Sapphire went to her apartment and retired her tired body in bed not bothering with showering or eating.

She got a new phone through delivery and a new SIM card. She then called her uncle Frederick.

She told her about how a notorious mafia named Alexander Rodriguez was chasing her and what he had done to Nathan.

Mr. Frederick was surprised to know about Alexander Rodriguez. He knew they were ruthless and Alexander was way more ruthless, crueler than his father Davon Rodriguez.

He was very hurt when he got to know his nephew Nathan was hurt by Alexander and Sapphire was constantly threatened by him, he couldn't help feeling helpless.

He was childless. He loved them as his children.

"Uncle, I have made up my mind. I am going to Australia from here." Sapphire's statement surprised this old man.

"What are you saying child? Where will you stay there? And what about your studies?" He asked in wonder.

He couldn't believe what that girl was saying!

Had she lost her mind!

"I am just in the first semester of my university. I will cancel my admission here online. As for Australia, I have contacted a professor of a famous university via mail a few months ago, who was agreed to take me in his supervision." She explained.

"You are saying that you are leaving your study here? What about staying?" Mr. Frederick still couldn't get out of surprise.

"Uncle, I have gotten a scholarship. It may seem cowardly but I am trying to go far away from that beast. For the first two or three months, I have to rent an apartment to stay, pay for food. After that, when I will get my room in the University dorm, food will be provided from the cafeteria." She replied.

"Money is not a problem. You have a lot of money on your own. But I am worried about your safety child."

"Don't worry uncle. God will protect me. I will get monthly stipend also." She assured him.

"You are sure?" Mr. Benson asked in incredulity.

"Yes. I won't let the beast win. He can't ever get me." Sapphire spoke in determination.

"Have you planned yet?"

"Yes, uncle. I will fly to Australia from here, after 7 days. You will send one of your men at the airport with a ticket and passport. And uncle, you have to rent a place in Sydney. I heard your sister in law stays there."

"I will tell her to get an apartment rented for you today." He told her.

"Uncle, I will transfer money to her account by tomorrow. Give me her account no. through the mail."

"But dear, if he stalks you like a psycho, then how are you going to get out and reach the airport avoiding his eyes?"

"Uncle for this I have a plan. I have to take a bit of risk to fool him. Uncle the day of my escape, please send your housemaid Anna and her daughter to my apartment and uncle buy another air ticket for Germany and send it with her."

"What are you going to do? You are scaring me, child." Mr. Benson said out of pure fright.

"Just keep trust in me uncle and I will talk to you later. Take care of yourself. Bye"

"You too, child." Mr. Benson hung up.

Sapphire thought if she wanted to protect her dear ones, she had to hurt them in such a way so that they cut all their ties with her, hate her and detest her.

She got a text. It was from Alexander.

"My angel, break up with your boyfriend or get ready for his funeral. Mark my words. After his funeral, nothing can refrain me to take you in my arms, whether you like it or not. Tigress, don't make me go harsh. I don't want to go harsh with you. Stay safe and Take care."

This text made Sapphire's blood boil in rage. Who the fuck gave him fucking right play with the lives of other people?

Human trash!

The next day, she went to visit Nathan. He was conscious, lying on the bed. Both legs were bandaged and plastered.

Seeing Sapphire, a smile played on his lips.

"How are you, Nathan?" Sapphire asked him.

"I am fine, princess. Did you miss me? Or worried for me? I heard you came yesterday too." He tried to make the heavy ambiance lighter by joking.

"Glad to know. Nathan, I am here to say that I want to break up with you."

Sapphire tried to show nonchalance and seriousness at the same time.

"Whhatt? Why princess? What have I done wrong? I can amend myself." Nathan asked in wonder.

"Nathan, you are irresponsible. You got yourself in this accident because of your irresponsibility. Who drives the car and talks on the phone at the same time?"

"This is the reason? If it's the reason, then I will change myself. I won't be like this anymore. I will be more responsible from now on and please don't break up princess." His tone was like pleading now.

Sapphire felt guilty to hurt him, but she couldn't find what to say. The guilt of hurting Nathan was piercing her heart.

She took a deep breath to keep herself calm because all she wanted to hug him tightly.

"That may be better for you if you become responsible, but I won't be with you anymore. I don't know if your legs will be alright again or not. You may end up sitting on a wheelchair or keeping a crutch in your whole life. I don't want to be with a disabled boyfriend who will be a burden to me."

Every word she said to him, pierced her own heart, bleeding, paining. Her voice was shaking.

She was surprised by herself.

She bit her bottom lip to control her tears and then turned another side so that Nathan couldn't see her wavering face.

How could she be so heartless?

How could she be so cruel?

She was not any better than her mother.

Nathan looked at her in disbelief; he couldn't believe his ears.

The girl who was standing before him was really Sapphire?

Whom he loved from his childhood?

"Sapphire? Is it really you?" He asked.

"Yeah. Why not?"

"How can you be so selfish? The Sapphire I love is not that selfish, she was like an angel. Who are you?" He queried in disbelief.

His eyes were filled with unshed tears.

"Yeah, it's the real me. Now you have seen me, leave me." Sapphire said, still turning another side.

"I am letting you go, but remember one thing, Sapphire. I really loved you and your selfishness hurt me today. One day you will also get hurt like me. You won't be happy in your life. Get lost!" He yelled the last part in pure hatred.

Sapphire left his room and wiped her tears. She felt more pain than him, for hurting him. But she couldn't show this to him, to anybody.

This is how lonely she was. Suffocating loneliness was choking her from inside.

Many people were around her, but no one was of her own.

She thought what Nathan told her at last. She won't be happy in her life.

She mentally laughed at her misfortune. She was born cursed, lonely. She had been hurting since her childhood.

She never experienced happiness ever. All she had known was pain, agony. Her physical scars, mental scars were evidence of them.

Happiness was way too far.

With a run, she came out of the hospital.

She took an Uber and reached her university.

Now she had to be a bitch to Bella. It was lunch break.

She headed to the classroom, where Bella saw her and came waving her.

"Hey, Sapph? How are you? Is your injury better now?" Bella said with sincere concern.

"It's okay, " Sapphire replied reluctantly, sat down turning her face another side from Bella.

"What is the matter? Is your mood off? Why?" Bella tried to ask her patting her arm a bit.

But Sapphire didn't respond a bit.

"Okay baby. Don't stay all grumpy. Bells will take you tonight a bar. We will have a lot of fun." Bella said, pulling her one hand, trying to cheer her.

Sapphire jerked her hand with much force that Bella was shocked a bit.

"What's wrong, Sapph?" Bella asked with a frown.

"Cut the crap, bitch. If you want to mingle with boys other than your boyfriend then you are free to go there, I won't. I am not characterless like you!" Sapphire snapped. Bella was shocked by her friend's harsh loud tone and crude sentence.

Some students who were present in the classroom focused their attention on them.

Was her best friend referring her as a characterless girl?!

"What did you say?" Bella asked seriously, glaring at her.

"What you heard clearly. I don't want to go there to mingle with other boys like slutty girls. You may think this is normal to mingle with many guys, but I am not like this. I am ashamed that you are my friend. You just want to use me to be a company in your nasty plans." Sapphire replied in a sharp tone, trying best to hold coldness in her voice.

Her heart was aching badly. How could she blame her sister like friend as a characterless girl, who was always with her, through her every problem!

Bella slapped Sapphire. Sapphire was looking down but didn't say anything or do anything to her like slapping back or pushing her.

She knew she was being the ungrateful bitch here. She deserved it.

"Don't you dare accuse me as a characterless girl when you how much I love James. You are ashamed, huh? Now I am saying that I am ashamed that I used to think you are my friend. You cannot be a friend to anybody." Bella stated, her voice was shaky from anger.

"You were lonely and would be lonely if I wouldn't be your friend. And this is how you repay me? You deserve to be lonely. Because you are an ungrateful bitch! Mark my words, you will never get any friend in your life. Everyone will leave you one by one. Your and my friendship ends here." Saying, Bella stormed out of the classroom.

Sapphire kept her head on the desk and cried silently covering her face with her bag. Wiping her tears, she strode out of the classroom.

She went out of the university gate and started walking. A man suddenly blocked her road and asked her to get into a car parked beside her.

She knew it was Alexander. She got inside the car.

"Hello, my beautiful angel? How are you?" Alexander asked her smiling.

"Breathing. Are you satisfied now?" Sapphire said in a dead tone.

"What are you saying tigress? Have you broken up with your fucker boyfriend?" He asked furrowing his brows.

"Yes." Sapphire took a deep breath and closed her eyes leaning her head in the seat.

"You made my day, tigress! Now you are all mine. Mine to kiss, touch, pleasure!" He exclaimed, coming close to her and trying to kiss her.

Sensing his closeness, Sapphire blocks him by pushing his chest, "Stop! Behave like a real man. A real man never forces a girl or touches a girl without her consent." She said in a serious tone.

"Then give me permission, so that I can touch you, feel you." He added.

"I barely know you. Give me some time and be patient. Now you know that I am back to single." Sapphire said logically.

"Nah. Wrong. Who said you are single? Now I am your boyfriend." Alexander tells her caressing her arm. She jerks it immediately.

"Give me at least one month, try to understand." She requested.

"That's too much." Alexander shook his head.

"Then 15 days. Otherwise, forget about my permission. Do whatever you want." Sapphire spoke in utter irritation.

"Okay. Just 15 days, after that not more a day. I can't wait to take you all to myself." Sapphire rolled her eyes, hearing him.

"Okay. In those 15 days stop stalking me like a stalker, pervert. As we know each other, if you want to see me then we can meet but you won't follow me everywhere. If I feel like being followed by a psycho, mad perverted guy, then I will shut myself inside my apartment." She warned.

"What if you flee?" Alexander asked.

"You can meet me every day if you want but no following." She assured.

"Okay, my tigress." Alexander smiled at her.

Sapphire thought that 15 days would be enough to implement her plan and escape from this beast.

Alexander dropped her, wanted to enter inside her apartment but she didn't allow.

After the incident of that day, she wouldn't take any risk.

She sat on her couch. Now one last thing left. She had to cut all ties with the orphanage, with the little angels.

She called the orphanage manager.

"Hello, Ms. Moore, it's Sapphire Atkinson here, " Sapphire spoke.

"How are you dear? I was about to call you. One of our kids needs help." From the other side, she said.

"Why? What happened?"

" A 3 years old kid, you may know named Andy, is diagnosed with Leukemia. He needs money immediately, otherwise, he will die. But no donor is available to help now. If you..." She pleaded.

"I called to tell you that I don't want to donate money to your orphanage. What benefit comes from it? I don't have enough money to spend for the orphans. This is just wastage." Sapphire said in a nasty tone which made her wonder if she was really Sapphire.

Sapphire was so kind, loving, never was calculative.

How was she talking now?

"Then what can I do with the kid? Do you know any interested donor?" Ms. Moore tried to ask lastly.

"How can I know this? If don't get money then let him die, why are you so worried?" With this Sapphire cut the line.

Only she knew how her heart was upset by her own words, how her heart was bleeding, sensing that she caused her loved ones pain.

She decided to send money to orphanage anonymously. She couldn't let Andy die. He was like a brother to her.

She thought about the whole day.

How she hurt Nathan.

How she hurt Bella, accusing her as a characterless.

How she agreed to be with Alexander, though it was temporary for her.

How she talked with Ms. Moore.

Everyone hated her by now.

But did anybody know why she did so?

Nobody, nobody knows...

She felt lonely, helpless. She felt the urge to open up her heart to somebody and tell about her never-ending pain, so no one misunderstands her.

But Alas! She couldn't do it. She had no option. She had no one of her own. She was a fucking lonely pathetic girl.

She burst into crying; banging her head in walls, punching at walls, pulling her hairs vigorously from her scalp.

But nothing could soothe her pain. Crying for a few hours continuously, her body gave up from tiredness.

She lay on the floor. Sleep took her over slowly.

.....................................

Sapphire's POV:

Enough of this!

My shitty life. I have to end this.

I signed a check for the orphanage. Uncle Fred would draw money from the check and then send it to the orphanage.

This is how I wanted to send money to orphanage anonymously.

For little angel Andy.

Alexander kept bothering me, texting me, calling me, sending me flowers. Though I was not interested, complied. It was for 7 days only.

After this, he wouldn't know the whereabouts of mine. I would be untraceable.

Couldn't he understand how his force, behavior hurt me?

He claimed me to love me. Was that love?

He was so dominating, almost beast-like.

Each evening he wanted to take me to dinner, but I only went twice.

One day I went to dinner, one of my university mates, Herdy, bumped into me.

We talked to each other for casual etiquette. When parting we hugged lightly for courtesy. But Alexander got overly jealous and began punching him like a mad man.

I stopped him with the help of his driver and bodyguard. Hardy was bloody and unconscious, was sent to a hospital.

Alexander then kissed me in front of everyone in the restaurant, forcefully and roughly, made my lips bleeding. I slapped him in rage.

He was furious.

But I didn't let his stupid anger affect me anymore. He was bloody possessive and controlling as hell.

He made my life a hell. I couldn't even breathe properly. I was isolated from everyone.

He was so controlling, following my every breath.

He didn't even say sorry to me.

But it was true, it seemed to me he stopped following me like a stalker. One day I went to the bank, another day went to a superstore, he said nothing about that. But I was sure that he didn't stop checking on me completely.

Uncle Frederick informed me that he arranged my ticket and passport. I had enough cash with me so that I wouldn't need to withdraw money from Australia.

I printed some advertisements of vacancies and apartments of London from the websites and then marked them with my blue marker.

I wanted to seem that I was going to London. It was to distract and misdirect if somebody came to search for my whereabouts. They would think I have gone to London.

I planned to escape at night. Luckily there was a scheduled flight at night. Anna and her daughter came to my house. Her daughter's physical features were just like me. Anybody can mistake her as me if sees her from distance.

She always wore big and baggy, loose shirts, twice of her size and loose pants. When they came, I wore her dress and made her wear my dress. We both wore sunglasses and dust masks.

This is how we left our apartment. We two took an uber, I got down at the airport. Anna's daughter went back to my apartment building from the airport in the same car and then from there, she went to her home with her mother after a few hours at night.

I knew it was a very childish plan to distract my stalker, but there was no harm in trying once. As they wouldn't get to know who the other girl was who liked me or going to get their address.

I got my passport and got into the plane. I breathed in relief.

I checked in a hotel after landing from the plane. Sydney was indeed beautiful.

I was extremely exhausted after a long journey of almost 21 hours. I freshened up and ordered my meal. I slept for more than six to seven hours.

I had the address of my rented apartment. I decided to go there and explore the city by myself a bit.

I was free here. Just like a bird.

In Alexander's Mansion:

"What?!"

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING SAPPHIRE IS NOT IN HER APARTMENT?!"

"THEN WHERE IS SHE DAMNIT?" Alexander was shaking in enormous fury. All he could see was red. His eyes were bloodshot.

Veins of the forehead, throat were popping out.

"Gilly, I gave the responsibility just to inform me about her. What did you do? You failed to do this one once again? Where were you that night? Huh?" He roared at his man.

"Sir… Actually, I thought you said to follow her not like before, So I went to Blue garden. Sir, forgive me." The man named Gilly begged, trembling slightly. Fear for life was evident in his eyes, tone.

No one has seen Alexander this angry, furious, enraged like this ever. He was like a beast just in a human form.

He already destroyed his whole room in anger. No one dared to stop him or go near him. After all, who wants to die?

"Oh bastard, you are saying that you went to fuck a whore, in time your duty? Huh? Answer me, bastard? Alexander screamed.

"Sorry, Sir. Forgive me this once. I- I never-" was cut by Alexander.

"I told you not to follow all the time, but it was your duty to inform me to tell me she is okay, checking her once at night. I think you take your duty too lightly. Now I am freeing you forever."

With this Alexander shot him, putting a bullet in his forehead.

Everyone was present in his room gasped, shocked, seeing him this angry. He was not in a sane state of mind.

Everyone was extremely frightened.

"Get my car ready. Go to her apartment!" He roared.

"Tigress, you have done a bad deed this time. I will find you and get you, even if I have to go to hell for this. When I find you, you will be badly very badly punished. You woke up the beast in me. I am going to be your worst nightmare."

Alexander thought darkly with a determination.