Chapter 12: THE DAY I NEVER DREAMED OF.

Chapter 12: THE DAY I NEVER DREAMED OF.
Betty's POV

My heart raced uncontrollably, and sweat poured down my body, washing away the soap lingering on my skin. I felt exposed, vulnerable, and strangely aware that every sound in the apartment seemed amplified. The knock at the door had rattled me, and now the air seemed thick with tension.

Jack, noticing my panic, removed his hand from my mouth, letting me breathe freely. A sudden surge of relief passed through me, quickly replaced by dread as my voice escaped before I could stop it.

“Oh… no, he found me,” I gasped, my voice trembling. Jack, wrapped in nothing but a towel around his waist, bolted toward the door. I could hear the door creak open, and my stomach sank as a shadowy figure stepped inside.

Before I could process anything, the stranger lunged at Jack. A brutal punch connected with his face, and he collapsed onto the floor, blood immediately staining the polished apartment tiles. The man in black didn’t hesitate; his movements were calculated, precise, and terrifying. He bit Jack viciously, leaving deep marks before disappearing as suddenly as he had arrived.

Jack groaned, clutching his face, his blood mixing with sweat. I ran out of the bathroom, my legs trembling, and knelt beside him. Panic surged through me.

“Call an ambulance, quickly!” Jack whispered, using what strength he had left. I scrambled to my phone, dialing frantically as adrenaline coursed through my veins. I barely had time to dress properly before the sirens blared outside, heralding the arrival of the ambulance.

As we struggled to lift Jack into the paramedics’ care, a message popped up on my phone. My eyes widened in fear as I read the words:

“I see you.”

My mind raced. Who could have done this? My parents? Darius? The thoughts collided in my head, chaotic and overwhelming. Everything was spinning, and I felt as if I were trapped in a nightmare I could not wake from.

Outside, the streets of New York blurred past as the ambulance sped toward the hospital. My eyes caught movement through the rear window—Darius’ car emerging from a narrow, dangerous alley. My stomach dropped. “I’ve never seen him in this area… what is he doing here?” I murmured, my voice trembling.

We arrived at the hospital, and staff rushed Jack into the emergency room. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I muttered apologies to him, blaming myself for his injuries.

“I should have stopped this… it’s my fault you’re here like this,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “But the cops will find him. They have to.”

Minutes later, Jack’s security team and his manager arrived, flooding the room with questions. I tried to explain everything—the attack, the stranger, my frantic flight from the bathroom—but my words seemed futile. They looked at me with suspicion, and I could feel their doubt gnawing at me.

Defeated, I left the hospital, my body moving on autopilot. My mind was a haze of fear and guilt. “What have I done? I tried to stay away from all this, but danger seems to follow me,” I thought bitterly.

Back at the hotel apartment, I grabbed my phone and noticed ten missed calls from my mother. Hesitation clutched me, but I knew I had to answer.

“Hello, Mom?” I said, my voice shaking.

“Yes, Betty, come home. We need to talk,” she replied abruptly before hanging up.

Panic mixed with frustration. My mother never sounded so commanding before. I had no choice but to comply. I left the hotel without my belongings, taking a public vehicle to avoid anyone tracking me.

Arriving at my parents’ house, I was met by the silent gaze of my mother, who had already opened the gates. I descended from the car and moved toward her, calling out, “Mom?” but received no response. Her expression was unreadable, stern and unyielding.

Inside the house, the tension was palpable. My father’s eyes immediately fixed on me, suspicion and frustration clear in his stance.

“Where are your bags, Betty?” he demanded.

“They’re not with me,” I replied, my voice trembling slightly.

The conversation escalated quickly. My parents questioned my decision to leave Darius, and no matter how much I tried to explain, they seemed deaf to my reasoning. They insisted I return to the mansion—a notion I vehemently opposed. Arguments erupted, voices echoing throughout the house.

In desperation, I announced my intention to leave immediately. My father reacted swiftly, blocking the living room door, while my mother held me tightly, preventing my escape. Her strength, honed from years as a gym coach, was formidable, leaving me struggling against her iron grip.

Frustration boiling over, I shouted, “Dad! Mom! You don’t understand! I need to see him—I need to help Jack!”

But my pleas fell on deaf ears. My father fumbled with his phone, calling Darius to come and retrieve me. My heart sank. My mind raced: I couldn’t go back. Not now. Not after everything that had happened.

Darius didn’t answer immediately. My father tried again; the number was switched off. I knew the stakes had grown impossibly high. Jack was in critical condition, and yet, my parents’ insistence on control threatened to trap me in a cage I had fought so hard to escape.

Time dragged, and finally, my father arranged for a ride—ironically, from Jack’s company. I kept my composure, pretending ignorance while waiting, hoping for a chance to take control. The car arrived, and my parents escorted me to the vehicle, their eyes wary, suspicious.

Once inside, I quickly called Jack, explaining the situation. To my surprise, he responded immediately. He calmly coordinated with the driver, ensuring my safety without revealing his involvement in a way that would expose him to legal scrutiny.

I couldn’t help but wonder: Was Jack part of this plan? After what happened between us, could he really be orchestrating this?

The car approached the mansion, and my stomach sank. Jenna and Darius were already waiting outside, anticipating my arrival. My pulse raced, fear and defiance mixing into a chaotic storm.

As I stepped from the car, Darius lunged forward, attempting to grab me. I cried out in pain, terrified at the thought of being pulled back to the life I had desperately tried to escape.

Before he could reach me, a black Hilux roared onto the scene, stopping abruptly behind us. Both Darius and I froze, shock rendering us momentarily paralyzed. Darius recognized the danger immediately.

In a flash, chaos erupted. One of the men fired a shot at Darius’ leg. He collapsed, blood spilling onto the pavement, and I screamed, falling to the ground as terror consumed me.

Jenna rushed to his side, trying to help, but the situation was beyond her control. She called for emergency assistance, but the attackers moved with alarming speed. One of them grabbed me, shoving me into the backseat of the Hilux. The vehicle sped off before anyone could intervene.

My mind reeled. I was being taken far from everything familiar, blindfolded by fear and uncertainty. Jack’s plan to intervene had failed—his men hadn’t arrived in time. I was now in the hands of strangers, the city blurring past in a terrifying, dizzying rush.

As the vehicle drove further away, my thoughts spiraled. Who are these people? Why me? Is Jack safe? Will I ever see him again? Every question threatened to unravel me, leaving me numb with fear.

For the first time, I truly realized how fragile life could be—how quickly it could spiral into chaos, leaving you powerless. The streets of New York, once familiar, now felt like a labyrinth of danger. My heart pounded against my ribcage, each beat a reminder of my vulnerability.

The Hilux slowed briefly, allowing me a glimpse of the outside world. The city lights cast eerie shadows across the interior of the car, making the moment feel surreal. I pressed my hands to my face, trying to steady my breathing. I can’t give up now. I have to survive this, for Jack, for me.

Somewhere deep inside, a spark of determination ignited. Despite the fear, despite the chaos, I refused to surrender. I would find a way out. I would face whatever lay ahead. Because if this was the day I never dreamed of,
then I would make sure it was also the day I fought back, no matter the cost.