Chapter 17 Didn’t Believe Her
“Who says it’s being canceled for no reason?” Ryan smiled faintly.
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He’d come prepared. From his pocket, he pulled out a USB drive and handed it to his assistant. “Give this to the people at the Wheeler Group. Trust me-by the time they’re done watching it, the old hardliners at our company will be thanking me for making this call.”
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An hour later, at the hospital’s outpatient wing.
“Sir, would you mind stepping outside?”
the nurse said, glancing at Ryan. to apply medicine on your wife.”
Ryan nodded, picking up his jacket as he stepped out.
Ginny was just about to clarify their relationship when the nurse suddenly turned serious.
“Ma’am… are you a victim of domestic violence? Do you need me to call the police?”
The nurse had seen the bruises on her arms and clearly jumped to conclusions.
Ginny quickly replied, “He’s not my husband. I was robbed, that’s all. I’ve already reported it. But thank you for
your concern.
Seeing the calm in Ginny’s expression, the nurse finally believed her. Still, she offered a few words of caution.
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“Next time, if someone tries to rob you, just let them have whatever they want. No matter how important it is, nothing’s more valuable than your life. Just look at the wound on your back…”
Once her injuries were treated, Ryan offered to drive her home.
But just as he pulled the car around, a rugged SUV skidded to a stop in front of them. The door flew open, and Chandler
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stepped out, his face ice cold.
“What are you two doing together this late?”
He had gone home earlier and noticed that Ginny still hadn’t returned. Worried, he’d tracked her location and discovered she was at the hospital. So he’d rushed over without a second thought.
But when he saw Ryan standing beside her, worry twisted into anger.
“This has nothing to do with you,” Ginny said coldly.
She reached for Ryan, ready to leave, but Chandler grabbed her arm.
His grip landed right on her wound, and she hissed in pain, drawing a sharp
breath.
Ryan moved quickly, inspecting her injury. “Does it hurt badly?”
“I’m fine,” Ginny said through clenched teeth. Then she turned to Chandler.
“Weren’t you at Melody’s place? Why are you here now?”
“I was here because-wait,” he froze. “How did you know I was at her place?”
That’s when he noticed the swelling on Ginny’s face. His expression darkened immediately.
“Who hit you?”
The concern on his face—just for a moment—made Ginny feel like she was being mocked.
She let out a low, bitter laugh.
“What if I told you I was watching the whole time, while you and Melody were getting cozy together? Would you believe
me?
“What if I told you I was kidnapped by her brother, Jake, and every bruise on my face and body is thanks to him? Would you
believe that?
“What if I told you Melody was behind all of it? Would you believe me?”
She fired off the questions in a row, each one hitting Chandler harder than the last.
He stared at her, frowning. “What are you talking about? Melody has no reason to hurt you. And what does this have to do with her brother?”
“I did go to her place,” he admitted. “She wasn’t feeling well. That part’s on me- I shouldn’t have kept it from you. But it’s not what you think. There’s nothing between us like that-
“Enough,” Ginny cut him off, smiling bitterly. “I don’t care about what’s going on between you two. And since you clearly don’t believe anything I just said, there’s nothing left for us to talk about.”
She turned to Ryan. “Come on, let’s go.”
The two of them headed toward the parking lot.
Under the dim streetlights, Chandler stood still, watching their silhouettes drift farther and farther away.
He noticed the slight tremble in Ginny’s
step.
Something unfamiliar rose in his throat.
He wanted to call out to her, but no words
came.
Just then, his phone buzzed with a voice message from an unknown number. He tapped to play it.
“Sign it, bitch, and you walk out of here
alive.”
“Chandler works for the Special Ops Unit. Even if I sign, this marriage doesn’t end unless he agrees. That’s just the law.”
It was Jake’s voice. And Ginny’s.
Chandler’s expression shifted instantly.
So she wasn’t lying.
Jake had really kidnapped her and tried to force her to sign divorce papers?
He quickly tried calling the number back.
The line was dead. Disconnected.
*****
Back at home, Ginny took a long hot shower and got ready for bed.
Just as she was about to lie down, the door opened. Chandler had returned.
She glanced at him, her face unreadable, then turned and walked silently into the
bedroom.
To her surprise, he followed.
“Can you tell me exactly what happened today?” he asked quietly.
