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Chapter 7
A strange sense of unease twisted in Savannah’s gut.
This time, Madeline hadn’t told her the address for the next “game.” She’d even kept the exact time under wraps.
Savannah gripped the hem of her patient gown tightly, forcing herself to stay calm. “It’s fine. Just a few more days until I enroll. If only I can cut ties with the Whitakers before the game begins and catch my flight out of the country, I’ll be free.”
As soon as she felt a little better, Savannah returned to the Whitaker residence to pack her things.
But the moment she stepped out with her suitcase, she ran straight into Grayson–storming in like a thundercloud.
“You hurt Maddie and think you can just run off?” His eyes locked on her, blazing with fury. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Savannah froze. That look on his face–it triggered a deep–rooted fear inside her.
Every time he looked at her like that… it meant punishment was coming.
She would be locked away. Interrogated over and over about Madeline’s whereabouts until she blurted out some guess that satisfied him.
Instinctively, she took a step back, voice trembling. “I don’t know what you’re talking about… I didn’t hurt anyone.”
Her suitcase clattered to the ground with a loud thud. Grayson stormed forward and slammed a hand around her throat.
“Still playing dumb? Maddie’s missing again—who else could’ve done it? You think you can stash her somewhere and skip town? Where the hell do you think you’ll hide?!”
Her lungs screamed for air.
Savannah’s face turned a ghastly shade of purple as she clawed at his wrist, choking out, “I swear… I really don’t know this time…”
Grayson let out a cruel snort. “Don’t know? Maybe a broken bone or two will refresh your memory.”
He dragged her toward the courtyard, stopping at the edge of the reflecting pool. A vicious gleam flashed in his eyes.
“Word is you’ve feared water since you were little. Something about your heart–you never learned to swim.”
Grayson knelt, clutching her wrist tightly, red rimmed around his eyes. “Savannah… I’m sorry. But I don’t have a choice. Every second Maddie’s missing, she’s in danger. I can’t risk that.”
Before she could protest, he shoved her head under the water.
“Be good. When you’re ready to talk, just raise your hand, okay?”
Freezing water engulfed her face and rushed up her nose. Savannah thrashed violently.
The memories came crashing back.
That year, caught in a rising tide at the beach, she’d nearly drowned. It had taken a full month in the ICU to save her.
Her father hadn’t slept for days, wasting away with worry. Later, when Grayson found out, he always kept her away from water— shielded her from every wave and ripple.
But now, it was Grayson. The same man who once protected her… was the one drowning her.
Just as her body began to give out, Grayson’s phone rang.
He abruptly yanked her out and answered the call in a panic.
On screen: Madeline, tied to a massive stone, unconscious by the shoreline.
A masked kidnapper appeared with a knife. “Mr. Whitaker, I hear this woman means the world to you. One hundred million. Pay up, or she dies.”
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The sight of Madeline limp and lifeless sent Grayson into a blind panic.
“Don’t hurt her! I’ll give you whatever you want!”
The kidnapper nudged Madeline’s face with the blunt edge of his blade. “Not enough.”
“This little kidnapping? It was ordered by a woman named Savannah Langley. Paid us too little. The boys ain’t happy.”
“How about this? If you know her–break one of her legs. You do that, and once the money hits our account, we’ll let her go.”
Grayson scrambled to set the phone down, angling the camera at Savannah.
She was soaked to the bone, collapsed near the flowerbed, coughing violently–like a drenched stray, soaked and gasping.
“She’s right here! This is Savannah Langley!”
He pointed at her and shouted.
Then he suddenly dropped to his knees and scooped her into his arms, stroking her wet hair like a lover.
“Savannah… I’m sorry. I have to do this. But this is the only way to redeem you.”
“Don’t blame me. From now on… I’ll be your crutch.”
With that, Grayson clamped down on her leg and twisted with brutal force.
A blood–curdling scream ripped through the courtyard.
The pain was blinding. Savannah’s clothes were soaked with sweat in seconds. Her vision blackened.
Grayson stood and showed her twisted leg to the phone camera. “It’s done! Her leg’s broken! Now let her go!”
The kidnapper gave him an address. “Bring the cash and pick her up.”
Grayson dropped her without a second glance and tore off toward his car.
As he drove past her, he lowered the window. “Savannah, this is the last time. I swear… I’ll make it up to you when I’m back.”
The engine roared as the car sped off.
Gritting her teeth, Savannah dragged herself into the storage room, pulled out two crutches, and hobbled out to the curb. She flagged down a cab to the airport.
Step by agonizing step, she made her way through the terminal.
At last–just before the doors closed–she boarded the flight.
As the plane soared through the clouds, Savannah stared out the window, watching the city grow smaller and smaller. Her nerves finally unwound.
She pulled out her phone and cut off every last tie to home–social media, phone numbers, everything.
From this moment on, the suffering was over.
She could finally start over.
Grayson–the man who ruined her entire youth?
She’d never see fam again.
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