Semua Bab Married to the Disabled Billionaire : Bab 91 - Bab 100

Alice's heartbeat dropped.This was it.This was the move.The message. The warning. The "check."The thumbs-up emoji Nora sent her it wasn't just weird. It was wrong. It wasn't Nora. It was never Nora.Lee's words blurred in her ears, his panic filling the doorway like a thundercloud, but all Alice could hear was the pounding in her head."She's not at her parents'. Not answering her phone Alice, please tell me she's with you-""No," she whispered, eyes wide. "No. Oh my God, no."Her phone slid from her hand and hit the tiled floor with a sickening crack. She didn't reach for it. Couldn't.Travis stepped forward. "Lee, calm down. When last did you speak to her?"Lee was shaking. "Before she went to meet Alice. After that nothing. She's always texting. Even if she's annoyed, she texts. Now nothing."Alice's knees buckled, but Travis caught her just in time."She texted me," she whispered."When?" Lee asked sharply.Alice looked at Travis, her face pale. "About an hour ago. After I to

Nora's wrists burned.She tugged again at the restraints, metal biting into already tender skin, her breathing sharp and quick as her wide eyes darted across the dim room. It smelled of iron, mold, and something else... something sour, rotten, like old fear. The cold concrete walls pressed in like silent watchers, and overhead, a single lightbulb flickered and swayed, casting shadows that danced like cruel ghosts.She'd screamed herself hoarse an hour ago. Maybe more. Time felt broken here. Every second stretched like chewing gum, sticky and slow and unbearable."Somebody help! Help me, please. They're holding me captive here!" she shouted, the words scraping raw from her throat.She twisted her torso, trying to shimmy her way out of the restraints, but the thick ropes held fast, digging deeper into her skin. She screamed again, louder, her voice cracking at the peak."Help! Help!"But there was only silence.Her shoulders slumped down in defeat."No one's coming," she whispered to he

Alice paced beside her car, keys clutched so tightly they dug into her palm. "I'm going," she said, eyes fixed on the road ahead.Elliott stepped in front of her. "You are absolutely not going alone.""They said no police. No backup. Just me," she shot back."That's exactly why you can't just march in there. It's a trap.""I don't care if it's a trap," Alice snapped. "They have my mum and Nora. I'm not sitting here while they do unimaginable things to them , you don't fully grasp what these people are capable of." Her voice broke. She swallowed hard. "I'm going."Elliott folded his arms. "Do you even know where you're going?""Yes. The address Nora gave me before the line went dead.""And you think you're just going to walk in and then what reason with them?""If it keeps them alive, yes."Elliott shook his head. "Alice, listen to yourself. You're walking straight into the lion's den.""I've been in worse.""Not like this. These people aren't playing games."Alice's eyes burned. "Neit

"Dirt to dirt. Ashes we shall return…"The preacher's voice rolled out over the cemetery, deep and steady, but it seemed to fade somewhere before reaching Alice. She stood beside her father, hands clasped loosely in front of her, eyes fixed on the wooden casket resting above the open grave."…for we are but dust, and to dust we shall return," he continued, the words threading into the damp air.Her father leaned slightly toward her. "Cold?""A little," she murmured.He adjusted the coat draped over her shoulders, though she hadn't noticed him put it there.The preacher closed his Bible. "Let us pray."Heads bowed. Alice's stayed lowered, but her eyes remained open, watching the toes of her shoes sink a little into the soft ground.When the prayer ended, movement began again the slow, solemn shuffle of mourners stepping forward to offer condolences.The first was Mrs. Dalrymple, a small woman in an oversized black hat. She took Alice's hand in both of hers. "My dear, I am so sorry. I

The restaurant wasn't overly crowded, just busy enough for the low hum of conversations to feel like background music. Soft golden lighting made the polished tables glow, and the scent of roasted garlic and fresh bread drifted between them like an unspoken invitation.Travis sat across from Alice, his jacket draped over the back of his chair. He leaned forward, forearms resting on the table, watching her with the kind of attention that made her cheeks warm even though she told herself she was used to it by now."You're smiling too much," he teased, a faint smirk playing at his lips."I'm allowed to," Alice replied, cutting into her pasta. "You know, for once, I don't feel like I'm pretending."His brow softened. "You've never been good at pretending. You were just… surviving."She nodded slowly, the fork pausing mid-air. "Exactly. I used to wake up and wonder if I'd make it through the day. Now I just… wake up." Her smile widened. "And you're there."Travis reached over and brushed hi