Chapter 23
The incident from last night still lingered in her mind
–
she hadn’t yet given him a proper explanation. Now, it seemed like
the perfect chance to clear the air and avoid any pointless misunderstandings.
Without hesitation, Sally nodded. “Thanks, Mr. Zale.”
Jaxon nodded to respond, shooting her a cool glance before striding toward the front door.
He hadn’t brought a driver home, so today he had to drive himself to the company. Sitting into the driver’s seat, he waited for Sally to hop in.
Sally followed him out and reached out to open the rear door of the car, but before she could, Jaxon spoke up just in time. “Get in up front.”
Sally’s hand froze mid–air. She looked up, stunned, but there was nothing in Jaxon’s expression but cold indifference.
She hesitated for a second. In the end, she closed the door quietly, walked around, and slipped into the passenger seat.
The car crawled slowly down the winding mountain road. Sally stared out the window, fingers twitching on her lap.
“Mr. Zale, my hair band accidentally slipped onto your balcony, and I just climbed over to grab it,” finally, she bit her lip and blurted out.“I didn’t have the strength to climb back down.”
Jaxon’s grip on the steering wheel tightened for a moment. A faint, almost amused curve tugged at the corner of his lips. “So you ended up spending the night in my room?”
“I didn’t know it was your room,” Sally quickly turned her head and waved her hand. “I thought it was just a guest room the rooms behind yours are guest rooms, so I just crashed there.”
Jaxon glanced at her with a casual, almost teasing tone. “You’re pretty gutsy.”
Their eyes locked, and in his gaze, Sally caught a hint of a smirk, barely concealed.
–
– all
“If I’d known it was your room, I wouldn’t have…” she trailed off, but he cut her off.
“Don’t drink if you can’t hold it,” said Jaxon. “Consider yourself lucky it was me you spent the night with.”
The unspoken warning hung in the air: if it had been anyone else – Brad, or some other man – things might have turned out very differently.
A bitter smile flickered on Sally’s lips. “Brad and I have long been a dead issue. Even if we’d spent the night together, he wouldn’t have done anything.”
“That’s because you don’t really understand men,” Jaxon said quietly.
Sally’s body stiffened at his words. When she met his dark gaze, a chill crept up her spine.
She said nothing more, just gave a small smile and lowered her eyes.
She didn’t understand men, but she knew Brad well enough. His heart belonged only to Lena, his perfect love, and there was no room for her at all. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be in the mess they were now.
Instead of letting Jaxon drive her all the way to Windmere Estates, she got out nearby.
Having just been released from prison, and after the orphanage incident, she suspected Brad had put someone on her tail. No doubt, his men would be watching around Windmere Estates too.
–
Maybe her time behind bars had made her more cautious she wasn’t about to let anyone catch her slipping again.
Just as she arrived home, her phone buzzed with a call from Abigail.
As soon as she held the phone to her ear, Abigail’s anxious voice spilled out, “Sally, we found the child.”
“Really?” Sally’s hand trembled as she clutched her water cup. “Where is the child?” she asked in disbelief.
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10:23 AM
Chapter 23
15
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“At a remote orphanage on the outskirts about thirty kilometers from here,” said Abigail. “I’m sending you the address now. Make sure you bring all the paperwork. If you can, take the child home today.”
“Got it.”
After hanging up, a location pinged on her phone, along with the director’s phone number.
Before heading over, she called the orphanage to confirm the child’s condition. Once assured, she packed her documents and rushed out.
By the time she arrived, it was nearly eleven in the morning. The security guard stopped her at the gate.
“Miss, what’s your business here? Do you have an appointment?”
This orphanage was more tightly managed than the one she’d visited before. She showed the guard the call log with the director and correctly named the child.
After consulting with the director, the guard finally let her in.
Sally thought that with such strict management, the children’s education must be good here. But the moment she stepped inside, she heard a child crying out in pain.
“Stop hitting me! If you don’t stop, I’ll tell the director!”
“I dare you to tell the director!” another child yelled. “I dare you!”
“Ouch! That hurts…”
She hurried toward the noise and saw a group of older girls bullying a younger one. With no adults around, the bullies were ruthless, throwing punches and kicks at the little girl.
The girl wore a dusty pink dress and two braids, her clothes dirty and torn. She curled up, covering her face with her arms and burying it in her knees.
At first, Sally couldn’t make out her face. She just rushed forward and pulled the bullies apart.
“Cut it out! What do you think you’re doing?”
Seeing an adult, they scattered quickly. And it was then when Sally recognized the girl. It was Lillian.
Back in prison, Sienna had shown her a photo of Lillian—a beautiful child she wouldn’t forget. The resemblance was striking.
“Lillian? Is that you?” she hurried to confirm.
“Yes…” the girl’s voice was confused and unsure. “But who are you? How do you know me?”
“I’m a friend of your mom’s,” Sally replied, her voice soft. “I came to take you away. Would you like to come home with me?”
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