Chapter 173: Ivy’s demand
Bella stood paralyzed with fear, her breath catching as she felt the cold steel against her skin. Her eyes darted around the room, searching desperately for help. But all she saw were faces filled with the same terror she felt, each person too afraid to act.
Ivy’s grip was tight, her eyes wild and desperate as she held Bella hostage. The knife gleamed menacingly in her hand, poised to end Bella’s life at the slightest provocation.
Zack froze in place, his mind reeling with fear and helplessness. His thoughts raced, desperately searching for a way to defuse the situation.
"Please, Ivy, don’t do this," Zack pleaded, his voice strained with panic. "Let her go." He moved forward.
Ivy’s expression was filled with unyielding determination, her desperation driving her to the brink. "Stop right there!" she yelled, pressing the blade harder against Bella’s neck, just enough to break the skin.
A thin line of blood appeared, trickling down Bella’s throat. Bella winced, her face contorted in pain, and Zack’s heart plummeted, his stomach churning with dread. He immediately stopped in his tracks, raising his hands in a frantic attempt to calm Ivy. "Wait! Don’t hurt her," he begged, stepping back slowly.
Ivy’s eyes blazed with anger and madness as she glared at the crowd. "If anyone dares to come closer, she dies right away!" she threatened.
The room recoiled as one, everyone stepping back, their fear palpable. The tension in the air was suffocating, every breath heavy with the weight of the situation.
Willow, standing nearby, had been watching the scene unfold with mounting horror. Her mind raced as she realized how precarious the situation was. Keeping her movements discreet, she pulled out her phone and quickly typed a message to her brother, her fingers trembling.
’Bella is in danger. Ivy has her at knifepoint.’