Chapter 45
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The violent crash and the screech of tires were so loud that they nearly burst Jacklyn’s eardrums. She slowly opened her eyes.
Owen’s car was crushed from the impact of the off–roader, smoke curling from the wreckage. Liar climbed out of the off–roader’s driver’s seat and strode forward.
He didn’t spare Owen a single look. Instead, he walked straight toward Jacklyn. Within seconds, the men behind Liam already had Owen and his lackeys subdued
“Are you okay?” Liam asked.
Jacklyn finally exhaled in relief. She was safe. It took her a long moment to steady herself.
Gripping Liam’s arm, she pulled herself up and said, “Owen’s just hired muscle. There’s someone else behind this.”
Liam gave a firm nod. “I’ll handle it.”
He turned and signaled to the bodyguards behind him..
Thanks, Liam,” Jacklyn murmured.
She’d lost track of how many times she’d told Liam that. She didn’t even want to imagine where she’d be now if it weren’t for him.
“Mr. Robertson.” A bodyguard closed the distance fast, his expression tense as he turned to Liam. “It’s Mr. and Mrs. Stinson.”
Liam felt the grip on his arm loosen abruptly before slipping away onto the seat.
Jacklyn’s eyelids fluttered rapidly. The car suddenly felt airless. Shaking, she pushed the door open and stumbled out, her legs so weak that she staggered.
Liam caught her, his voice strained with concern. “You’re pregnant. Be careful.”
Jacklyn forced herself to steady. She shut her eyes, fighting back the tears before they could escape.
She never had any doubts about George and Rebecca. Sure, she knew they preferred Penelope, but it never crossed her mind that the final nudge to grow up would come from her own parents.
Rebecca was pacing nervously around the Stinson residence’s living room when George finally snapped, ” Would you quit that? You’re making me dizzy.”
She put her phone down, her voice shaky with fear. “You expect me to sit here? We haven’t heard from him in hours. What if something’s wrong?”
A ripple of fear shot through George. “Then, we’re wasting time, aren’t we? Get whatever you need. We’re leaving now!”
“Right, of course.”
Rebecca, flustered, rushed upstairs to pack.
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Chapter 45
Just then, the doorbell chimed,
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They locked eyes, their faces pale with dread. When George opened the door to the police officers, his stomach dropped.
“Are you George Stinson?” one officer asked. “We’re looking into an abduction case connected to you and your wife, Rebecca Graham. You’ll need to come with us
The next day, Jacklyn went to the police station. She’d heard George and Rebecca were demanding to see her. “Jackie, you’re finally here! You have to tell the police to release us. Your dad’s so upset that he’s fallen ill,” said Rebecca.
Jacklyn eyed George calmly, her tone icy. “It’s just us here. Why bother keeping up the act?”
Rebecca and George shifted guiltily in their chairs.
“Jackie, I swear I’m not lying. The police arrested us without even asking questions. I passed out on the spot. If they hadn’t rushed me to the hospital in time, I wouldn’t even be here now,” George said.
“We can’t take this stress anymore. Something terrible is going to happen if we stay locked up any longer. Just get us out,” Rebecca pleaded.
Jacklyn watched them babble on, her expression unmoved. “Do you even know why the police arrested you?
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As soon as Rebecca finished speaking, Rebecca cried out “Jackie, even if the police don’t believe us, you should at least believe us! How could we have had anything to do with your abduction?”
Jacklyn turned away with a bitter laugh. “Denial to the end, huh? You can’t even admit you were wrong.”
“Jackie, you’re our daughter. Why would we ever abduct you?”
As soon as Rebecca stopped talking, Jacklyn grabbed the voice recorder from her pocket. The incriminating recording hissed to life.
“I sent you the address. When she comes out, use extra sedatives, or she won’t go down easily.
“What about the payment?”
“Don’t worry. The deposit is in your account. The rest comes once Jacklyn’s on the ship.”
Jacklyn clicked it off. “Did you really think hiring outsiders would keep your hands clean? Guys like that always have a backup plan.”
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Rebecca paled as she shot back, “No way! This is fake! Jackie, anyone could fake a recording. That bald bastard is setting us up!”
Jacklyn sneered. For the first time, she doubted if they were really her parents. “Funny. I never told you he was bald. How would you know that?”
Rebecca was at a loss for words. “I…”
Jacklyn flung the last proof down on the table. “These are your transfers to Owen. You’re not going to tell
Chapter 45
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me this is just another coincidence, are you?”
George and Rebecca fell silent.
A long moment passed before he finally said, “Jackie, we were wrong.”
But Jacklyn wasn’t fooled. She knew an empty apology when she heard one. Her brows drew together, tears pooling in her eyes.
It was their first time apologizing to her, but it meant nothing. They were just trying to weasel out of facing what they’d done.
“All my life, you’ve given Penelope whatever she wanted even when she went after my husband! And all you did was tell me to step aside.” Jacklyn’s voice trembled slightly. “But I’m a Stinson, too! I’m just… as much your daughter as she is.”
