limped back to the security office.

After filling out the base exit paperwork, the guard prepared to notify Ethan.

I immediately stopped him.

"Don't tell him. I'm leaving."

I never wanted to see Ethan again in my life.

But the guard ignored me, dialing Ethan's number according to base protocol.

The phone rang and rang, but nobody picked up.

He was definitely with Vivian.

I let out a breath of relief.

Seeing that the call wouldn't go through, the guard told me to wait.

I waited until evening, but Ethan still didn't show up.

At this hour, there were no civilian cabs allowed on the base, and I couldn't call an Uber.

I had no choice but to drag my suitcase back.

As I passed the woods from the other night, I saw Vivian again.

My eyes narrowed. I set my suitcase down and quietly followed her.

If I could record a video of them cheating, it would give me a massive advantage in the divorce.

But as soon as I entered the woods, Vivian vanished.

Then, her giggling voice sounded right behind me.

"Looking for me, Scarlett?"

I spun around in shock.

She had a sinister smile on her face, and in her hand was the bottle of libido enhancers I had bought.

I thought she and Ethan had used it last night, but she had kept it.

I instinctively stepped back.

"What do you want?"

Vivian shook the bottle.

"Nothing. Just taking back what's mine."

"Ethan isn't impotent at all. In fact, he's incredible in bed."

"The only reason he didn't touch you is because he promised me he'd keep you sexually starved."

"Ethan and I are a match made in heaven, both in bed and out. Who do you think you are to come between us?"

Even though I already knew the truth, hearing it out loud still cut like a knife.

I forced myself to stay calm. I couldn't fall into her trap.

Suddenly, she threw herself onto the ground, ripping her own shirt open and screaming at the top of her lungs.

"Ethan, help me!!"

Ethan crashed through the brush, running toward us.

Vivian acted as if she had just seen her savior. She threw herself into his arms, sobbing hysterically.

"Ethan! Scarlett dragged me into the woods and started beating me! She called me a whore who throws herself at men!"

"She even wanted to force-feed me this drug and leave me on the side of the road for any man to take!"

"Ethan, save me! I'm so scared!!"

Ethan snatched the bottle from her hand, his dark, furious eyes locking onto me.

Without a single shred of doubt, he believed her.

"I know you're frustrated, Scarlett, but how could you be so cruel to another woman?"

"I think you're the one who desperately needs a man. Since you're so eager, let me help you!"

His face was contorted with rage as he took a step toward me with the bottle.

I backed away in terror.

"Ethan, don't believe her! I didn't do anything..."

Before I could finish, he grabbed my jaw with a vice-like grip and poured the liquid down my throat.

The drug worked incredibly fast. I collapsed to the ground, my body burning up instantly.

This drug was different from standard enhancers.

My friend had warned me.

It was highly potent, designed only for men. If a woman took it, she needed to release the tension within thirty minutes, or it could be life-threatening.

Right now, I felt like a raging fire was tearing through my veins, threatening to rip me apart.

I frantically tore at my collar, grabbing Ethan's leg, begging him.

"Ethan... help me... please... I'm going to die..."

Looking at my flushed, desperate face, a dark, heavy look flashed in his eyes.

Just then, Vivian stumbled, pretending to twist her ankle. Ethan immediately caught her, his face filled with worry.

I clutched his hand with all my remaining strength, crying out.

"Ethan! If you don't help me, I will really die!"

The man looked down at me, letting out a cold scoff.

"Do you honestly think I'll fall for your tricks again? You've taken so many enhancers before and you were fine. How could this kill you?"

"Aren't you sexually starved? Perfect. Enjoy the ride."

With that, he kicked my hand away and left me lying in the dirt.

I stumbled to my feet and ran out of the woods, burning up, desperately looking for somewhere cold to cool down.

As my consciousness faded, I only remembered pushing open a door and falling into a solid, incredibly safe embrace.

It felt exactly like the moment I was carried out of that dark basement six years ago.

After Ethan took Vivian back to her dorm, he immediately returned to the woods to look for me.

However, after searching the entire area, I was nowhere to be found.

He ordered his men to search the base.

Finally, one of his team members ran back, trembling.

"Captain... someone saw Scarlett thirty minutes ago. She went into..."

Ethan demanded impatiently.

"Where did she go?"

"She went into the General's private quarters!"