Chapter 22
Scott woke suddenly, cold dread crawling up his spine. The bed beside him was empty–Hayley was gone.
He rubbed his eyes, heart pounding. Had she left? No. Not without a word. Not like this.
Throwing back the covers, he scrambled out and rushed to the sliding door that opened onto the beach. His gaze immediately fell on her slippers, neatly placed in the sand but untouched. A small detail that screamed: she didn’t plan to go far.
A thousand thoughts collided in his mind, each worse than the last. He ran back inside and frantically called out her name. No answer. The villa staff, friends, anyone nearby–no one had seen her leave.
“Hayley!” he shouted again, voice cracking with panic.
His hands shook as he grabbed his phone, dialing Aurora. “She’s missing,” he breathed. “I don‘ know where she went.”
Aurora’s voice was steady but concerned. “I’ll alert the others. We’ll start searching immediately. Scott’s chest tightened. He called more people, his pleas growing desperate as precious minutes slipped away.
Finally, he called the police, voice tight and urgent: “My wife’s missing. She was last seen near the beach. Please, you have to help me find her.”
The officers arrived swiftly, questioning him, searching the area.
But Scott’s mind raced beyond the surface. One name kept haunting him–Jarren.
There was no time to waste. He drove with reckless speed to the hospital, where Jarren was still recovering from his injuries.
Inside the stark, sterile room, Jarren sat slouched, the shadows under his eyes deep. A half–empty bottle of whiskey rested on the bedside table.
Scott’s fists clenched tightly.
“Where is she?” Scott demanded the moment he entered, voice low and dangerous.
Jarren blinked, startled, then a bitter laugh escaped him.
“Kidnap her? Me? After all I’ve lost?” His voice cracked with pain and anger. “I love her. Why would I do that? I hurt her enough…”
Scott took a step closer, voice trembling but firm.
“Stop lying. I saw her slippers on the beach. You’re the last one who could have taken her.”
Jarren shook his head, eyes haunted.
“I don’t know where she is,” he whispered. “But if someone’s behind this, it’s Elisa and Roger They hate her. And of course, they might have blamed her… for everything because…”
Scott’s heart sank. “Elisa and Roger?”
Jarren nodded, swallowing hard. He realized that must be it, and he contributed to that. Scott’s throat tightened. The pieces began to fit, but there was still too much unknown.
Meanwhile, darkness engulfed Hayley’s senses. She woke tied to a chair in a dimly lit room–her
wrists raw and sore from the ropes. Panic bubbled up inside her chest.
“Elisa?” she croaked, voice hoarse.
From the shadows came a mocking laugh.
“Elisa, Roger… you’re behind this?” Hayley’s voice broke, but defiance flickered in her eyes.
Elisa’s cold smile deepened.
“We want you to suffer, Hayley. After everything, you think you can just move on? Forget us? No! Because of you, because Jarren thought you died, then he also tried to kill me a lot of times to get revenge for you! He hurt me! So there is no way, you will be happy!”
Roger stepped closer, his eyes hard and unforgiving.
“We’re going to make sure you pay. Every second you spend afraid, every tear you cry–we’ll enjoy
it.”
Days blurred into nights filled with torment. They starved her, mocked her, and whispered cruel lies. But inside, the hurt was unbearable. Tears streaked silently down her face in the darkness when no one was watching. All she could think about was Scott–that Scott would save her. She just has to wait and believe.
One night, exhausted and broken, they dragged her onto a rooftop.
“Say your goodbyes,” Roger snarled, shoving her toward the edge.
Hayley’s heart hammered against her ribs. The cold wind whipped at her hair.
Suddenly, the shrill sound of sirens ripped through the night. Headlights and flashing blue–and–red beams cut through the darkness.
The police raided the building.
Scott was there–breathless, wild–eyed, gun drawn. He aimed carefully and fired twice. Roger collapsed, groaning in pain, clutching his wounded shoulder.
Elisa snarled and lunged at Hayley, rage blazing. Before she could shove Hayley off the rooftop, Jarren appeared out of nowhere, grabbing Elisa and pulling her back.
They struggled fiercely.
Elisa’s grip faltered. Suddenly, she slipped, falling over the edge. Jarren’s reflexes saved her from a fatal drop, but he lost balance himself… while Scott caught Hayley in his arms.
“I’m here, baby! I’m here. I’m sorry if I was late.” He kissed her. “I love you. I would never leave again.”
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