Chapter 6 Throwing Her to the Fish?
1009 Words
Trapped in the penthouse suite, Grace had actually managed to escape by contacting an old friend she knew.
She told her friend to arrange for a "hotel inspection" under the guise of a cleaning service and managed to sneak out hidden in the cleaning cart.
It was like something out of a spy movie! She couldn't help but laugh bitterly to herself.
Once she got home, Grace quickly loaded her two children into the car and drove them out to the countryside.
The Astor family would never let their bloodline wander freely.
If these children were found, they would be taken away.
'William Astor, I will never let you win!'
By late afternoon, Grace and the children arrived at Kalina's farm in the countryside.
Kalina was a patient of hers from Clearview Hospital, a kind woman who ran a farm.
She had often brought Grace and her children fresh fruits and vegetables and over time had become one of the few close friends Grace had.
Just as they thought they could stay here quietly for a couple of days, Kalina received a call.
"Nancy? Ms. Evans is calling. She says she wants to speak with you."
Grace, without thinking too much, got up from beside Amy and walked into the house to answer the phone.
"Hello, Wendy?"
"Grace, I... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to betray you, but they... they were going to throw me to the fish, Grace. I... I don't want to die..."
The moment the phone picked up, Wendy's tearful voice reached Grace's ears, and her heart sank.
Who was going to throw Wendy to the fish?
Could it be William?
Grace's hands trembled, and she almost dropped the phone.
"Where are you?" she demanded urgently.
Wendy's voice trembled. "I... I..."
Before Wendy could finish, a harsh male voice cut in, "You tell her she has thirty minutes. Thirty minutes, or you'll be thrown overboard. Let's see if she shows up."
Grace could hear the barely-contained fury in William's voice, even through the phone line.
It was definitely him, that madman.
She slammed the phone down in frustration.
"Mommy, what's wrong? What happened?" Allen asked, looking at her with concern.
"It's nothing, sweetie. You and Amy stay here, okay? Mommy just has some work to do."
Grace knew that the time for running was over.
She had to go now, to rescue Wendy, before William found them here.
Half an hour later, she arrived at the dock.
Panting heavily after speeding all the way there, Grace finally spotted Wendy, bound and suspended on the deck of a boat.
How could he hurt her friend?!
Fury surged through Grace as she leapt out of the car and rushed towards the boat.
"William Astor! Do you think you're in some kind of gang? Let her go!"
The wind was biting, cutting through the air like knives. Wendy was dangling helplessly, and Grace's voice echoed across the cold sea.
To Grace's surprise, William was casually sitting in a chair on deck, holding a glass of red wine. Dressed in a dark suit with a crisp white shirt, he looked as impeccable as ever, his demeanor oozing effortless sophistication.
With a lazy glance in her direction, he smirked.
"Finally showed up, huh?"
Grace felt a wave of contempt, remembering how she once thought he was handsome.
She took a deep breath, forcing down the seething anger that boiled inside her.
"Let her go. You wanted me, right? Well, I'm here. I won't run away."
"Really? No games this time?"
Grace clenched her fists, trying to remind herself that she shouldn't argue with someone so deranged.
A few minutes later, Wendy was lowered to the deck, and Grace quickly boarded the boat.
"Nancy, I'm so sorry..." Wendy sobbed, her face pale with fear, her wrists bruised from the restraints.
Grace's heart ached as she wrapped her arms around her, patting her back gently.
"You don't need to apologize. The one who should be sorry is me."
"Who... who are they? What kind of people are they, Nancy? Where do they want to take you?"
"They're all just sick, twisted people. Forget whatever he said... he's a madman."
Her biggest hope right now was to keep that demon from dragging any of her other friends into this mess.
Grace sent Wendy away, but then she turned to face William, standing there on the deck.
After so much time, Grace was finally calm again.
But when she looked into his eyes, they were as cold as winter snow. William saw nothing but hatred and disgust in her gaze.
He was confused. Why did she hate him so much?
After all, he was the one who had been wronged. He had been the one to suffer.
"Sometimes I really wonder... what is it you're still holding onto? Wouldn't it be better for both of us if we never saw each other again? What exactly are you still fighting for?"
"Didn't I already tell you?" William's voice was low and cold. "You need to atone for what you did."
Grace's knuckles turned white as she squeezed her fists, her eyes closing tightly. She didn't want to speak anymore.
It had been five years... What was she still waiting for?
Was she waiting for him to apologize, to soften and say something that might make it all better?
Or perhaps... for him to admit he regretted what he had done and confess he missed her?
Before long, the boat left the dock, and Grace realized there was no longer any chance of escape.
Once she was locked away again, she collapsed onto the small bed in the cabin, fully clothed.
Her tense body finally gave in to exhaustion, and she fell asleep.
"Childe Lucas, this is dangerous. You can't..."
"Don't tell me what to do!"
She woke up to the gnawing hunger in her stomach, the sounds of arguing, and that soft, familiar child's voice.
'It's him!'
Grace snapped her eyes open, her senses suddenly sharp, her mind clearer than it had ever been before.
- Writer
