Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Girl He Promised to Protect: Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

The morning sun slipped through the narrow gaps between the blinds, casting soft, golden streaks of light across the room. The warmth touched my skin delicately, like a gentle hand coaxing me from the depths of sleep.I stirred slowly, feeling the rays creep further along my face, their persistence impossible to ignore. It was a quiet, almost tender awakening, as if the sun itself was trying to comfort me after the chaos of the night before.I blinked awake, my eyes adjusting to the soft glow now filling the room. I couldn't quite piece together how I got home, but the familiar weight of Jason's presence reassured me. There was always a sense of safety when he was near, even if that comfort felt complicated now.The low hum of the air conditioning filled the silence, its steady white noise something I often found soothing. It was tempting to drift back into sleep, but the bright morning light wouldn't let me. It felt like the world was nudging me to wake up, to face what had been left

I sat on the edge of the bed, gathered my belongings with trembling hands, stuffing clothes and a few personal items into a suitcase. I promised myself I would return once things were stable. I can't stay here any longer. Not after everything that had happened, not after the mess we were in.Jason had been kind, too kind, but everything had spiraled out of control. I couldn't face him. Not after what he'd done, after the lines he crossed.The guilt gnawed at me, and I couldn't tell where my own sense of shame ended and his manipulation began. I needed to get out.I needed to breathe.As I zipped the suitcase shut, a wave of panic tightened around my chest. What would Jason say? What would he do? My mind flashed back to our last confrontation, the way his eyes had burned with hurt and anger.I took a deep breath and opened the bedroom door, cautiously stepping into the hallway. The living room was empty.No sign of Jason.Maybe he'd gone out. Keeping my steps light, I wheeled my suitca

Lana began to stir, Jason felt a flicker of hope. He gently squeezed her shoulder, his voice low and soothing. "Hey, you're waking up. I'm here." Her eyes fluttered open, revealing a mix of confusion and fatigue. He smiled reassuringly, hoping to ease the disorientation that seemed to cling to her.The sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting soft shadows throughout the room. He glanced at the IV line, noting that the bag was nearly empty. The remnants of the medication administered by Jerry would soon be out of her system, and he hoped that would bring Lana back to herself."Here, drink this," he said, pouring warm water into a glass. He carefully raised it to her lips, watching as she took small sips. "You need more restful sleep." He added, wanted to ensure she felt comfortable and cared for."Jerry came by to check on you earlier," Jason explained, keeping his tone gentle. "He set up the IV to help you recover. It's almost done now." He gestured toward the line on her arm. "He

My arm throbbed lightly, a raw, stinging reminder of the wound left from yesterday. I winced, testing the movement, but relief washed over me when I realized it wasn't deep enough to slow me down.I needed to move fast, to be quiet. The shower hissed from behind the closed bathroom door, the only sound in the apartment. I took a quick, steadying breath.If there was ever a time to get out, it was now.I padded across the living room, feeling every muscle tense with purpose. When I reached the front door, my fingers went to the lock.I froze.That unyielding panel of numbers stared back at me, unmovable and impassive. I punched in the only codes I thought might work. Birthdays, common combinations, even random sequences. But each attempt ended with a sharp, unforgiving beep. My heart hammered in my chest. He had activated the security locked down system, blinking red with each failed entry.With growing dread, I tore my eyes from the door and cast a frantic glance around the apartment.

For the next two days, the walls seemed to close in, inch by inch, and despair began to creep into my bones. I had hoped that playing the part, feigning obedience, would give me some space—maybe a chance. But Jason didn't leave the apartment.Still, he stayed, his presence shadowing me with its quiet, unnerving calm.Most meals arrived at the door, delivered with barely a sound, a silent reminder that I was cut off from the outside world. Jason set up his laptop on the counter, working without a word. Though he gave me the freedom to roam the living room, even watch TV, it felt orchestrated. As if he wanted me to feel relaxed enough to drop my guard.I tried to distract myself with the television, flipping through channels for anything that could pull me from this claustrophobic existence, but nothing caught my interest. Every laugh track, every news anchor's voice felt hollow, echoing against the surrounding silence.There was no way out. Every door locked from the inside, every windo