Chapter 14 Unexpected Lifeline
The late afternoon light filtered through the thin curtains in Audrey's boarding room, casting soft shadows. The sound of traffic from outside marked the slow end of the day.
Audrey woke up slowly, feeling heavy. She blinked several times, trying to adjust to the light. Her head throbbed from the awkward position she’d slept in, her neck stiff and sore.
She glanced at the wall clock. It was already half-past six. Audrey sighed deeply, realizing she'd slept for far too long—not by choice, but from sheer exhaustion.
Exhaustion from crying.
Earlier that morning, the mix of shame, frustration, and fear had overwhelmed her, leaving her sobbing uncontrollably on the couch. The incident replayed in her mind, like a bad movie on loop, combined with the constant reminder of her chaotic family life.
Audrey touched her swollen eyes and stood up, her body still weak. She stumbled over to the small mirror on the wall, seeing the puffiness in her face, her tangled hair, and the defeated look in her eyes.
"You look awful, Audrey," she muttered to herself, her voice quiet as she tried to push herself up.
She knew she couldn’t stay like this forever because life had to go on no matter what.
Audrey decided to clean herself up, hoping a cold splash of water might help clear her mind. She grabbed the towel and walked into the small bathroom.
The cold water rushed over her face, washing away some of the exhaustion, but not the turmoil inside.
Her thoughts kept drifting back to the events of the morning. The rough face of the man who had grabbed her wrist, his voice echoing threats in her head. Those terrifying moments felt trapped in her memory.
But what haunted her most was Elliot. How he had shown up at the worst possible time. How his eyes, usually so cold and calculating, had looked at her—sharp, but there was something else in them she couldn’t place.
Audrey rested her head against the cool bathroom wall, water running down her body. She closed her eyes, trying to calm her thoughts, but Elliot's image kept appearing in her mind.
What will Mr. Harrington do now? Will he ask questions? Will he look at me with pity?
Her heart sank at the thought. Pity was the last thing she wanted from him. She’d always worked hard to maintain a professional image at the office. She smiled when she needed to, joked when appropriate, and made sure every task was executed perfectly.
All of it was to cover up the storm brewing beneath the surface.
She knew that if she showed any weakness, people—especially Elliot—might start asking questions.
And Audrey couldn’t allow that. Not now.
She had to keep up the facade, even if it meant burying the pain deep inside. It was for her sick mother, the woman who had sacrificed so much for her. It was for her family, even if that family had turned out to be a disaster.
But this morning had changed everything. Now, Elliot knew the truth. And the fear of what that meant lingered.
Audrey turned off the faucet and wiped her face slowly with a wet hand. She knew she had to prepare herself for whatever came next, but the fear still clung to her like a shadow.
Breathe, Audrey. You’ve gotten through worse, she whispered to herself, even though, she wasn’t sure she could handle what was coming.
She walked out of the bathroom, still damp, and pulled on a loose t-shirt and shorts, hoping she looked a little more put together. She could feel her body a bit lighter after the shower, but her mind was still full of worry.
Her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn't eaten since the morning. But the exhaustion held her down, so she collapsed onto the bed, picking up her phone from the bedside table.
She slipped on her glasses and checked for any new messages.
Nothing from Elliot. Not a single word.
After his intervention earlier, his silence felt... loud. It was more unsettling than anything he could have said.
Audrey sighed. "That alien’s usually so efficient. Why is he so quiet now?"
She stared at the screen, wondering why Elliot hadn't reached out, especially after the way he’d stepped in this morning. Surely, he would be checking in to see if she’d be at work tomorrow.
Just as she was thinking this, her phone rang. It was Liam.
"Liam?" Audrey frowned in confusion. She quickly answered the call. “Hello?"
"I’m outside your place," Liam’s voice sounded direct, his usual easygoing tone replaced by something more serious.
"Outside my place?" Audrey got up from the bed, still unsure what was going on. "What are you doing here?"
"I’ve got something for you," Liam replied, not wasting time.
Audrey hesitated, glancing at the door. "Wait a minute. I’ll change."
After hanging up, she quickly threw on an oversized sweater and sweatpants, trying to look presentable before going out to meet him.
When she opened the gate, Liam was standing there with a paper bag in hand. It didn’t look like any documents she was expecting.
"Liam," Audrey called out, her voice tinged with confusion.
"Hey. Feeling better?" Liam asked warmly, handing her the bag.
"Yeah, a little," Audrey replied, still frowning slightly as she took the bag. "What’s this?"
"For you." Liam looked at her closely, his eyes full of concern.
"You came all the way here just to give me this?" Audrey asked, wondering why Liam was so considerate.
"It’s dinner," Liam said with a shrug. "I figured you didn’t eat, so I brought you something."
Audrey paused, surprised. "You... actually worried about me?"
Liam scoffed, his smile never leaving his face. "What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t check on you? We’ve known each other forever."
Audrey chuckled softly, feeling both touched and confused.
"Are you really okay?" Liam’s voice softened with genuine concern. "Do you need me to take you to a doctor?"
"Don’t overreact, Liam. I’m just worn out," Audrey deflected. And she was—emotionally exhausted.
"Thank God," Liam sighed in relief. "You never take time off. I was worried you were really sick or something."
"Hmm," Audrey nodded, unsure how to respond. She appreciated Liam’s concern, but she also felt strange about it.
After a brief chat, where they discussed work and other trivial matters, Liam decided it was time to go.
"If you need anything, let me know, okay?" Liam said, offering her a reassuring smile before turning to leave.
"Yeah, thanks, Liam." Audrey smiled faintly, though her thoughts were still heavy as she watched him walk away.
Liam made his way to his car, but before he could get in, his phone rang. He looked at the screen and smiled faintly, answering the call.
"Yes, Mr. Harrington. I gave Audrey the food," Liam said, getting into the car.
There was a pause, then he added, "She seemed surprised, but I don’t think she’s suspicious."
Then Liam hung up, a small question forming in his mind about why Elliot had asked him to do this. But he pushed it aside, starting the car and driving away, leaving Audrey’s place behind.