Storms of the Heart novel Chapter 23

Trina trembled with rage on the other end of the line after listening to Wayne's embellished but mostly truthful complaints.

She unleashed a torrent of fury into the receiver, cursing him without holding back.

"Wayne, you're no better than Julian! You're both despicable! One sold me off for profit, the other is forcing me to return! You make me sick! Even if I die abroad, I will never go back to beg him!"

At that moment, a cold, familiar male voice suddenly cut into the call, carrying a chilling mix of obsession and calm—it was Julian.

By some unknown means, he had tapped into the overseas call.

"Trin," he said.

His voice carried through the line, calm but laced with an unmistakable threat. "Come back. Otherwise… I can't guarantee what will happen to your family. And as for your mother's resting place in Flarora Cemetery, I can't guarantee it will remain untouched either."

He paused, his tone growing colder. "You know I can do it."

"Julian! You lunatic! You bastard!" Trina screamed into the receiver, her fury so overwhelming that she nearly blacked out. Then she hurled the phone away with all her strength.

The handset smashed against the wall and shattered, just like her heart in that moment.

Yet Julian's threats were far from over.

A few days later, Trina received notice from her university's international student office. She had suddenly run into "unexplainable administrative issues" with her student visa and was indefinitely suspended. She was required to leave the country immediately or face the risk of deportation.

At the same time, Wayne called again, nearly hysterical. He claimed that Julian had threatened to do something to Kaia's grave if she didn't return.

Every escape route had been blocked, and every threat targeted her most vulnerable points.

Standing under the foreign sky, Trina stared at the visa notice in her hand—canceled without explanation—and at the frantic, desperate messages from Wayne on her phone. A cold wave of despair crashed over her, threatening to pull her under.

She knew Julian had completely lost his mind and would do anything to force her to return. So, she had no choice but to go back to Flarora.

The plane pierced the clouds and finally touched down at Flarora Airport.

Trina dragged her small suitcase along and followed the crowd out of the terminal.

Her face was expressionless, like a delicate porcelain doll—perfectly crafted, yet completely lifeless.

Just past the exit, her steps came to a halt.

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