Chapter 24 He Refused to Believe
Her
“Boss, Ginny’s in this room.”
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The security guard drilled open the door. The moment it creaked ajar, they saw Ginny lying unconscious on the floor.
Ryan rushed inside. The second he caught sight of her, bloodied and crumpled on the ground, his eyes turned bloodshot. He stumbled toward her, stripping off his coat as he ran, draping it over her trembling body.
‘Start the car!” he barked.
The guard darted off. Ryan gathered Ginny into his arms and carried her toward the elevator, speaking to her as if she could still hear him.
“Ginny, wake up. I found you. I’m taking you to the hospital now. Don’t be scared. You’re safe now.”
The warmth of his voice, of his hands, slowly pulled her back from the fog. When she opened her eyes and saw his face- worried, relieved her tears came without warning.
She’d survived again. But once more, when it mattered, Chandler hadn’t been there.
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The nurse who dressed her wounds was the same as yesterday. Even though she now knew Ryan wasn’t Ginny’s husband, she still didn’t hold back.
“What were you thinking, letting her wear so little when she’s injured?”
He looked the part–well–dressed, well–spoken—but couldn’t even take care of a woman properly.
Ryan didn’t argue. He believed it too. It was his failure to protect Ginny that had let her fall into Melody’s hands. So he just stood there and listened quietly.
Ginny wanted to defend him, but before she could speak, he cut in.
“She’s right. Even if we’re just friends, I should’ve taken better care of you. I deserve to be scolded.”
If anything had happened to her, he’d never have forgiven himself.
After they left the hospital, Ryan went to get the car. Ginny
waited at the curb.
Chandler came running up, breathless. “What the hell
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happened? You go to one party and manage to reopen your wound? Are you stupid?”
He was used to putting on a stern face around her, not bothering with sweet words. Even now, when he should’ve held back, he didn’t.
Ginny looked at him, disappointment clouding her eyes, though her lips curled in a sarcastic smile.
“If it weren’t for your darling Melody, I wouldn’t have gotten hurt at some party. But of course, no matter what she does, she’s always right in your eyes. And no matter what I don’t do, I’m always the one in the wrong. Since that’s the case, there’s really nothing more to say.”
She turned, just as Ryan pulled up in the car.
Seeing Chandler there, Ryan got out immediately and placed himself in front of Ginny like a shield.
Chandler frowned. “Mr. Winchester, she’s my wife. I’d appreciate it if you handed her over.”
“And what kind of husband are you, exactly?” Ryan shot back.
“If
you can’t protect her, maybe you don’t deserve to be her husband. She already gave you the divorce papers. If Melody’s
the one you care about, why not just sign them? It’d be best for all three of you.”
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“Oh, and who does that benefit most? You?” Chandler retorted, voicing what he suspected–Ryan had feelings for Ginny.
“Don’t lump everyone into your gutter of a mind,” Ginny snapped.
Chandler didn’t expect that. “You think I’m gutter–minded?”
“What else would you call it?” Ginny’s voice was ice. “You’re married, yet clinging to your ex like you’re still in love. I’m agreeing to get out of the way now–you’ve got what you want. So why are you still dragging your feet and refusing to sign the papers?”
Chandler knew he’d wronged her when it came to Melody, but that hadn’t been his intention. He opened his mouth to explain— but Ryan spoke first.
“It’s freezing out here. Get in the car. I’ll deal with him.”
Ginny was grateful, but this was between her and Chandler. It wouldn’t be fair to make Ryan handle it. Besides, it would only add to Chandler’s misunderstandings about them.
“I’ll do it.” She smiled softly at Ryan. “You wait in the car. I’ll be there in a minute.”
He didn’t agree right away. He knew how stubborn she was- once she made a decision, no one could change it. And he was just a few feet away. If Chandler tried anything, he’d be there in
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seconds.
After a pause, he nodded and got in the car.
“When Ryan came looking for me,” Ginny said, “where were you?”
Chandler almost told her that Melody had twisted her ankle and he’d taken her home.
But he remembered Ginny hated hearing her name. So the words died in his throat.
He didn’t realize that his silence said everything.
Ginny saw right through him. Her next words came laced with bitter irony.
“Melody drugged me and locked me in a storage room. These wounds? Courtesy of her. That’s the truth. But do you believe
me?”
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