Semua Bab I Can Hear My Son's Dark Schemes: Bab 1 - Bab 9

It took me a moment to snap out of it as I stared at Noah Barrett's lips, which had not moved at all. I had been reborn and returned to the day before my first attempt to escape the mountains with Noah.Instinctively, I folded the unfinished map in my hands. Noah tugged at my sleeve."Mom, why did you stop drawing?"His inner voice, however, slithered into my ears like a venomous snake. "I wanted to wait until Mom finished so I could show it to Grandma. As long as Grandma knows, she'll give me candy."In that instant, I clenched my fist. The frostbitten skin on the back of my hand split open from the force, bright blood blooming through the cracks. In my previous life, I was kidnapped during my junior year of college and sold into a remote mountain region before I was forced to become Liam Barrett's wife.During the day, Ruth Whitaker tied me up with coarse rope and locked me in the woodshed, treating me like livestock. At night, Liam, who was worse than a wild beast, pinned me to

After that beating, Noah's wailing echoed through the yard for a long time. I looked at his tear-streaked face and instinctively reached out to wipe his cheeks.At the same time, his thoughts rang clearly in my ears again. "It was all Mom's fault. Because of her, I got beaten. The one who should have been hit was Mom."My hand froze in midair before I slowly withdrew it.In my previous life, after I was dragged back, Ruth had hung me from the old tree in the yard and beaten me for a day and a night. The belt split my clothes apart, my blood mixing with my sweat as it dripped into the dirt.Back then, I could never understand how every single escape plan I made was exposed before I even took a step.I had suspected Evelyn from next door, who had also tied up her daughter-in-law in the woodshed. I had suspected every neighbor who might have turned me in. However, it never crossed my mind that the child I had nearly died giving birth to—the child I always shielded with my body when

My whole body went rigid, as if my blood suddenly rushed backward. I whipped around. Noah had somehow slipped behind me without a sound and was now standing beneath a tree, his small figure warped by the shifting shadows. He tilted his head, his voice carrying a kind of innocent cruelty."Mom, where are you going? Why aren't you taking me with you?"How was he here? I had never told anyone about this path.I spun back and tried to run, but Noah threw his head back and shouted, "Come catch my mom! She's here!"I sprinted with everything I had, my lungs burning as if they were about to burst. I had no sense of how long I'd been running, but the faint outline of the highway finally appeared ahead. Hope flickered. I stopped beneath a large tree, trying to confirm the direction. Then, that ghostly voice wormed back into my mind."Mom, stop running. I'm tired. I know she's hiding under the big tree. She can't escape."I had tied him up. How did he find me again?There was no time

Then, Liam's voice followed."Sir, my wife ran away, and I think she's hiding in your truck. Get out and let us take a look. It will be quick. We'll not delay you for long."As he spoke, he and several villagers started climbing onto the freight truck.Fear flooded my eyes with tears. Was I going to be dragged back no matter what?Just then, the truck driver barked a sharp command, and they froze. He cleared his throat, his voice thick with irritation. "Get lost! Get lost! I am hauling fresh goods. I am on a tight schedule and do not have time for your nonsense."I have not seen any woman, and there's no woman in my truck. This backwater place is sketchy enough. Who knows if you're trying to rob me?"Seeing the driver's bad attitude, Liam dropped the pretense. He raised his shovel and slammed it hard against the truck bed twice."Don't push your luck. I called you 'sir' out of respect, and now you want to act tough?"We have the numbers here. You would be smart to cooperate.

The bus station was at the far end of the town. This was my only hope; I had to get on a bus and leave.I ran into the waiting hall. It was noisy inside. I quickly scanned the schedule on the wall.The next bus to the county would depart in 15 minutes. Joy surged through me. Heaven had not completely abandoned me after all.I pulled my hat lower and walked to the ticket window, handing over the coins I had prepared. "One ticket to the county."The clerk glanced at me lazily, tore the ticket, and handed me my change. By the time the ticket was in my hand, my palms were slick with sweat.I didn't dare linger in the waiting hall. Keeping my head down, I hurried onto the bus. I chose the second-to-last row by the window as it was relatively hidden and allowed me to observe most of the bus.I curled into the seat, making myself as inconspicuous as possible. The bus vibrated slightly as the driver climbed into his seat and adjusted the mirrors.We were finally about to leave. Just whe