Chapter 133\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucy\u00a0<\/p>\n
But I couldn\u2019t run away just yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next morning, I went to the bank early. At the counter, I withdrew whatever money was left in my account. When I got home, I started packing. I packed valuables When my suitcase was full, 1 zipped it and dragged it beneath our bed. But I needed the right moment to\u00a0<\/p>\n
any small items that could be sold later. leave when Jared was distracted to follow me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That night, after dinner, Jared surprised me. He was watching TV. His face looked tired, but his eyes were clearer than they had been weeks ago. \u201cLucy,\u201d he said suddenly, \u201cwhen is Maya\u2019s next trial date?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My body stiffened. I replied, \u201cIn a week.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jared nodded, as if he was trying to place that information in his mind. \u201cYou went to the hearing without telling me,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I snapped, \u201cI went because someone had to! You sit here all day like nothing is happening, while our daughter is in prison.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jared\u2019s face tightened. \u201cWhat do you want me to do?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I leaned forward, voice shaking with frustration. \u201cUse your connections. Use your money. Call the lawyers. Fix it. Do something instead of sitting here like a statue.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He looked away, jaw clenched, because I knew there was nothing left. A few minutes later, he got up slowly and said he was going to sleep. I watched him walk down the hallway, and I waited until the house fell quiet. When the lights were off and he slept, I slipped out of bed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I walked to the closet and pulled my suitcase out and dragged it carefully toward the door. I had almost reached the hallway when the bedroom light switched on. I froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jared stood there by the switch, staring at me with wild eyes. I felt a rush of panic and tried to run. But Jared moved faster than I expected. He grabbed my arm and yanked me back. Before I could even speak, he slapped me hard across my face, making my head snap to the side. I screamed and fell on the floor, the suitcase tipping over beside me. My cheek burned, my ears ringing, my eyes wide with shock.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared up at him, unable to understand what had just happened. He stood over me, breathing heavily. Then he reached down and grabbed my hair, pulling my head back so I had to look at him. \u201cYou dare to leave me in this mess?\u201d he growled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tried to push him away. \u201cLet go of me!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t let go. His grip tightened. \u201cI checked my accounts in the morning,\u201d he said in a low, angry voice. \u201cMoney has been missing. You took it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My throat went dry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He leaned closer. \u201cWhat did you do with my money, Lucy? Where is it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 133\u00a0<\/p>\n
I started crying, \u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about,\u201d I said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jared\u2019s eyes narrowed. \u201cDon\u2019t lie to me\u201c.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I struggled, trying to pull free, but he dragged me across the floor. He hauled me back into the bedroom, shoved me inside, and slammed the door, and then I heard the lock click. Anger blasted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I banged on the door with both fists. \u201cOpen it!\u201d I screamed. \u201cJared! Open this door!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But he didn\u2019t. I was in real trouble now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Over the next days, Jared didn\u2019t let me leave the house. The doors stayed locked. If I asked to go out, he said no. If I raised my voice, he ignored me. He brought meals and left them outside the door. It seemed like his senses were coming back, and with it came his suspicion and his control.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finally, when the next hearing got closer, I used that excuse. \u201cI have to meet Maya,\u201d I said through the door one morning. \u201cThe hearing is in two days. The lawyer wants to see me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was a long silence, and then Jared opened the door. \u201cI will take you there,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded quickly. This was my only chance to escape.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the day we went, Jared drove. When we reached the prison, Jared didn\u2019t come inside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll wait here,\u201d he said. \u201cGo.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hesitated. \u201cYou\u2019re not coming?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He looked at me coldly. \u201cI\u2019m not visiting a prison. I\u2019m not going in.\u201d Then he pointed at his phone. \u201cAnd don\u2019t forget, Lucy. I\u2019m watching.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I paled. He was tracking me?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maya was brought into the visiting area a few minutes later. Her eyes were red. She looked thinner, like the fear had eaten away at her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMom,\u201d she said quickly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sat down. \u201cMaya.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment we had a little privacy, Maya started crying. She pressed her hands to her face, then dropped them, looking straight at me with anger. \u201cIt\u2019s all because of that bitch! I can\u2019t stand her face.\u201d She leaned forward. \u201cYou have to do something,\u201d she whispered harshly. \u201cYou have to stop her from coming to the case. If she keeps showing up, the judge keeps looking at her like she\u2019s some innocent victim.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt my jaw tighten. \u201cI can\u2019t stop her anymore,\u201d I said. \u201cI tried and failed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maya stared at me. \u201cOne of my friends in here\u2026 can help,\u201d she whispered. \u201cShe knows someone outside who can do away with Bella.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart jumped. \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:02 Thu, Jan 8\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 133\u00a0<\/p>\n
A\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maya nodded quickly. \u201cBut it will cost ten thousand dollars.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I almost laughed. \u201cTen thousand? Maya, I don\u2019t have money. Jared isn\u2019t helping,\u201d I added. \u201cHe\u2019s barely letting me breathe.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maya bit her lip. \u201cI stashed cash,\u201d she said quietly. \u201cIn my office at Phoenix Mall. In that unfinished shop I was setting up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at her. \u201cYou had cash hidden there?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d she said. \u201cNot everything was in the bank. I wasn\u2019t stupid.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed. \u201cHow much?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEnough,\u201d she replied. \u201cMy friend\u2019s husband will contact you. You give him the money and the work will be done.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded slowly. This was great. I walked back to the car. Jared looked at me through the window. I got in and said, \u201cShe\u2019s not doing well. But I have to go to the Phoenix Mall for some evidence.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jared drove me to the mall. In Maya\u2019s unfinished I moved fast, checking drawers and cabinets until I found a thick hidden packet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I chuckled. Then I called Rowan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d she said coldly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI have money,\u201d I said quickly. \u201cAnd I have a new plan.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I took a breath and spoke clearly. \u201cNext hearing is in a week. I want you to come to the courtroom. There you hex Bella, not kill her. She will succumb to it and the hearing will be postponed. Make sure that she doesn\u2019t die, but is harmed mentally beyond repair!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rowan tittered. \u201cOkay. Give me the money before I hex her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIn two days.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Midnight Winds Carry Secrets Toward Worlds Yet Unknown 133 Chapter 133\u00a0 Lucy\u00a0 But I couldn\u2019t run away just yet.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23098","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-new-world-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23098","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23098"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23098\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}