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~Liam~A searing pain gripped me, though I couldn't discern if it originated in my head or heart; it simply hurt terribly. Moments ago, Josephine and I had been sharing laughter and conversation in Justin's office, but now, the news Justin had delivered had left me in agonising torment.While I should have felt happiness, I couldn't help but envision the nightmarish experiences Sophia must have endured for nearly two years. Despite the relief that she was still alive, I couldn't help but wonder how much of her remained intact.Then, abruptly, the line went silent, and the phone slipped from my grasp. My vision blurred, and I recognised the impending storm of emotion, but I surrendered to it. I allowed the tears to flow, hoping that each drop would gradually release the tight knot constricting my chest.For a while, Sophia's trail had grown cold, and there were unspoken murmurs that she might have met an unfortunate fate. Although nobody mustered the courage to verbalise their suspicio
~Justin~The night watch duty proved challenging, especially given my lack of sleep and overall exhaustion. Two hours of rest was far from sufficient, and my body was vehemently protesting against it. It was three in the morning, and I had unintentionally dozed off several times, roused only by the subtle sound of the nurse entering the room to attend to Sophia. I had made it a point not to allow the nurse to linger in the room with me, ensuring that I would hear whenever she came in to check on Sophia. Sophia lay in her bed, fast asleep, her appearance strikingly fragile. My gaze shifted to the nearly depleted yellow drip she was receiving. The urgency to find the nurse welled up within me, but fortunately, she appeared at that very moment. It seemed she had accurately timed her visits to the patient's needs, arriving precisely when necessary. "Are there more?" I inquired of the woman, observing her as she sifted through a bag that resembled a black plastic cooler, although it lack
~Justin~ Two peaceful days slipped by as I observed Sophia gradually regaining her strength. Though the spark in her eyes had yet to return, I found solace in our shared understanding of time's healing power. She had started consuming small portions of solid food and occasionally graced us with a faint smile when Charlotte fed her, but her words remained sparse and her silence profound. At this rate, I harboured doubts about acquiring crucial information within our time constraints. Our focus remained fixed on the warehouse, and I firmly believed that the other captives still languished within its confines. Naturally, a search for the missing slave had been initiated; evidently, she held some significance in the eyes of her captors. It was evident that we needed to expedite our efforts if we intended to rescue the remaining victims. To achieve this, we would have to gently coax Sophia into revealing the information we required. In addition to our efforts, we conducted a trace on th
~Justin~ I sat in silence, my patience unwavering as I waited for Sophia to unravel her story. Anxious about what I might hear, yet clinging to the hope that her words would provide a much-needed breakthrough, as we were currently at a dead end. "My father returned home that night covered in blood and tears," she began, her voice filled with a mix of anguish and determination. "He was weeping, and my mother became frantic. At the time, I was in the living room, watching television, but when my mother asked me to go upstairs, I remained frozen." She continued, recounting a moment that had left an indelible mark on her life. "I had never seen my father covered in blood before. I had never seen him cry, but he was crying." Sophia's voice quivered with emotion as she described the scene. "My mother moved closer to him, but he shook his head, begging her to stay away." She then began to narrate her father's frantic words, her eyes glistening with tears. "He said, 'I had no choice,
~Liam~Two days had elapsed, and my patience held steady as I awaited Justin's return with Sophia. Uncertainty hung in the air, but one thing was certain: I felt immense relief knowing that she was finally safe. They had chosen to extend their stay in Cains by an additional four days, which meant it had been a little over a week since they had found her. I refrained from dwelling on the potential horrors she might have endured. Instead, I clung to hope that joyful memories could eventually overshadow the past.Numerous questions swirled in my mind. Were her parents still alive? What had become of those responsible for the ordeal? My phone conversation with her had provided some solace when I heard her laughter. Although she wasn't quite her former self, it was evident she had a profound story to share. Sophia made a concerted effort to ease the situation, and I held onto the hope that, with time, we could help her rediscover happiness.Josephine has been one of the most significant sou
~Liam~I found myself staring at the computer screen in utter shock, grappling with the implications of the email. I knew Racheal Armstrong was a friend of Justin's, but had she confided in him about her past and what she had endured? I turned to Josephine, who appeared somewhat tense."What's running through your mind, Jo?" I inquired, and she shrugged."This is happening way too fast, but there doesn't seem to be any immediate gain for Miley or Racheal in doing this," she responded, echoing my thoughts."It does seem rather premature, and perhaps they are displeased that Jacob didn't make Adrian face the consequences of his actions," I mused as I pushed back from the table. Josephine got up from my lap. My urgency to check on Harper and discuss the matter of Adrian was mounting. We couldn't afford this kind of attention right now. If Adrian's character was truly questionable, Harper needed to find other ways to express her rebellion against our father. Adrian was a dangerous man."Wh
~Sophia~ I could have never imagined a day when freedom would be mine. Hope had grown dim amidst the chaos of my existence, and I had resigned myself to the idea of death's arrival, yet it continually eluded me. No matter how desperately I extended my grasp, it remained just beyond my reach, a cruel mockery. Those heartless souls who had taken and traded me ensured it stayed that way, compelling sustenance into my body merely sufficient to preserve life. Over time, I surrendered the futile struggle and clung tenaciously to the fragile thread of existence, nurturing a fervent desire for eventual retribution. Little did I realise that such an opportunity would eventually manifest itself. I had been under the impression that Liam had abandoned the quest, and strangely, I found a sense of relief in this, knowing that they intended to exploit me as bait to ensnare him. I had resigned myself to the belief that I had been forsaken, and when they traded me away, I assumed my fate was sealed
~Liam~ Following my conversation with Harper, I recognised the need to put the matter concerning Adrian to rest. The determination in my sister's eyes was crystal clear; she wasn't willing to let him go, regardless of whether we supported her or not. I understood that the best way to be there for her was to respect her decision and offer my support, even if I felt uneasy about it. However, I couldn't ignore the nagging concern about this Racheal woman and her involvement in the situation. It struck me as peculiar that she hadn't seen fit to mention it to Justin. Did he already know, or was she perhaps too embarrassed to bring it up with him? I anticipated getting to the bottom of this when he returned. "I have no choice but to support you, Harper. If your feelings for Adrian are this strong, then I'm with you all the way. We'll dig into the events together," I assured her, and she wiped away her tears, nodding gratefully. "Thank you, Liam. Honestly, I think you should meet him. He'