hapter 13
“Loving someone can be a rollercoaster of emotions, swinging between joy and sadness. But with you, it’s more than that. I want to make you happy, and when I see others having something good, I can’t help but think you should have it, too. I’m careful with my words, terrified of causing you any unhappiness. My emotions are so intertwined with yours that the thought of us parting is unbearable.”
Rowan kissed my hair with a sigh. “Sonia, you’re in love with me.”
“Then let’s not be apart, okay? You promised you’d never refuse me.”
He nodded, gently patting my back reassuringly. “Alright, we won’t.”
I stumbled out of the bedroom with puffy eyes the following morning.
Munching on a bacon sandwich, Viola looked at me knowingly. “You cried last night, didn’t you?”
I sighed, saying, “Yeah, can you grab me a popsicle?”
She got up, headed to the kitchen, and pulled out an old, slightly freezer–burned popsicle from the bottom shelf, pressing it against my eyes.
“Last night, I saw you getting into some fancy car.”
I stayed silent, holding the icy relief to my face.
She rolled her eyes. “Going back to your ex, Rowan, and letting him make you cry again? Come on, girl, get a grip!”
“It’s not like that. Rowan’s actually-”
“Stop right there!” She pretended to clean her ears. “I swear I’ll throw you out if I hear you defending him one more time.”
I gave up arguing and sipped my coffee, cheeks puffed with suppressed emotions, staring blankly at my best friend.
She prompted, “Swallow. What, did your brain run off with your ex, leaving you unable to eat, too?”
I choked, spitting out my coffee before dashing to the bathroom, retching.
Viola came after me, face splattered with coffee, grumbling as she handed me a glass of water, patting my back. “For heaven’s sake, what’s wrong? Please don’t scare me like this. I’ll have to call an ambulance-”
I grabbed her arm. “Don’t!”
“Geez, do you even realize how pale you look?”
I held on tightly, whispering, “I’m pregnant.”
“What kind of nonsense-” She abruptly stopped with realization. “Oh my God.”
Minutes later, she was dragging me into a cab.
As we sped along, Miles called. “Sonia, where are you?”
I suddenly remembered our “date” today. “Sorry, something urgent came up.”
Miles pressed, “Where are you? Send me the address.”
Viola knew I wasn’t into Miles and snatched the phone, turning it off with a scoff.
“Keeping it all under wraps, huh? Not even telling the baby’s dad? That’s impressive, Sonia, really impressive.”
Turning off the phone felt like a small victory. I felt safe.
I sighed, “Please, don’t tell anyone, especially not the Atkinson family. I can’t have them finding out.”
1/3
Still upset, Viola was initially quiet, but then she hesitantly asked, “You’re really going through with this?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay then. I’ll be the best godmother this kid could have. Women can do anything. We’ll manage.”
The cab’s radio droned on with the news, and we listened silently.
The Atkinson family was in trouble. News had broken this morning about an old, severe construction site accident, implicating the Crawford family as their business partners.
GPS F F B S = = F 8 F
Viola squeezed my hand, her eyes full of concern.
I shook my head. “It’s fine.”
I hadn’t expected Rowan’s moves to be so swift, with the Atkinson family’s scandals piling up like the proverbial straws on a camel’s back, waiting for the last one to make it collapse.
Thinking back to another life, when Uncle Samuel orchestrated that explosion through Lionel, a weight I had
carried for so long started to lift.
This time, it was a decade earlier.
Rowan’s business empire was thriving, and Uncle Samuel’s influence hadn’t yet grown monstrously. Maybe, just maybe, those events wouldn’t repeat themselves.
The traffic was light, the driver steady, and my eyelids grew heavy as we covered half the journey.
I leaned against Viola, murmuring, “Wake me when we get there.”
But before I heard her response, I drifted off.
A distant voice cut through my dreams. “Sonia, wake up!”
A harsh metallic screech jolted me awake. My limbs felt like lead as I opened my eyes to see concrete pipes and Viola tied to one.
The wind carried the pungent smell of industrial oil and dust.
Dazed, I scrambled up from the ground.
Viola was futilely kicking her legs, a creaking sound behind her. “Oh my God, thank heavens! Get over here and untie me.”
Realizing we were in an unfamiliar place and tied up, I hurried over, crouching to inspect the thick rope binding her.
Memories flooded back, and cold sweat trickled down my spine. Wasn’t this the abandoned factory where I met my end in a previous life? The knot was tight, unyielding, and I could only try to fray it. The creaking echoed ominously throughout the building.
Viola cursed, “They must have a death wish, kidnapping me of all people.”
The rope barely showed signs of wear.
She slumped against the concrete, exhausted. “Sonia, stop struggling. They tied me up, not you, so their target must be my family. While no one’s watching, get out and call the cops.”
I gave her a rueful smile. “Sorry, but this time, it’s me who’s dragged you into this.”
“What do you mean?”
Before I could answer, Miles‘ voice suddenly sounded behind us. “Your friend does have a mouth on her.”
Viola craned her neck to see him, but I clamped a hand over her eyes, turning to face Miles. “She doesn’t know anything. Let her go.”
Viola couldn’t help bersele
Chapter 13
you!”
Miles‘ face darkened at her words.
I cut in, “You heard her. There’s no need to drag the Carlsons into this.”
Viola’s family was influential, with her father in politics and her brother in law enforcement. She was fearless. If something happened to her, nobody would come out unscathed.
Miles tossed a utility knife at me. “Cut the rope. Don’t try anything funny, or none of us will leave here alive.”
I quickly picked it up and freed Viola from her bindings.
“Don’t look back. Just go home.”
Viola frowned, whispering, “Are you sure this isn’t a trap? If I leave, I’m calling the police.”
