{CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN}

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Waking up from unconsciousness, I discovered myself seated, bound by ropes, with my hair disheveled, chaotically falling across my face. The sensation of the ropes tightening was agonizingly painful.

In the pitch-black room, all I could make out was a shadowy figure standing a few feet away, resting against an iron pole. Even though his face eluded me, I sensed it was Henry. Why was he putting me through this? What did he seek from me? These thoughts raced through my mind.

As he moved forward, I could hear his footsteps tapping in tune with the pen he held in his hands. The sound set an eerie mood—what was he plotting with that pen? I questioned myself once more.

As he lunged closer, I could feel my heartbeat intensifying, growing louder with each step he took towards me.

He moved closer to me, splashing a bucket of water to rouse me from my unconscious state. I gasped, my mouth gaping, inhaling sharply from the cold shock of the water. My thoughts drifted to how my mom would fret if she realized I had disappeared. I should have told her where I was headed—now, I was alone with Henry and his cryptic plans looming over me.

He crouched down to my level, unwrapping the cloth that had gagged me to stifle my screams. Then, he proceeded;

"Oh, I've been waiting for this moment," he said with a mischievous grin. "This won't take long, alright? You just need to sign some documents, share some passcodes, promise not to involve the police, and voila, you're free to go as if it never occurred."

"Henry, I don't know why you're doing this or what you gain from it, but please let me go, and I won't tell the police about you... Please Henry," I pleaded, trembling with fear.

"Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for this day, for months? The plan was to let all this unfold while you were out cold, a simple job, and you woke up clueless. I've asked you so many times to visit, but you kept refusing. Well, it's not too late now; I can still get what I need. Don't fret, Hanna, this drug right here will erase today from your memory."

"But why? I thought you were a good person," I uttered, still uncertain about his unexpected transformation.

"Good?" he chuckled heartily, clutching his stomach from the sheer amusement. "I was never the good one; that was always you. Your good nature made it all too simple," he remarked.

My breathing quickened, exposing the fear within me even further. "All alright, tell me, what do you want?"

"You're such an innocent, dummy, goody pants. I just need the code to your company's stash and your signature on these fake documents I've got here." He was even more sinister than I had anticipated.

"I don't get it... I don't just get it... it feels like I don't even know you anymore."

"Oh, shut the crap Hanna, don't act like you're so surprised. What were you thinking, that I dated Lisa because I loved her? Or that I agreed to plan a surprise party with you to apologize to her? That I worked at that stupid office just to get hitched with her? I did all that to get close to you Hanna... now you're gonna give me what I want, and you're gonna do so right now."

"You're not gonna get away with this," I spat.

"Well, I already am. Everything's set, and the restaurant owner here? He's on my side and makes my getaway smooth. So, care to sign these fake documents for me?" he smirked, laying out his scheme.

He was a monster, a beast... I shouldn't have trusted him. And to make matters worse, I didn't have access to what he was requesting; but if I told him so—I was damn sure he was gonna kill me and likely dump my body here to decay.

What's gonna happen to Mom and Phil? Oh no, Jackson, we're on the brink of getting married soon, and if something happens to me, he'll be devastated forever, and Lisa, she won't be able to go on without me. I was at a loss, unsure whether to confess to Henry about lacking access or play along.

"Why so silent Hanna, is my task too much for you to handle?"

"N-no, it's not," I stuttered. "It's not that, Henry, it's just that I don't have access to what you're asking for," I explained anxiously.

"Don't be ridiculous, Hanna. You're the daughter of a loaded businessman, the next to the company. You really expect me to buy that you don't have access?" he questioned, his fury evident as his brow furrowed in anger.

"But I'm telling the truth, Henry. You've got the wrong person. My Dad, before he passed, had it arranged with his lawyer that I wouldn't inherit anything until I turned 25. So I believe the people you're after are his legal team and board members..."

Before I could get my words out, he bellowed, "Quit with the lies, Hanna. You think I'm buying all that garbage you spew?" Gripping my hair, he drew a knife from his pocket. "Now, you either play ball or you kiss the earth goodbye."

I was at a loss for words to sway him; a knife pressed against my neck, my life hanging by a thread. Glancing at my hand, my ring a reminder, thoughts of Jackson flooded my mind. I yearned for a future with him, marriage, kids, and growing old together. But in that moment, it seemed unattainable as my fate loomed in the hands of another man.

With a toss of the papers in my face, he commanded, "Sign this now. And I'm not kidding Hanna, I'm fucking going to slit your throat."

"I swear I'm not lying, I don't have access to the passcode and the documents you have, my signature on it won't make a difference," I whimpered in tears, trembling and fearing for my life.

"Then say your goodbyes..." he growled, sliding the knife towards the veins of my throat, my scream piercing the air as it traced my neck.

"What do you want from me?!" The pained whimper from the restaurant owner outside caught Henry off guard, causing him to pause abruptly.

Struggling to focus on the commotion outside, he stashed the knife away, seizing me by the neck and pulling me outside.

As I fought with all my might to break free from his grip on my neck, he yanked me along, his other hand clamped onto the roots of my hair, holding on fiercely as he continued to grasp my neck from behind.

As we reached the restaurant's exterior, we spotted the owner on the ground, bleeding and struggling for breath. Looking up, to my shock, Jackson stood mere steps away, sleeves rolled up, eyes blazing with fury, knuckles bloodied from the altercation with the man now unconscious on the floor.

At the sight of him, I screamed, "JACKSON!!!"

Quickly, Henry snatched the knife from his pocket, aiming it at my neck. Tears streamed uncontrollably from my eyes; this was it, the end. I was about to die, and Jacskon would witness my demise.

"Wait!" Jackson's voice boomed. "What do you want and why are you doing this to her?"

"Look who we've got here, if it isn't  Snow White's Prince Charming, all set to play the hero. But guess what, buddy? Snow White's not getting rescued by her Prince Charming today," Henry taunted, punctuating his words with a sinister chuckle.

"Whatever you want—I'll make sure she gives you; No, I will give it to you, whatever you want, but the knife, please put it away," I knew what Jackson was trying to do because he gave me a sign with his eyes unknowingly to Henry. He moved forward, having a conversation with Henry so he could create a distraction, lunge at him, and grab the knife from him.

"Anything you need—I'll make sure she hands it over; No, I'll get it for you, whatever you want, but please, put the knife down."

I understood Jackson's plan as he signaled me discreetly with his eyes, unbeknownst to Henry—I knew he was trying to create a distraction.

Jackson stepped closer, engaging Henry in conversation to divert his attention, preparing to pounce and wrest the knife from his grasp. "You know killing her won't get you what you're after. Release her, and I swear I'll ensure you get what you need and stay out of harm's way."

"Shut it, Jackson. You think I'm a fool. You think I don't know you must have called the cops already? I know..."

Jackson grabbed something from the back of his pocket and hurled it at Henry, causing him to stumble and lose his grip. I seized the chance, sinking my teeth into his hands as he howled in agony, releasing the knife and freeing me. I broke away from his grasp. Jackson lunged at Henry, delivering a series of punches to his face, weakening him with each blow.

After a brutal beating, the sound of police sirens blared through the restaurant, signaling our long-awaited rescue.

I was taken aback. How did Jackson know I was here, and how did the police figure out our location?

The restaurant was soon surrounded by policemen, and there was Mom in the midst of them. Now, I was left puzzled—MOM? Why was she here? She was fast asleep when I slipped out of the house unnoticed.

Mom rushed to me, tears and worry in her eyes as she enveloped me in a hug. I was relieved; I didn't have to face death at Henry's hands without seeing Mom again. Her presence brought tears and a sense of relief to my heart, knowing she wouldn't have to endure the pain of losing me like she lost Dad.

"Are you okay, sweetie?" she asked, giving me a concerned look, checking for any injuries, and indeed, there was. My neck bore bruises from Henry's grip, and my cheeks and nose displayed visible marks from his forceful slap earlier.

Spotting my battered condition, she swiftly took the towel she had on hand, wrapping it around me to ward off the chill as she guided me to her waiting car. As we moved, the police had already restrained both Henry and the restaurant owner, escorting them to their vehicle in handcuffs.

I waited for Jackson in Mom's car while she wrapped up her discussion with the police. I couldn't depart without embracing and extending my gratitude to him.

As he approached me, I leaped out of the car, ran to him, and encircled my arms around his sturdy waist. I felt grateful that I could spend another day alive with him. If he hadn't arrived to rescue me, I might not be here now. This leads me to wonder again, how did he find out I was here?

"Thank you for saving me, I owe you," I said with a smile.

"Shh," he hushed me, pressing his fingers gently against my lips. "No need to thank me; I'd do anything for you," he expressed, his eyes filled with deep affection.

I nodded with a smile. "But tell me, how did you know I was here?" I asked.

"Oh, that. I received a message from you right after I arrived home. You shared a location and time with me, so I assumed you wanted a private meet-up to resolve the earlier incident with the nanny at your place. I tried calling you multiple times, but you didn't answer, and I sensed something was wrong," he explained.

I recalled—the message I accidentally sent twice to him instead of Henry about where to meet up; thank goodness for that mistake.

It was like today had a grudge against me as if I had somehow angered the day to have it turn against me like this; first, Lisa didn't show up because her Mom was sick, then the nanny acted spooked when Jackson came by earlier, and now this. I thought it was two dares, but it looks like today frankly came with three dares.

"And the cops and Mom?" I probed further, seeking clarification on how the police arrived so promptly without him calling them, as their quick response seemed improbable.

"I, uh, called your Mom to check on you when you weren't picking up your phone. She got worried, went to your room, and found it empty. That's when I knew something was off. I told her to call the cops and meet me at the location you messaged me, while I hurried here alone."

"Alright," I responded. "And thanks again."

I felt immense gratitude for the man God had bestowed upon me, an angel in human form. His attention to detail amazed me, and recalling his calm demeanor while dealing with Henry at the restaurant filled me with excitement.

"Do you know why he did this to you?" He inquired.

"Who? Henry?"

"Yeah, the Henry guy. Why did he pull all this? Must've had a grudge or wanted something from you," he remarked, his tone dead serious.

"That's a talk for later," I stated, gazing into his eyes. "I'm shocked he'd do this. It's unsettling to think I trusted him. No wonder he warned me not to trust men easily... Well, I'm relieved not all men are like him. I'm grateful you're different and won't betray me like he did."