Chapter 18 Rejected
Ginny sat on the edge of the bed. Just as she reached for the blanket, she heard Chandler speak.
She looked up, startled. “I thought you didn’t believe me?”
Chandler knew his reaction last night had hurt her. After a moment’s hesitation, he pulled out his phone and handed her the audio message.
After listening to the recording, Ginny let out a cold laugh and looked at him. “This could serve as evidence that Jake kidnapped me. Can you send me the
audio?”
Спапапег stared at ner for a long time.
Ginny thought he would at least say something, even if he didn’t agree.
But instead, he stood up abruptly. “Good night,” he said, and walked out, closing the door behind him.
She stared at the shut door, the only thing left in her eyes was self-mockery.
She really was pathetic. Even knowing what he would choose, she still held onto hope-again and again-only to end up disappointed, again and again.
Her emotions wrecked, Ginny barely slept that night. In the early hours, a sudden wave of pain hit her, rolling through her
bed.
The sleeplessness came with a pounding
headache.
By early morning, just after she’d finally dozed off, the pain jolted her awake again.
She threw on a jacket and went to get some hot water for her medicine, only to run into Chandler returning from a run.
She didn’t acknowledge him. She poured her water and returned to the room.
She tried to catch up on sleep that morning, but her dreams were anything but restful. Scenes from the two
kidnappings kept playing like broken
reels-one moment, she was begging someone to save her unborn child; the
next, Jake was shoving the divorce papers
in her face.
=4
C
She was trapped inside it all, unable to wake up.
Then a familiar voice cut through the fog.
“Hey, wake up. You’re having a nightmare.”
She opened her eyes.
Chandler was beside her, helping her sit up. He handed her a cup of hot water. “Here. Drink something. It’ll help.”
Ginny didn’t say a word. She took the cup,
drank a couple of sips, and did feel a little
better.
“It’s almost noon. Do you want anything to eat? I can go grab something.”
She lay back down, shaking her head. “Thanks, but I’m not hungry.”
Chandler was about to say more when she turned to face him. “Did you come up with an answer to my question from last night?”
His brows furrowed.
“I’ll look into the kidnapping,” he said. “If it really was the Wheeler family, I’ll make sure you get an explanation.”
Ginny let out a sharp breath that almost turned into a laugh.
Even now, after everything, he was still protecting them?
No wonder Melody was so arrogant-so fearless. She knew that even if Chandler
found out the truth, he’d never do anything to her.
Ginny’s heart sank even further. But her
resolve hardened.
“I don’t need your explanation, Chandler. If you can’t do what I ask, I’ll find the evidence myself and seek justice on my
own.”
She turned away from him.
Chandler stood there, something twisting
in his chest.
“Ginny, one audio clip isn’t enough for evidence. They can just say it’s been edited.”
“I was there,” she snapped. “I know whether that recording is real.’
To her, all of this-his hesitation, his excuses-meant only one thing: he was protecting them. Still.
He cared that much for Melody? Even if she was guilty, he’d look the other way?
For her, he’d toss aside every so-called principle? How pathetic. How laughably
Chapter 18 Rejected
ironic.
+8 Bonus
Her chest hurt so badly she could hardly
breathe.
She sat back up.
“You already know the truth, don’t you? So why bother pretending? Isn’t this all just about protecting Melody? If that’s the case, then why not just divorce me?!
“If we’re divorced, the Wheeler family
won’t have any more reason to target me! You’ll be free to be with whoever you want! It’s a win-win! So why not just do
it?!”
By the end, her voice was nearly a scream.
His eyes darkened. He didn’t want to hear another word about divorce.
Instinctively, he reached for her-to stop her-but their arms collided.
He was stronger, and the impact landed directly on her wound. Blood began to seep through the bandage on her arm.
His face changed instantly.
“I’ll get the first-aid kit,” he said, voice softer now, trying to stay calm.
But Ginny sat there motionless, as if she didn’t feel a thing.
When he returned with the kit, she reached out and took it from his hands,
tending to the wound herself.
“I’ll do it,” he offered.
“No.” She refused flatly.
Worried he’d make it worse, he backed
off.
As she fumbled for the ointment, he couldn’t help but speak up again.
“You should rest at home a few days. If you’re worried about leave, I can-‘
“No need.”
Ryan had already taken care of it. But she didn’t feel the need to tell him that.
Ginny took out the ointment and gauze, preparing to treat herself.
The injury was on her right arm. Using her left hand to reach it was awkward and
difficult.
Chandler watched for a while, then finally stepped forward to help.
“I don’t need your help!” she snapped, jerking her arm away.
In that sudden movement, her hand slammed hard against the nearby cabinet.
The impact was so sharp her forehead broke out in a cold sweat.
“It’s bruised,” Chandler said, pulling her
arm toward him to inspect the injury.
Her elbow was covered in marks. Seeing it made his expression darken further. He swallowed the emotion rising in his chest, took the medicine spray, and carefully applied it.
When she tried to pull away again, he shot her a look and coaxed, “Don’t move. If you get hurt again, you’ll just end up crying.”
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