Chapter 115 Miss, You Must Escape
Caroline stared at him, her body still trembling uncontrollably.
And now her mother's guard wanted to save her?
The contradiction made no sense.
The man saw the fear still etched across her face. He bit his lip and reached out cautiously. "Miss, I need to take the tape off your mouth. It's going to hurt. Please bear with me."
He pinched the corner of the duct tape between his fingers, took a breath, and ripped it off in one sharp motion.
The sound was brutal. The tape tore away, taking a layer of skin with it. Blood welled up immediately.
Caroline let out a muffled cry as tears streamed down her face.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" the man kept apologizing. "Just hold on a little longer. I'll get you somewhere safe."
He wasted no time. He draped a jacket over her shoulders, fired up the speedboat's engine, and sped toward another dock.
Caroline huddled at the stern, clutching the jacket around herself. Her mind was chaos.
After what felt like forever, the boat slowed and pulled up to an abandoned dock.
The man killed the engine, jumped onto the pier, and half-dragged, half-carried Caroline off the boat.
"Miss, listen to me." He crouched in front of her as she collapsed onto the ground. "Follow this road west. Don't stop. About thirty miles out, you'll reach the outskirts of the next city. There's a women's shelter there—run by a private charity. They don't ask questions. They don't share information. They'll keep you safe."
Caroline sat slumped on the dock, wrapped in the jacket. She didn't respond.
The man's eyes flickered with something like pity, but there was no time.
He reached into his inner pocket and pulled out a small metal box wrapped in waterproof cloth, pressing it into her cold, shaking hands.
"Take this. Don't open it until you're absolutely safe."
His voice dropped lower.
"What's inside… it's important. You need to be ready for it."
Caroline gripped the cold metal box, staring at him blankly.
"Miss, go! Now!" He gave her a gentle shove. "I know thirty miles is a lot. But don't give up. This is all I can do. I have to get back before they notice I'm gone."
He turned to climb back into the boat, then stopped.
He looked back at her, his expression unreadable.
But he said nothing. He jumped into the boat, started the engine, and disappeared into the night without looking back.
Caroline knelt on the broken-down dock. The wind cut through her. Her wounds screamed.
She looked down at the metal box in her hands. After a long moment, she took a deep breath, clutched it tight, then dragged herself to her feet and limped away from the dock.
---
The Neville Manor.
Isabella sat gracefully on a velvet sofa, holding a cup of steaming tea. She blew on it lightly.
A guard stood in front of her, hands at his sides, speaking in a low voice.
"Are you certain she's dead?" Isabella took a sip of tea.
"Yes, ma'am. Absolutely." The guard pulled out his phone, swiped through a few photos, and held the screen out to her.
"Here. We took these at the scene. She's gone. The body's been disposed of, just like you ordered."
Isabella glanced at the images. A cold smile tugged at her lips. She pushed the phone back.
"Good. She should've died a long time ago." She set down her teacup.
"I don't know what Alexander's thinking. Living with the woman who killed Edith. Not only refusing to kill her—protecting her. What does he think Edith was to him? If he won't do it, I'll make the decision for him."
She looked up at the guard, her gaze like ice.
"No one speaks of this. Ever. If the Hamilton family asks questions, if Alexander comes looking—you say nothing. Tell them she ran away. Or she went missing. Got kidnapped. I don't care. But as of today, Caroline is gone. Permanently. Understood?"
The guards stiffened under her stare and bowed in unison.
"Yes, ma'am. We understand."
The reporting guard pocketed his phone, bowed again, and turned toward the door.
He had barely pulled it open when a foot shot through the gap and slammed into his chest.
The impact was brutal. He flew backward, crashed onto the expensive wool rug in the center of the room, and slid several feet before slamming into a mahogany side table. An antique vase shattered on the floor.
Isabella shot to her feet, eyes wide.
Alexander stood in the doorway like an avenging angel.
"Alexander?!" Isabella's voice cracked. "What—what are you doing here?!"
He was supposed to be on a plane. Out of the country.
Alexander didn't answer. He strode into the room, his eyes locked on Isabella.
"Where is Caroline?"
Isabella's heart hammered. A cold sweat broke out along her spine.
But she forced herself to stay calm. She took a breath and put on a confused expression.
"Alexander, what are you talking about? Her father's birthday is coming up. I took her shopping this morning to buy a dress. Afterward, she said she wanted to go home and make you lunch. She was in such a hurry. Wouldn't let me drive her. She flagged down a cab and left."
She spread her hands, looking helpless.
"Why? Hasn't she come home yet? That girl really doesn't think, does she? Making you worry like this."
"You're lying!" Alexander roared.
"In her condition, she'd get lost walking out of Ravenwood Manor! She doesn't have money. How would she pay for a cab?"
Isabella flinched at his fury, then smiled coldly.
"Alexander, the Hamilton family is one of the richest in the country. She could've taken something small from the house and sold it. That would've been more than enough for cab fare. I remember… she was wearing a diamond bracelet this morning. Expensive-looking. Though it didn't seem like something made for a woman."
She looked at him pointedly.
"Maybe you should go home and check if anything's missing."