Chapter 10
That was enough to make the nearby cop step in. “Mr. Wallaker, that’s enough. Keep it civil, or both of you are coming with
us to the station.”
Hugh clenched his jaw. The last thing he needed was a scene at the station. If the press got wind of it, his family’s reputation
would take a massive hit.
Forcing a tight smile, he turned to the officer. “There’s no need for that. We’ll settle it ourselves. Thanks for your time.”
Then he grabbed Melissa’s arm and dragged her out onto the balcony, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. “Don’t think I don’t know about your little secret, Melissa. Your stepdad? He’s been looking for you.”
Melissa froze, her blood running cold. She stared at him, mind racing. “That monster is still alive?’
Hugh’s smirk widened. “Oh, he’s alive, all right. After you left me, he came to my house, screaming and threatening to tear the place apart. I paid thirty grand to shut him up. Thirty grand, Melissa. So, tell me-what do you think he’ll do when he finds out you’re back in town?”
Her chest tightened as a wave of fear crashed over her. Memories of her stepfather flashed through her mind-the years of terror, the constant dread, and that one horrific night that had haunted her ever since.
She dug her nails deeper into her palms, forcing her voice to stay steady. “What do you want, Hugh?”
Hugh leaned back, smug as hell, clearly relishing his power. “It’s simple. I’ll give you six and a half grand. You sign the apartment over to me, take the money, and disappear. Forever.”
Melissa’s mind raced. The thought of her stepfather finding her made her stomach churn, but giving in to Hugh? That felt just as disgusting.
Then her phone buzzed. It was Bradley.
Her heart leapt to her throat. ‘Is it Curtis?’ she wondered. She answered immediately, her voice tight with exhaustion. “What’s wrong?”
Bradley’s tone was sharp, and she could hear Curtis in the background. “When are you coming back?”
“Coming back?” she asked, confused. ‘Wasn’t I supposed to leave for good?’ she wondered.
“What happened?” she demanded, panic creeping into her voice.
“Nothing serious,” Bradley replied with a sarcastic edge. “He just refuses to get his IV and pulled the needle out. Fantastic parenting, by the way.”
Melissa could hear Curtis shouting in the background. “I only did it because you’re being mean to Mom!”
Her heart twisted at the sound of her son’s voice. She wanted to comfort him, to hold him, but she couldn’t bear the thought of giving him false hope.
“If you don’t bring Mom back,” Curtis yelled, “I’m not getting treated!”
Bradley sighed, clearly out of patience. After a moment, he said, “Send me your address. I’ll come pick you up.”
Melissa hung up, her thoughts a jumbled mess. Curtis’s stubbornness left her shaken, but she couldn’t bring herself to care about Hugh or the fight anymore. “Fine,” she said to Hugh softly, turning away.
Hugh let out a quiet sigh of relief, then turned to the cops. “It’s all good now. We’ve worked it out. Thanks for coming.”
1/2
11:57 Sat, 19 Jul
Chapter 10
Melissa walked out of the building and onto the street, trying to flag down a cab. Before she could, her phone buzzed again. It was Bradley. “Your address,” he demanded, his tone firm.
“I’ll come back on my own,” she replied, her voice flat.
Bradley, already annoyed that Curtis had bossed him into picking her up, wasn’t in the mood to play games. His tone was sharp, with zero patience. “Did I stutter? Send me the damn address.”
Too exhausted to argue, Melissa typed it out and sent it.
Fifteen minutes later, Bradley’s car pulled up outside the gate. He honked, the sound sharp and impatient.
Melissa climbed into the passenger seat without a word, her head low as she stared out the window.
Bradley glanced over at her, his tone laced with sarcasm. “At the hospital, I overheard your ‘good friend’ on the phone. Something about some broke loser who’s been gone for three years trying to take back an apartment. Said her husband was dealing with it.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Let me guess-that broke loser wouldn’t happen to be you, would it?”
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