CHAPTER HUNDRED-SEVENTY *"Well she's my friend but not very close*"You have got to be shitting me?!" Amber squealed with rage."Shhh... Language child. Now, relax and let me do my child. Okay?" the inspector admonished calmly with his hands raised.Janice's spine turned to iron as she glared at Amber.Amber snarled silently in response, her eyes glowering with unbridled mockery and disgust. Her lips curled up satisfactorily for having successfully evoked such a reaction from her.Payback time. She grinned triumphantly."I understand, I understand, Miss Amber Harvard. However, from my sources, it was deduced that a Brighton College student by the name, of Hannah Spikes, is being held captive in this warehouse. Is that true?"The inspector asked pointedly, his grim stares searing unflinchingly towards hers.Amber heaved a deep sigh.Get your shit together, and be in control.For daddy. For the Harvard.This question is tricky. If she answers yes she would no doubt complicate things an
CHAPTER HUNDRED -SEVENTY-ONE*Is it too late for Daddy to save her?*The hair on her skin shot out apprehension as the inspector drew closer. The whiff of alcohol tingled her nostrils, making her almost puke in disgust.Damn this inspector! He reeks of alcohol!"where exactly in this warehouse are you currently keeping Hannah Spikes ?" He hissed close to her ears.Her shoulders shuddered in anxiety.What is he scheming now?She forced a lump down her throat."I have no idea what you are talking about Inspector." Amber sputtered.The inspector chuckled wryly and clicked his tongue in disapproval."I'm sure you know absolutely what I'm talking about, Miss Amber. We shall not condone any unnecessary delay. Where the hell is she? Did you hurt her?!He growled.Amber blinked in shock at his sudden change of countenance."I said I don't know!" she wailed."Oh, She bloody knows where she kept her! I'm thinking somewhere upstairs!" Janice butted in relentlessly again.Amber glared at her."Ok
CHAPTER HUNDRED SEVENTY-TWO *Her heart leapt with joy at having found it's significant other*"surprised to see me? Amber?" Hannah ribbed, her voice feeble and faint as she parted her lips to accommodate faster pants. She was lolled against one of the slightly chubby cops who draped a protective strong hand around her slim waist to steady her wobbly legs.Amber was still too stunned to utter any word.She blinked uncontrollably as she tried to calm her thundering heartbeat. How did things end up like this for God's sake?!I thought I had everything perfectly under control. And now, Dad would be undeniably angry with her and even disown her. And then...She will be all alone again.I'm a total failure! I thought I could handle things well.As usual. I was in control but why are things suddenly different now?That's right...She hissed menacingly as she gritted her teeth, jerking her head to look at Janice with sheer resentment in her eyes.Janice Jordan! She's the cause of everythin
CHAPTER HUNDRED-SEVENTY-THREE *The feeling of happiness? Regret? Victory? Or misery?*"Hello, Officer!!!! Thank God! Is my daughter safe and hale?!" A desperate male voice broke into the cops' telephone.The cop glanced over at Hannah huddling herself tightly with a blanket draped around her body as she sat beside one of the cops' cars.He smiled wryly and nodded into the telephone."Yes, Your daughter has just been rescued and she's alive and well. I assume I'm on to er ... Mr Spikes is that right?" "Of-of course! This is Mr Spikes! Can I see my daughter? Where is she, officer?!" Hannah's father asked impatiently."Relax, Mr Spikes, your daughter will be taken to the station very soon in Southampton district, you can meet us there.""Southampton district...." He dragged the word out as he quickly scribbled the address on a rumpled paper."But where did you find her, where is she at the moment if you don't mind my asking officer?" He nagged on relentlessly.The officer clicked his t
CHAPTER HUNDRED SEVENTY-FOUR*Soon enough, you will find out the truth."*She would rather shove pins beneath her nails than not watch the look of terror and resignation on the faces of the hitherto notorious and most feared monstrous big trio.This had better make the headlines!!!!Her lips twitched with suppressed amusement.This is so unreal!!!!Is that Amber Harvard begging to be freed?!They were all handcuffed and bundled together like a sag of potatoes.Amber's face was scrunched up with disbelief and misery.It was the first time in her entire life that she had seen her like this. Completely shattered and screwed.Janice did this for her. Her heart warmed at the thought of that.She went all the way for her to ensure that justice is indeed served and ultimately regained her freedom.Amber's throat worked on a swallow."This is prosperous !! You can't just handcuff us like that. There's no conclusive evidence that indicted us!"She cried, as she attempted to wriggle free of th
CHAPTER HUNDRED-SEVENTY-FIVE *Alas, this is reality and the reality she hoped was a nightmare*"The truth huh?" Amber scoffed."I don't need it. Much less from you!" she growled.Janice chuckled as she shook her head."You are broken deep down, Amber. I don't blame you. However, you will have to accept the truth sooner or later. It's pity that your father will abandon you when you needed him the most. I can't imagine what you are feeling right now but ... Every action comes with consequences, Amber and you must pay for all the pain you have caused Hannah. There's definitely no escaping that.",Amber shook her head frantically."Don't you dare talk to me like you give a crap about me, Janice!" She spat as she glared pointedly at her."I told you before, times without number, that you know nothing about me! So stay the fuck away!!! You have clearly got what you wanted all along so spare me your useless pep talk about emphasizing with me and all that bullshit!"Janice flinched at how hu
CHAPTER HUNDRED-SEVENTY-SIX *...at the end of the day, a monster didn't start out as one, they are created not born to be like that**"Amber... If a time comes that you need help desperately, then I will be available to help at any point. Do not hesitate to come to me. You can always meet me at Pine house, Montana Avenue - a very quiet countryside in east England. It got a beautiful view I'm sure you will love it."* Her mother parting words came to her again as fresh tears brimmed in her eyes."Did I hear you correctly, Amber? You want to talk to your mother ?" Janice asked in shock. Amber's mother had been separated for a while now and from her investigations, Amber had despised her mother very much.I guess at the end of the day a mother's love never fades.Janice looked at her with pity and then crouched down beside her."Amber, as much as I hate you for what you have done to Hannah and all your other victims, I still have a heart and I feel sorry for you right now," Janice said
CHAPTER HUNDRED SEVENTY -SEVEN *at the station*After ensuring that the warehouse has been sealed-completely off-limits to the public, they commenced their tumultuous journey through the thick woods and, in roughly good twenty minutes, they arrived at the Station.In front of the huge building of the Southampton police district, a fleet of wailing police cars screeched to a halt.Amber and her two cohorts were bundled out of the car by an officer.While The inspector, Janice, and Hannah slid out from the other official spy-covered car.Hannah wasn't quite sure how to feel.After all, she's coming face to face with her parents for heaven's sake!The same parents she was scared to expose the situation to in the first place!What's she gonna do?What if her parents are highly disappointed in her and wouldn't even look her in the face?If so, then why are they here?They wouldn't even be waiting for her at the station if that were true.Maybe she's simply overthinking things.She felt a
*To forever and beyond…*The day of the trial had arrived, and it felt as though the world held its breath. The courtroom was filled with journalists, spectators, and photographers positioned on all corners of the courtroom doors waiting. They were all here for the same purpose: the moment the world would witness as justice decided the fate of Mr. Jordan. In other words, the downfall of the Jordans.The courtroom was so unnervingly quiet that you could hear a pin drop as every creak of a bench and every rustle of paper lingered in the tense air.Janice Jordan sat at the front with Finn beside her. Her uncle came with some family members and they sat behind the pew. Janice’s hands trembled in her lap, fingers clasped so tightly together that her knuckles turned white. She glanced at Finn beside her, his jaw set, gaze fixed on the judge as if nothing else existed. This was heavy for him especially but at last he would witness the final judgment and hopefully get the justice his late f
*He had to bear the consequences of his actions.*Janice sat in an uneasy silence, staring out the window as the news sank in, each word settling into her mind like stones dropped into water.She could hardly believe her ears. Her father has been arrested?! This was the first time such news would reach her ears. The mighty Jordan was arrested?!"Janice? This isn't the time to space out!" Finn's voice yanked her out of her reverie. She blinked repeatedly as her brain was still processing this whole unexpected turn out of events. She gulped. "What's going to happen to him, I-I don't even know what to say. He's the only family I've got, Finn," her words barely squeak out of her lips."Unfortunately, it may be nothing good, Janice. This is the moment of truth, and justice must not only be done but it must be seen to be done." A cold shiver pricked against her skin like goosebumps. As much as she tried to ignore it, it was the hard truth. Her father had done horrible things in the pa
*Was this the end of the line for the mighty Jordan family?* "Janice, I'm so sorry you had to go through this alone, " Finn said, pulling her towards him for a long hug as he stroked her hair. Janice broke into tears, sobbing as her body shook with the weight of losing a child, a part of her that she wasn't fortunate to bring into the world. She sniffed and muffled against his chest, "I didn't mean to hide this from you, Finn. This is shocking news to me as well." "It's alright, sweetheart." He said gently as he continued to stroke her hair. Then he broke the embrace and cradled her wet face in his hand, forcing her to look at him. "Look at me, Janice," he wiped her tears with his thumb. His heart tightened seeing her like this. "I promise I will wipe the tears off your face. We can always make another one." She momentarily stopped crying and looked at him wide-eyed. "You didn't even ask if that child is yours, Finn." He chuckled and shook his head. "I didn't
Chapter Three Hundred and Thirty*The unexpected and Sad Revelation*Finn's (once Drake but will be called his real name henceforth)hammered as he paced the narrow room with the burner phone clutched tightly in his right hand and his left hand frantically raking through his sandy brown hair.Every creak of the floor, every rustle outside the window, seemed like it could be Fergus’s men clawing closer.They were running out of time.With the government closing in and Fergus’s rage nearly tangible, Finn knew their only chance was to reach out to someone who could help them disappear. His father’s old friend, Yamato—a man, both feared and revered, a former militant from Japan who had once pledged his loyalty to the family.Yamato listened in silence, his deep breaths echoing through the line. Then, without a word of question or reprimand, he simply said, “Be ready. I will take care of the arrangements.”A wave of relief coursed through Finn's body at once. His father had been right af
Chapter Three Hundred Twenty-Nine*My real name is Finn Orwells and not Drake Hughen.*He knew of one place Fergus wouldn't dare to look.The drive to his special hideout was unbearable, long, and tedious. It was a rocky path in the thick of the forest but close to a river bank. He usually came here when he needed some privacy from the Jordans and planned his next revenge move. But right now, the reverse was the case. How ironic did things turn out to be? He was literally bringing his arch enemy's daughter to his secret hideout, away from the hawk eyes of his evil brother-the person he was supposed to be working alongside.Well, things had changed. Maybe he had changed, too.But right now... he had a purpose.He glanced at the passenger's seat, where Janice was sitting quietly. Apparently, she was still shaken by everything that had unfolded. Poor woman... He had to protect her even from his own family.I'm so sorry, Mother....but I think I broke the rule.He gulped. I had fallen
*At any rate, he must save Janice.*The heel of his boots pounding in her stomach sent her to the floor, retching and wheezing with her heart in her throat, threatening to explode. A crushing pain seared through her chest. She sprawled on the ground, with her eyes shut tight, gasping for air desperately. The blindfold was restricting her vision, so she couldn't see who it was, but she could feel the extreme coldness exuding from his presence. "Let's try again, shall we, darling. And this time I won't go easy on you. I suggest you answer my questions if you want to leave here in one piece and see your asshole of a father!" the menacing raspy voice roared across the empty room. The man cocked his head to the two huge guys in black and at once they heaved her roughly to the chair and tied her hands and legs to the chair. The sound of the cocked gun jolted a shiver down her spine. He took long strides towards her and trailed the gun around her exposed chest, her buttons had come undon
*He must save Janice no matter what!*"What do you mean you haven't seen her?!" Mr Jordan bellowed through the phone, his hands trembling badly."You need to calm down, Mr Jordan. Remember, this is bad for your health. I will be at the shortly. " Matt spoke as calmly as possible through the phone."Calm down? What if something happened to her, Matt?! You were supposed to take care of her and now..." He paused, taking a sharp breath as he rubbed his temples frantically to ease the tension building up inside of me.Where on earth was his precious daughter? What could have happened to her?"Please, exercise some patience, Mr Jordan, while I wait for the construction team to help me remove my door. As I explained to you, Janice just stormed out of the house and locked me inside because she took the remote with her. She must have been in a hurry or something. I think maybe she's at her best friend's house, Hannah."Mr Jordan's eyes lit up.That may be true....who else will Janice be wi
She was super excited and relieved to see Drake coming to her rescue. Tears of relief etched at the corner of her eyes. He came for her! He must have sensed that I was in danger! But how did he know where to find me....? She pondered silently as she arched a brow at him curiously. "Drake! How did you know that I'm here?" She quizzed.He shrugged, winking at her."I just know, Janice. Now come one before Matt comes out!" He urged, waving her over.Her heart jumped at the mention of Matt. That monster! She never wants to be around him ever again! For now, she has been rescued, and she can safely go home and put this whole marriage behind her.Luckily, she has the videotape as evidence to nail Matt on the cross and call off the engagement. She rushed to the car and opened the passenger's door in the front seat and settled on it, jamming the shut quickly.For now, she will have to ask questions later."You good, Janice? I hope he didn't hurt you in there?" Drake asked, although his
*...if it wasn't Drake, then I would rather not love at all.* Damn it! Matt found out already? How did he even know about this? I thought he wasn't aware of it. What do you mean, Janice? Of course, Matt had been watching you non-stop! Only a fool wouldn't be aware of the deep connection that exists between you and Drake. At this point, I wouldn't even be surprised if the maids knew as well. The voice in her head taunted her. She bit her bottom lip frantically, trying to rein in the turbulent thoughts writhing inside of her head. She had to act cool and unbothered. Pretend as if you didn't know what he was saying, Janice. Act cool and get the hell out of here! The voice rang inside my head again like a Belfry. She sucked in several deep breaths and looked up at Matt intently, a smirk curling up her lips. "I have no idea what's you babbling about, Matt," she snapped, feigning ignorance. Matt scoffed, shaking his head. "Stop lying, Janice. It's too obvious! I'm not a