Chapter 9
288 Vouchers
She woke again to biting wind scraping her face.
Shirley’s eyes flew open–she was dangling over a cliff edge. Coarse ropes bit into her wrists above a bottomless abyss.
Twisting painfully, she saw Patricia suspended nearby, trembling with ghostly pallor.
“Awake?”
The kidnapper took a drag of his cigarette, smirking.
“Relax. Your men will be here soon.”
The roar of an engine cut through the wind as he spoke.
Several black SUVs sped toward the cliff edge and screeched to a halt. Timothy strode out as doors flung open.
Dressed in a black trench coat, his cold and stern expression made the air around him feel heavy.
“Take the money. Release her.” His low voice carried undeniable command.
The kidnapper grinned.
“Straightforward as always, Mr. Mitchell.”
After verifying the cash in the briefcase handed by a bodyguard, he waved dismissively.
“You get the girl. We’ll trouble you to rescue her yourself.”
He left with his crew without looking back.
Shirley dangled mid–air, the fraying rope sending pebbles tumbling down the cliff. She clenched her jaw, forcing
calm.
“Timothy! I’m terrified!”
Patricia cried, tears streaming down her face.
“Save me…”
Bodyguards urgently inspected the ropes, their expressions turning grim.
“Mr. Mitchell, the rope won’t hold much longer. We can only save one person right now.”
Without a second’s hesitation, Timothy walked straight toward Patricia.
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Chapter 9
Just then, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell’s car screeched to a halt. They gasped at the cliffside scene.
“Patricia!”
“Save Patricia first! Now! She’s too frail for this!”
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Mrs. Campbell’s voice cracked with strain. Mr. Campbell rushed to help. Together, the three hauled Patricia to safety.
But the rope near Shirley groaned under tension-
Snap!
She plummeted downward, rocks tumbling past her into the bottomless darkness!
“Madam!”
The bodyguard lunged forward, gripping the rope with desperate force.
Coarse fibers bit into his palms as blood dripped between his fingers, hauling her up at last.
Shirley collapsed on the ground, wrists raw and bleeding.
She lifted her gaze-
Timothy was cradling Patricia in his arms, his thumb gently brushing tears from her cheek, his voice soft enough to melt.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Mr. Campbell hurried to drape his coat over his adopted daughter while Mrs. Campbell cupped the girl’s face.
“My darling, you scared me half to death…”
How bitterly ironic!
Her own husband, her own parents–even strangers showed more concern than they did.
The entourage shielded Patricia toward the car, nobody sparing a glance to see whether she lived or died.
“Ma’am…” the bodyguard spoke hesitantly, “Are you alright?”
Shirley slowly stood up, dusting off her clothes, then suddenly smiled.
“Thank you for saving me.”
She said softly, “Could you do me one more favor?”
She pulled out prepared documents from her bag–divorce papers and cut all ties with family–handing them to the bodyguard.
“Deliver these gifts to my parents and Timothy.”
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00:24
Chapter 9
The bodyguard didn’t examine them closely or ask questions, just nodded as he accepted.
“Of course, I’ll take them over now.”
Shirley remained standing, watching the bodyguard approach Timothy.
Timothy didn’t even look up, his voice icy.
“Gifts from her? At a time like this? Toss them in the car.”
Mr. and Mrs. Campbell paid no attention either, focused solely on comforting Patricia.
“You must be scared, darling? Mom will take you home…”
The bodyguard had no choice but to shove the documents into the car.
Shirley watched the scene and suddenly laughed, her eyes growing teary.
It didn’t matter. They’d see it someday.
She turned and walked toward the highway without looking back, hailing a taxi.
“To the airport, please.”
The door slammed shut, the engine roared to life.
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In the rearview mirror, Tim held Patricia as they got into their car, her parents following close behind. Not one glanced her way.
Shirley averted her gaze, watching the blurring scenery outside before softly closing her eyes.
It didn’t matter.
From now on, these people wouldn’t be part of her life.
The taxi accelerated, carrying her toward a brand–new beginning.
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