LOVING HER TOO LATE

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 6

SAVANNAH'S pov

The grip of Savannah's fingers around her phone strengthened while her heart pounded violently against her chest. One sentence. Everything fell apart because of that one thing.

"What was that?" Wide-eyed Sienna stared at her as her brows lifted dramatically.

Savannah inhaled sharply, trying to steady herself. Today’s events unfolded in a way that was completely unexpected. The plan was for her to board that plane while leaving everything behind. A clean break. Freedom.

But freedom wasn’t for her, was it?

The mocking laughter rang out in her thoughts from somewhere deep inside her mind.

Mom needs a blood transfusion. They brought her back using the reason that her mother needed a blood transfusion. The information had to be false, right? If it wasn’t, then--

No. She shook her head. She couldn’t think like that.

She mustered enough strength to speak, although her voice came out as a soft whisper. It seems I'm staying here today after all. She forced her fingers into her palm where her nails bit into her skin. "I need you to take me back."

Sienna didn’t even hesitate. "That’s great!" Her face lit up with a smile as she wrapped her arms around Savannah. "That was Ethan, right? What did he say? Do you guys always talk like that?"

With Dominic? Sure.

With Ethan?

Never.

Savannah's throat tightened. Savannah realized Ethan only called her when he required assistance. Ethan wanted her position to be precisely where he desired her presence—confined.

"Sav, don’t overthink it. "Mrs. Kensington should be okay," Sienna said as she gripped the steering wheel tightly while driving fast towards the city.

"Yeah." The word felt foreign in her mouth.

Fine. Her mother being fine confirmed the truth of her deepest fears. The single individual who had ever exhibited warmth toward her had deceived her to manipulate her return.

Her throat tightened as she fixed her gaze on the wrinkled ticket before her. She had been so close. So damn close.

One tear, two tears, three…

She shredded the ticket and tossed its fragments out of the window.

She could buy another flight. But she'd never buy her freedom.

She would never seek freedom while her blood served as their security system.

She clenched her fists. Lily was supposed to be cured now. She was supposed to be free.

How foolish was she to believe that?

"Mom, please don’t lie to me. Not you too."

She never spoke those words but they rang in her mind.

Savannah already knew what the answer was when Sienna drove into the Kensington estate.

Stepping out of the car she immediately began to scan the lavishly decorated garden. White fairy lights. Gold-rimmed tables. The designer-clad guests toasted to honor Lily. A large "Welcome Home" banner displayed above the estate entrance.

Her stomach turned.

They were aware of her presence at the airport. That was why they called.

And Ethan—he had let them do it.

Of course, he had.

He had never taken any action to protect her and never engaged in any fight for her sake.

She had hoped for one moment when he would utter any words to convince her to stay. He presented her to them as if she were an offering on a silver platter.

Her steps maintained a rhythm across the courtyard but inside Savannah trembled.

Ethan relaxed by the pool wearing his impeccably tailored suit while holding a drink. Lily sat across from him with a radiant smile as sunlight danced through her golden curls.

Before Savannah saw them her intuition told her he was watching her. Dark, unreadable. His facial expression remained unchanged but she noticed a brief hint of annoyance before he looked away. Regret?

Then he looked away.

She understood everything from that moment.

The butler met her at the entrance. The butler informed Miss Savannah that Mr. Kensington awaits her in his study.

She tilted her head, forcing a smirk. "I thought Mom was injured?"

The butler hesitated. He didn’t meet her eyes.

Of course not. Within this house he served as nothing but yet another instrument. Just like her.

Without waiting for him to answer her question, she gave a nod and went inside.

A single lamp provided insufficient light in the study, which created shadows across the mahogany shelves. Dominic Kensington continued to look at his desk while he flipped through a folder without glancing up. "Alexander Reed agreed to direct your movie. You start Monday."

Savannah stared at him.

"How’s Mom?" She crossed her arms.

The quiet between them lasted until he raised his eyes. Cold. Calculated. "She’s resting. You shouldn’t disturb her."

So that was it.

"You lied to me."

A muscle in his jaw twitched. "Mind your words."

She took a step forward, voice steady. "Or what? Will I lose the movie you bought me as a fatherly gift?"

Dominic placed the file on the surface as his fingers intertwined. You can choose to handle this in the easy manner or—

She moved forward as she suggested they attempt the difficult approach. A wave of fury gripped her throat like a burning flame that consumed her insides. "I. Want. To. See. Mom."

Silence.

A soft painful sound emerged from behind her. "Savannah…"

Her breath hitched.

Emily Kensington stood in the doorway once she looked around.

The final shard of hope shattering inside Savannah forced her to close her eyes.

She had nothing left to lose.