Bella's POV
I simply offered a faint smile, kicked off my shoes, and prepared to step onto the shards.
"Bellie, no!" Julian lunged forward to stop me, his eyes filled with anguish.
Julian knew that if I stepped on those shards, my feet would be destroyed.
But I stayed calm as I met Julian's gaze. "If I don't do this now, I'll never escape their control. Let me do this, Julian. This is my choice."
Julian stared into my determined eyes, reluctantly releasing his grip, though I could see it was tearing him apart inside.
I could see the desperate helplessness in his eyes, the look of a man who felt he had let me down.
After what felt like forever, Julian finally gave in. "Fine. I'll be right here waiting for you."
I smiled, shot Jasper a scornful look, then walked toward the shards without hesitation.
The deadly sharp fragments gleamed wickedly, some thin as pins, others sharp as blades.
These were punishments created specifically for traitors.
