Chapter 18 - The Stolen Rabbit|
"You destroyed your own life, Vanessa," Adrien said calmly, taking a slow step toward her, keeping his hands visible. "Put the poker down before you hurt yourself."
"I'm not hurting myself!" Vanessa screamed, her voice cracking hysterically. "I'm going to hurt her! That maid and her stupid brat! They took everything that belonged to me!"
Suddenly, Vanessa lunged past Adrien, charging toward the hallway that led to the grand staircase.
"Vanessa, no!" Adrien roared, spinning around and tackling her to the ground.
The brass poker clattered across the marble floor. Vanessa fought wildly, scratching and screaming like a cornered animal, but Adrien managed to pin her wrists to the floor.
Rosa rushed into the hallway, holding a heavy iron floor lamp, ready to defend her home. "Adrien!"
"I'm okay! Call the police!" Adrien panted, holding the frantic woman down.
Within five minutes, three estate security guards rushed into the conservatory, seizing Vanessa and pinning her securely to the floor.
As the guards pulled her up, a small, worn object fell out of Vanessa's rain-soaked coat pocket.
It was Mia's one-eared stuffed rabbit.
Vanessa had snuck into the house earlier, crept into Mia's nursery while the child was sleeping, and stolen the toy—planning to destroy it out of pure, sick malice.
Rosa gasped, rushing forward and picking up the wet rabbit from the floor. "She went into Mia's room..."
Adrien's face turned completely terrifying. He stepped directly in front of Vanessa, his eyes burning with a lethal fury.
"You went near my grandniece?" Adrien whispered, his voice so quiet it sent a shiver straight down Vanessa's spine.
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Vanessa shrank back, realizing for the first time the absolute depth of the monster she had awakened.
"Take her," Adrien commanded the guards softly. "Tell the police she broke in with a weapon and entered a child's bedroom. Make sure she never gets bail."
