chapter821

"Go ask around. Lydia swallowed up Smith Corporation and left me with nothing. What do you want from me?"

Soren's voice sent a chill through the car. If you have nothing, then pay me with your life."

Sandy watched as they drove deeper into the empty countryside, her fear growing with every mile.

"You're insane! Where are you taking me? If you don't stop this car right now, I'm calling the police!"

Soren let out a cold laugh. "Try it. I'm using a signal blocker. Check your phone. Bet you don't have any service."

He had hidden the jammer in the car hours ago. Now, nothing electronic could get through. Tonight, he was going to teach Sandy a lesson.

Sandy snatched up her phone, her hands shaking. No bars. She dialed for help anyway, desperate, but nothing happened. No calls went out.

No way. She couldn't let Soren get his hands on her again.

Last time, when she begged for his help, he locked her in a dog cage and made her eat off the floor. He never saw her as a person. If he got her again... she didn't even want to think about it.

They reached a deserted stretch of road, not a soul in sight. Suddenly, Sandy lunged, grabbing Soren's hair and yanking back as hard as she could.

The car lurched, the steering wheel spinning in Soren's hands.

"Sandy, are you goddamn crazy?"

She clung to his hair, slamming his head into the side window. "You're the crazy one, not me!"

"Let go. Are you trying to get us killed?"

Soren's head rang, but Sandy wouldn't let go. He couldn't even see the road anymore.

"Stop the car and I'll let go!"

"Let go, damn it!"

The car spun out of control and slammed into a huge tree at the side of the road.

Everything pitched and spun. Soren's head crashed into the windshield, blood pouring everywhere, bright and shocking.

Four hours later, it was ten o'clock at night. Rain had started around nine, and it just kept pouring.

Sandy was soaked through,

barefoot, shivering as she finally

reached the villa Luke had given her.

She'd sent all the staff away She

was

the only one who could come and go now.

Her fingers trembled as she wrestled with the key. Once inside, she didn't even bother with the

lights, collapsing on the floopwet and exhausted

The cold seeped into her bones, biting like the dead of winter. She curled up tight, hugging herself, trying to stop shivering.

She was so tired. Every muscle ached. She just wanted to close her eyes for a moment.

But then, footsteps. Heavy, thumping, echoing through the quiet house.

Her nerves snapped tight. Maybe it was just the rain. Or the wind. But then she

heard the footsteps again, closer this time.

She jumped to her feet, heart racing. "Who's there?"

A shadow flickered in the darkness, and Sandy screamed, high and raw.

Her eyes went wide in panic. She ran for the door, but her body was too weak, too scared That shadow felt. itself creeping closer

like death

ready to drag her down.

Her legs buckled. She hit the floor hard.

"No! Stay away! Don't come any closer!"

She clawed at the floor, screaming as she tried to crawl to the door.

"A ghost! Somebody help me! Help!