Chapter 143
Chapter 143
-LANA-
“What exactly happened back there?” my mother asks me as we pull up to the house. “Why did you reject Apollo?”
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I’m still shaken up even though some time has passed. “The men who kidnapped us threatened to kill him if I didn’t reject him. At first I refused to grant their demand. I didn’t know how serious they were about their threats. However, when they started beating him mercilessly, I knew that I had to do whatever I could to stop them.”
My stepfather’s grip on the steering wheel becomes firmer as he exclaims, “I can’t believe they got away from us. Who were those guys, and why was it so important for them that you reject my son?”
It didn’t make any sense to me either. That question has been on repeat on my mind ever since we left the abandoned
house.
Why would anyone go to such lengths to have me reject my stepbrother? Even though I asked the question, I can think of a few people who wouldn’t want Apollo and me to be close. The same two people in the car with me right now tried their hardest to keep us apart. However, I knew my mother nor my stepfather were capable of doing something this awful. Keeping us apart by placing us in different houses was the most they would ever do. They would never stoop to something
like this.
And, even though Apollo’s mother was desperate to keep us apart, I was sure she would never put her own son’s life at risk just to make that happen. While I didn’t know her very well and had no idea what she might be capable of, I was certain of one thing: she truly loved her son.
This only left Jada and her family. I sensed that they were eager for the marriage to happen and struck me as the type of people who would stop at nothing to achieve their goals. Yet, at the same time, they appeared too ethical to engage in such dreadful acts.
I was left with absolutely no leads, and despite Jake searching for hours, the kidnappers had seemingly vanished without a trace. It was clear they had meticulously planned their escape, which indicated they had a solid getaway strategy. They managed to buy themselves enough time to get everything sorted. Remarkably, they knew how to track us down even though my mother had taken me to a different location. They were also aware of where Apollo was. It seemed they had gathered plenty of information about us that an average person would never possess. What was their end goal? Was it truly just to make me reject Apollo?
“You shouldn’t hold yourself accountable for what happened to Apollo,” my mother says gently, interrupting my spiraling thoughts. “I really don’t care what his mother had to say back there; she was just looking for a reason to blame you. Please don’t carry that burden, Lana. You did everything in your power to protect Apollo.”
While my mother might be right, that didn’t change the fact that my actions had caused Apollo tremendous pain.
Listen to your mother, my stepfather agrees. “I know that you would never intentionally hurt your step–brother and I’m positive that he knows this as well. Besides, I need to thank you for saving my son’s life. You did something brave Lana. I am proud of your
There was nothing to commend. I didn’t deserve his gratitude. What I did only brought Apollo more anguish than I could ever fathom.
I don’t say a word as I step out of the car when we arrive at the house. Isabella is already waiting at the entrance and quickly hurries over to greet me. I don’t have time to prepare as she throws her arms around me and pulls me in for a tight hug.
“You idiot!” she exclaims. How could you let yourself get kidnapped? Do you know how worried I have been since learning what happened to you?”
I stiffen.
“I don’t think I intentionally got myself kidnapped,” I point out to her. “They took mom and me by surprise.”
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Chapter 143
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“How is it that you still have such strong feelings for him even after rejecting him?” she finally continues, echoing the same question that’s been haunting my thoughts since the second I rejected him. I was surprised she’d even recognized this.
“I don’t know,” I reply softly. “That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out. I can’t seem to find the right answer.”
Her eyes widen suddenly, “Do you think it might have something to do with Havenville and the Mystic Cloud River?”
The moment she poses the question, a flood of others rushes into my mind, like a light bulb flickering on.
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11:51 Sun, 24 Aug
Chapter 143
“How is it that you still have such strong feelings for him even after rejecting him?” she finally continues, echoing the same question that’s been haunting my thoughts since the second I rejected him. I was surprised she’d even recognized this.
“I don’t know,” I reply softly. “That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out. I can’t seem to find the right answer.
Her eyes widen suddenly. “Do you think it might have something to do with Havenville and the Mystic Cloud River?” The moment she poses the question, a flood of others rushes into my mind, like a light bulb flickering on.
