In a mere heartbeat, Klein placed one hand on the ledge and, with a fluid motion, swung himself over as if it were the easiest thing in the world.
Once outside the villa, he opened his arms wide, a reassuring smile gracing his lips. “Jump.”
This time, Whitney leaped without hesitation, a surge of exhilaration coursing through her veins.
Despite the disheveled appearance she knew she had, an inexplicable thrill washed over her as she landed safely in his arms.
Klein half-embraced her waist, his voice low and commanding. “Let’s go. Get in the car.”
The sleek black Maybach was waiting just off the road, its polished surface gleaming under the moonlight.
By the time the bodyguards caught up, all they could see was a plume of exhaust smoke trailing down the street, a ghost of their hurried escape.
Whitney placed a hand on her chest, her breath coming in quick bursts. “Mr. Harris, thank you for rescuing me today.”
Inside the car, Klein’s thin lips curled into a subtle smile beneath his prominent nose. “Just a verbal thank you? Back in the old days, a life debt meant offering something in return.”
A sudden tightness gripped Whitney’s heart.
Wait, what did Mr. Harris mean by that? she wondered, a blush creeping up her neck, feeling flustered and slightly vulnerable.
Before she could gather her thoughts, Klein’s phone buzzed loudly, the sound slicing through the moment. He switched it to speaker mode, his tone tinged with impatience.
“Hello,” he answered, his voice clipped.
The caller on the other end hesitated, then reminded him carefully, “Mr. Harris, the flight to Lillyand is scheduled to take off in an hour and a half. Are you already on your way?”
A dawning realization hit Whitney; he was rushing off to a business trip.
“Oh,” Klein replied coolly, “Got it.”
After he ended the call, a wave of guilt washed over Whitney. “Mr. Harris, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had pressing matters to attend to. Now that I’m alright, you can just drop me off at that convenience store. I can catch a taxi home.”
Klein pressed his lips together, a flicker of concern crossing his face. “Is that really okay? What if someone drags you back again?”
A small, confident smile broke across Whitney’s lips. “Not a chance. I’m not that foolish to get caught twice. I’m going to hail a cab and find James to finalize the breakup.”
With her words, she made it clear that no matter the pressure, this was a decision she had firmly resolved.
Klein raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise crossing his features. ‘Wait, so she escaped just to call off the engagement?’ he pondered, a mix of admiration and curiosity swirling within him.
“You’ve thought this through?” he asked, his voice calm but laced with an excitement that was barely contained.
Whitney nodded, her expression unwavering. “Absolutely.”
With his business trip looming, time was of the essence.
Reluctantly, Klein complied with her wishes, pulling up to the convenience store. As he stepped out of the car, he reminded her, “Message me when you get there.”
As if to ease any worries she might have, he added, “Or you can send it to Lena.”
Whitney smiled softly, her heart warming at his concern. “I will.”
She watched the black sedan disappear into the night, the clock ticking toward 9 p.m. It would take approximately forty minutes to reach Harris Manor from here.
Though visiting at this hour was a bold move, Whitney felt an unquenchable urgency to confront the situation head-on.
Raising her hand, she flagged down a taxi, her heart racing with anticipation.
Meanwhile, Laura had just arrived at the clubhouse when her phone buzzed with an urgent call from the family’s bodyguards.
“What? She got away?” Laura snapped, her voice sharp with disbelief.
“Useless. You can’t even keep an eye on one woman? What’s the point of having you around?” she shouted, her frustration boiling over.
Fuming, Laura stormed into the private room where they had gathered. Samuel’s assistant stood outside, his demeanor tense.
“Where’s Mr. Moore?” she demanded, her eyes narrowing as she noticed the assistant’s anxious expression.
“M-Mrs. Moore, what brings you here?” he stammered, clearly caught off guard.
Laura snorted dismissively, “Can’t I come?”
“I’ll give the people inside one minute. You go in and tell him to come out fast. Otherwise, I’m kicking the door down,” she declared, her voice brooking no argument.
The assistant felt his heart race in panic.
‘What a nightmare. Mr. Moore sneaking around, and now Mrs. Moore showing up to catch him in the act,’ he thought, scrambling to find a way to defuse the situation.
He slipped to the corner, lowering the volume of his phone. “Mr. Moore, Mrs. Moore is outside. Maybe you should come out?” he advised, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ten minutes later, Samuel emerged, adjusting his suit and standing tall, though his frown betrayed his unease. “What are you doing here?” he asked, surprise mingling with irritation.
Laura’s gaze fell on the lipstick stain on his neck, and she took several deep breaths to suppress her rising anger. “Your precious daughter jumped out the window and ran off, and you still have the audacity to mess around here?”
It was an unspoken truth that hung heavy in the air; everyone knew what was really happening.
Samuel’s face flushed with indignation. “Don’t talk nonsense. Where is she? Why would she run away?”
“I heard she was taken away by a guy. You’d better start contacting people to find her. Otherwise, no one’s wedding will go smoothly the day after tomorrow,” Laura warned, her tone fierce and unwavering.
At that moment, Carter was driving Emily out for a late-night snack, glancing sideways at her. “Milly, you barely touched your dinner.”
“Stop worrying about your weight. You’re already so thin,” he added, his tone teasing yet concerned.
Emily lowered her gaze, a shy smile creeping onto her lips. “Thanks, Carter. But being thinner looks better on camera.”
With her new song about to drop, Carter had lined up several appearances for her on various shows, leaving no room for blind dates with some playboy.
Carter smiled indulgently, “I really can’t do anything about you.”
A dull ache throbbed in his stomach, and he rubbed it absentmindedly.
Seeing his discomfort, Emily’s expression turned to one of concern. “Carter, is your stomach bothering you? Let me massage it for you.”
As she reached toward him, her delicate hand barely grazed the thin fabric of his shirt before Carter instinctively grasped her wrist, stopping her.
“Emily, quit messing around,” he said, a hint of exasperation in his voice.
In that moment of distraction, Carter failed to notice the blue taxi speeding toward them from the opposite direction.
Bang.
The two cars collided with a sickening crunch, sending Carter lurching forward, his forehead meeting the steering wheel with a jarring impact. Emily screamed, panic flooding her senses.
Inside the taxi, Whitney felt a muffled groan escape her lips as the sharp impact jolted her shoulder, sending a searing pain radiating deep within.
The taxi driver was not faring any better; blood trickled steadily down his forehead, a stark contrast against the chaos unfolding around them.
Bystanders quickly rushed out of their cars, their voices rising in urgency. “Call 911. This driver is bleeding!”
Carter, wincing in pain, unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to Emily, concern etched on his features. “Emily, are you alright?”
Emily rubbed her forehead, still dazed. “I’m fine, Carter.”
She had overheard the bystanders’ frantic calls. “Hey, Carter, do you think the people in the other car are okay?”
Carter’s brow furrowed in worry. “Don’t move. I’ll get out and help you down.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.