The moment the restraint clicked open and fell away, Katrina’s entire face lit up with joy and affection for the person who had freed her. “Does this mean you’re not going to punish me anymore?” she asked hopefully, her voice filled with the innocent trust of a child.
“Yeah, that’s right,” Adah said with a casual shrug. “As long as you behave yourself and don’t cause problems, I won’t lock you back up down here. But you need to be on your best behavior — if you dare make any trouble, I’ll drag you straight back to this basement and put that shackle right back on your ankle.”
“No, no, no! I promise I’ll be really, really good!” Katrina said frantically, her words tumbling over each other in her desperate need to convince Adah. “I’m the most obedient kid you’ll ever meet — just please don’t hit me, and I’ll do absolutely anything you tell me to do!”
Adah just shrugged, turned on her heel, and headed toward the basement stairs. After hesitating for just a second, Katrina scrambled to her feet and hurried after Adah like a nervous puppy afraid of being left behind.
Outside in the garden, beneath a breathtaking canopy of glittering stars, Elliana turned to face Cole with determination written across her features. “I need to go to Gearveil Hall,” she announced quietly but firmly. Content originally comes from Find_Novel(.)net
Even though she was pregnant, and knowing full well that Gearveil Hall was essentially a nest of vipers waiting to strike, she had to make the journey. Finding her mother wasn’t optional — it was essential.
Every single day that Rita remained missing was another day that Elliana’s heart would be twisted up with worry and anxiety, making it impossible for her to live with any real peace or happiness.
Cole understood her resolve completely, as his own thoughts were constantly drifting to his own mother. “Then we’ll go together,” he said without hesitation.
He knew that Maxine was obsessed with the unborn daughter growing in Elliana’s womb. No matter how dangerous Gearveil Hall might be, it seemed unlikely that Maxine would actually try to kill Elliana while she was carrying such a precious baby girl. That thought provided at least a small measure of comfort.
Back inside the villa’s spacious first-floor living room, Elliana gathered Adah, Clifton, and the others to give them detailed instructions about managing things during her absence. Then, she began preparing to head to the Evans family estate.
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Damian pulled out his phone and called Heather, telling her in no uncertain terms that she and Hugh needed to stop whatever romantic activities they were engaged in and get back inside the house immediately.
Heather and Hugh had disappeared into the sprawling backyard gardens quite some time ago, and no one had seen any sign of them since — nor did anyone particularly want to imagine what they might have been doing out there in the darkness.
About ten minutes later, Heather and Hugh finally made their reappearance in the living room.
The sight that greeted everyone was absolutely shocking.
Heather looked perfectly composed and fresh, her clothes completely neat and unwrinkled as if she’d just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Hugh, on the other hand, looked like he’d barely survived being caught in a violent tornado. Several buttons were missing from his expensive black suit jacket. His pink dress shirt was torn in multiple places and hanging awkwardly, his carefully styled hair was an absolute disaster, sticking up in every direction, and his face and neck were absolutely covered with what appeared to be dozens of small hickeys that formed a constellation across his skin.
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