Chapter 127 Chapter 127

Chapter 127 Chapter 127
Greer's POV

The fluorescent lights of the police station felt too bright, too harsh against my tear-streaked face. I sat on a hard plastic chair in the waiting area, my legs bouncing uncontrollably as I clutched my phone like a lifeline. Every few seconds, I glanced toward the entrance, half-expecting those three hefty men to burst through the doors with weapons drawn, ready to finish what they had started. The thought made my stomach twist violently. What if they had followed me? What if they didn’t care that this was a police station? Assassins didn’t play by rules. They just wanted me dead.

I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to stop the trembling, but it was useless. The fear had sunk deep into my bones. I kept replaying the man’s words in my head — “She should’ve been dead by now.” Who hated me this much? Veda? Indira? The uncertainty only made everything worse.

A familiar voice cut through the chaos in my mind.

“Greer!”

Calder stormed into the station, his powerful frame moving with urgent purpose. The moment I saw him, the dam broke completely. I shot up from the chair and ran straight into his arms. He caught me tightly, one hand pressing my head against his chest while the other rubbed soothing circles on my back. I buried my face in his shirt, inhaling his scent, letting his solid warmth anchor me.

“I’m here,” he murmured into my hair, voice low and steady despite the tension I could feel in his body. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you.”

I cried harder, the sobs shaking my entire frame. All the adrenaline, terror, and exhaustion from the day poured out of me. Calder held me closer, whispering comforting words, his hand never stopping its gentle strokes. In his arms, the world felt a little less terrifying. His love wrapped around me like a shield.

Not long after, Cassey rushed in, eyes wide with panic. The moment she saw me in Calder’s arms, she hurried over. Her own hands were shaking as she pulled me into a tight hug after Calder reluctantly loosened his grip.

“Oh God, Greer,” she whispered, voice cracking. She was just as scared as I was — I could see it in her eyes. “I’m so sorry this is happening. I can’t believe it.”

The three of us stood there for a moment — me sandwiched between the two people I trusted most. Cassey’s hug was desperate and protective. She kept murmuring that she was there for me, even though her voice trembled. Calder’s presence was my rock. I needed both of them desperately.

After I calmed down enough to speak coherently, the officers took my statement. I told them everything which included the open door, the shattered vase, the three men, the phone conversation I had overheard. Calder stayed right beside me, his hand firmly holding mine throughout. Cassey sat on my other side, offering silent support even though she looked pale and frightened.

Once the report was filed, the police agreed to accompany us back to my apartment to assess the scene. Calder drove my Mercedes while I sat in the passenger seat, still trembling. Cassey followed behind in her own car. The entire drive, Calder kept one hand on my thigh, squeezing gently every few minutes as if to remind me he was there.

When we arrived at the building, several neighbors were already gathered outside, whispering among themselves. The police led the way, guns drawn as they cleared the apartment first. Calder kept me behind him protectively until they gave the all-clear.

The men were gone.

But they had left destruction in their wake.

My apartment was completely upside down. Drawers yanked out and emptied onto the floor. Cushions slashed open. My bedroom looked like a war zone; clothes scattered everywhere, the mattress flipped, cosmetics smashed on the bathroom tiles. The beautiful trophy from the trade fair lay broken on the ground. Even the new clothes I had bought to celebrate my wins were torn and thrown around like trash.

I stood in the middle of the chaos and broke down completely. Tears streamed down my face as heavy sobs tore from my chest. This was my home. My safe space. And they had violated it so brutally. The realization that they had come here specifically to kill me made me feel sick.

“I can’t stay here,” I whispered through the tears, voice breaking. “I’ll never feel safe here again.”

Calder pulled me back into his arms, holding me tightly as I cried against his chest. His jaw was clenched with barely contained rage, but his touch remained gentle for me. “You don’t have to,” he said firmly. “We’ll figure this out.”

My neighbors, sweet older couples and young families who had watched my journey from afar, gathered closer. They offered kind words and sympathy, patting my shoulder gently.

“Everything will be alright, dear,” one elderly woman said softly. “You’re strong. You’ve come so far already.”

“You’ve got people who care about you,” another added. “Don’t let them win.”

Their words were comforting, but the fear still gripped me tightly. I couldn’t imagine sleeping here tonight or any night soon. The thought of those men returning made my skin crawl.

Cassey stepped forward, wiping her own tears. Despite how scared she clearly was, she looked at me with determination. “Stay with me for now, Greer. At least until things calm down and the police find these bastards. You won’t be alone.”

I didn’t even hesitate. “Yes. Please. I can’t stay here by myself. I’m too scared.”

Calder nodded in approval, though I could tell he wanted me with him. For now, Cassey’s place felt like the safest option. We quickly packed a bag with whatever clothes hadn’t been destroyed, my important documents, and a few sentimental items. The police promised increased patrols around the area and said they would investigate the break-in thoroughly.

As we left the apartment, I took one last look at the mess. My heart ached. This place had been my first real home after everything with Veda and Calder. Now it felt tainted. Violated.

Cassey drove us to her apartment while Calder followed closely behind in my Mercedes. The whole way there, I kept checking the mirrors, paranoid that we were being followed. When we finally arrived at Cassey’s place, she helped me settle into the spare room. Calder stayed for a while, holding me on the edge of the bed as I cried again, softer this time.

“I’ll have security arranged for both of you,” he said quietly, kissing my forehead. “No one is going to hurt you, Greer. I promise.”

Cassey hugged me once more before Calder left for the night. She was still visibly shaken too, but she tried to be strong for me, making us both some tea and talking about anything except what had happened.

Lying in the unfamiliar bed later that night, staring at the ceiling, the fear lingered heavily in my chest. I had come so far by winning the trade fair, buying my dream store, feeling loved by Calder. Yet someone still wanted me erased from existence.

I touched the spot on my chest where my heart beat rapidly and whispered to myself, “You’ve survived worse. You’ll survive this too.”

But as sleep finally claimed me, exhausted and emotionally drained, one truth remained crystal clear:

The danger wasn’t over.

And I had no idea who I could fully trust anymore, except Calder and Cassey.