Chapter 225
Chapter 225
The dusk was settling, casting long shadows over the small town of Honeysuckle Hollow. The endless
rain had turned the dirt roads into a quagmire, making travel a nightmare. Under the shelter of the free
clinic’s awning, Gwendolyn was administering care to herst patient of the day.
“You’ve got a bit of an upset stomach,” Gwendolyn said, her voice gentle yet firm. “A few doses of this
medicine should do the trick. Remember, eat slowly and choose soft and nd foods. Andy off eggs
and shellfish while taking this, okay?”
She scribbled a prescription and handed the medication to the elderly woman.
“Thank you, Dr. Quigley. You’re so patient with us all.”
“That’s what I’m here for,” Gwendolyn replied with a smile.
Perched on the edge of the porch, the town mayor snapped his lighter and lit a cigarette, his face
creased with worry as he watched the relentless downpour. “This rain doesn’t look like it’s letting up
anytime soon. Tommy, ensure you set up the roadblocks and warning signs on the main road
tomorrow. We don’t want any travelers to get caught in andslide.”
Packing up her medical kit, Gwendolyn overheard and asked the town mayor, “Sir, are you saying
vehicles can’t get through?”
“Landslides aremon during these storms. We’ve had our share of injuries before. Honeysuckle
Hollow is too strapped for cash to fix these roads properly.”
Hearing that, Gwendolyn felt a twinge of difort.
Back in her tiny prefab cabin, she tidied up the sparse room with its single bed, a dresser, and a small
table with chairs. She picked up her cell phone from the dresser, the signal weak and unreliable,
making calls nearly impossible.
The roar of thunder echoed outside, and the night seemed to grow even darker.
Gwendolyn’s thoughts drifted to Howard, and the words Vivien and Selina had said echoed in her mind
The Ster Crescent Foundation
was his tribute to Selina, a testament to their love.
He had shielded Selina in that horrific car ident. If it wasn’t love, then what else could it be?
Her marriage to Howard had been an ident from the start. Yet the thought of giving up on such a
good man was something she
couldn’t do.
Shey on her bed, a wave of emotions crashing over her, leaving her feeling lost and aimless.
She would believe him if he would deny it.
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Outside her cabin, a shadowy figure lurked.
The intruder carefully picked up the old–fashioned lock and slipped inside. He tiptoed toward the bed.
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A sh of lightning illuminated the room, followed by a p of thunder that split the sky. Gwendolyn’s
eyes snapped open to see a swaying silhouette, a stranger standing in her room.
“Who are you?” she gasped, her body breaking out in a cold sweat.
A rough hand mped over her mouth, the voice harsh and threatening. “Shut up! I won’t hurt you! Just
do as I say. Let me strip you and take a few photos, and I’ll let you go!”
Gwendolyn bit hard on the hand over her mouth, and the max yelped in pain, releasing her.
She dashed to the door, but he yanked her back by her hair.
The thunder outside drowned out Gwendolyn’s cries for help. She struggled wildly, knocking over the
few dishes she had.
“Help! Somebody, help!”
“Shut up, bitch! If you don’t cooperate, I’ll have my way with you!” he snarled, changing his mind.
Gwendolyn was too tempting, and he had been watching her for days.
He tore at Gwendolyn’s clothes, but she jabbed a long needle hidden in her bracelet into his arm.
Sandra had warned her that desperate times called for desperate measures, so she never removed the
needle when she slept.
With a howl of pain, he loosened his grip, and Gwendolyn seized the moment to swing a chair at him.
“I’ll make you regret this! Nobody dares to mess with Jack here!”
Gwendolyn raced to the door, finding it wired shut and impossible to open.
She edged along the wall, keeping her distance from Jack, who was sneering. “You think I’d do
something like this without a backup n? With this storm, who can hear you scream? No one would
notice!”
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