Chapter 9%
LC
Exhausted and on the brink of collapse, one of the men quietly suggested, “Boss, it’s been so long without a trace… the bodies of the wife and the girl might have already been–“>
Before he could finish his sentence, Milford slammed his fist into the man, knocking him to the ground.
He was like a wild animal, his expression dark and terrifying. “Even if they were eaten by beasts, I still want those animals found. Rip open their bellies–alive or dead, I need to bring Lori home!“}
For days, Milford and his men slaughtered every animal they could find in the mountains, the smell of blood lingering in the air, thick and nauseating. But still, there was no trace of me or Enid.
Eventually, Milford collapsed from exhaustion. When he woke up, he thought it had all been a nightmare. He called my name, his voice hoarse with desperation.
All that answered him was silence.
He stumbled into his study, but it was the divorce papers on his desk that stabbed at his heart.
He remembered what I had told him–that I had left him a “wedding gift.” But he hadn’t expected this. I wanted a divorce. We had once promised each other a lifetime together, but in the end, it was him who had changed his heart.
Milford finally understood why, that morning, I had looked at him so calmly, even helping him adjust his tie as I watched him head off to marry another woman.
It was only when you’re utterly disappointed that you can stop caring so completely.
He held the divorce papers against his chest, the weight of everything that had built up finally breaking him. He cried out, like an injured animal in pain.
“Lori… did I lose you? You really don’t want me anymore, do you? I’m sorry… please come back… This time, I’ll never let you go…”>
It was too late. I would never answer him again.”
***
At that moment, I was already far away, with Enid in tow, settled in a small coastal town down south.
From the day I decided to leave Milford, I had been planning how to escape with Enid. I knew Milford too well–he was fickle, but his possessiveness was overpowering. He would never let us go without a fight.
REFE
The kidnapping had been the perfect opportunity to set my plan in motion. I hired people in advance to pose as the kidnappers, staging my own death to make my escape.
That was the only way to break free from him for good.
He had probably seen the divorce papers by now. I imagined that he and Malissa’s family were living some warm, picture–perfect life together.
Maybe that was for the best. At least now, Enid and I didn’t have to worry about being kidnapped by his enemies again.§
Enid had grown up in the North, so she absolutely loved the sea here.
I made new arrangements for us, got us new identification and enrolled Enid in a local kindergarten.
Before, Milford’s status forced us to call a private tutor who’d come to the house for Enid’s lessons. But now, she could finally play with other kids and it made her a lot happier and more open.
As for me, I opened a flower shop. I spent my days surrounded by the scent of flowers and when I woke up, I was greeted by Enid’s sweet little face. Slowly, the darkness in my heart began to fade.”
While we were living our peaceful, free life, things were falling apart back in the North for the Wrights.
In less than six months, Milford and his men had wiped out every major gang in the area. Whether they had a personal vendetta or not, no one was spared.%
Every time he took down a rival, he’d beat their leader half to death, then ask, “Where are my wife and daughter?”
He wasn’t invincible, though. Along the way, someone broke his leg.}}
It wasn’t just physical pain that he endured. Through the gossip of the household staff, he finally discovered some truths he had been blind to 8
One of those thruth was how Malissa had intentionally develop a pregnancy complications to keep him from saving me.
11:42 AM
