Chapter 6
Derek panicked at the sound of sirens–he couldn’t handle it.
He cursed under his breath, dropped my daughter, and bolted.
Bella hit the ground with a thud that made my heart ache.
“Bella? Are you okay?”
Bella was still unconscious, mumbling “Mommy” in her delirium.
“Don’t be scared, Bella! Mommy’s here…”
“Mommy’s bringing people to save you right now!”
I rushed outside but Derek was already gone–he’d escaped by car.
The villa’s front door was soon smashed open by a group of people.
It was Maverick leading a squad of police officers charging in.
“Maverick? Why are you back?”
I was stunned.
“PAISLEY!”
But Maverick was shouting my name, running straight through my soul as he rushed upstairs.
“Maverick, I’m not on the second floor–you won’t find me there.”
“Check the basement! Bella’s still waiting for you to save her!”
But Maverick still couldn’t hear me.
He charged to the bedroom door and kicked it open.
The room wasn’t lit, but the moonlight was bright enough for Maverick to see everything inside.
This bedroom had no bed–only props.
Countless bloodstained whips hung on the walls, thick chains lay scattered on the floor.
This was Derek’s playground of torture, my nightmare.
Maverick just stood there frozen.
I saw shock, pain, and self–blame written across his face…
His always–straight shoulders sagged powerlessly.
I think he finally believed what I’d told him before.
Derek was scum. He always beat me. These five years of marriage had been a living hell.
Just then, a shout came from downstairs.
20.8%
Chapter 6
“There’s someone in the basement!”
Maverick seemed to regain his strength all at once.
“Paisley!”
He spun around and flew downstairs.
His eyes held obvious hope, and mine sparked with it too.
“Bella’s saved!”
I followed Maverick racing downstairs.
In the basement, I found Bella had woken up.
She was trembling, curled up in the corner, afraid of the approaching officers.
That bastard Derek must have scared her to death.
“Bella, don’t be afraid, you’re saved…”
I rushed over and held Bella. “The police officers aren’t bad people. Will you go with them?”
But my Bella couldn’t hear me.
She was terrified of anyone who came near, crying, “Mommy, I’m scared…”
“…Mommy.”
Bella kept backing up until she reached the black bag in the corner.
This bag was something Derek had deliberately left behind.
In his rush to escape, he’d actually forgotten to take it.
Maverick stepped forward, eyes red as he slowly crouched down, coaxing in a gentle voice.
“Bella, I’m Maverick. I talked to you on the phone not long ago–do you remember?”
“Where’s your mommy? Let’s go find her together, okay?”
Bella cried even harder, and my heart was being torn apart.
Actually, if Maverick just opened that black bag beside him, he’d know I was already dead.
But Maverick didn’t know.
He gently picked up Bella and continued comforting her.
“Bella, don’t be scared.”
“I’ll protect you. No one will ever hurt you again.”
Bella wouldn’t let the officers near, but she unusually trusted Maverick, slowly stopping her trembling in his arms.
Seeing Bella calm down a bit, Maverick tentatively asked.
“Bella, let me take you outside, then we’ll go find your mommy together, okay?”
Daddyl
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Chapter 6
This time, Bella didn’t look at Maverick.
Instead, she pointed to the black bag at their feet that held something round and bulky.
“Mommy… is in there.”
With that, the entire basement suddenly went quiet.
Even the officers who’d been searching stopped what they were doing.
Everyone’s eyes fell on that black bag in the corner.
Maverick’s hands shook as he set the child down.
His hands still trembling, he reached to open the black bag-
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