She plunged into the river. In that instant, the world seemed to squeeze the air from her lungs, and breathing became a desperate struggle.
Suddenly, a pair of strong arms slipped under her arms, gripping her ribs and hauling her up from the freezing depths. She crashed into a cold, solid chest.
Sirens wailed nearby. Wind howled. Harsh lights flashed before her eyes.
But she still couldn’t breathe–bubbles and water pressed against her chest, fighting for space where air should be.
She couldn’t scream for help, couldn’t even open her eyes to signal anyone.
Pain clawed at her heart. Someone held her tightly, refusing to let her go. Then, firm lips pressed urgently against hers, and a rush of air was forced into her mouth–again and again–pushing the water from her lungs, making room for life. Suddenly, a gasp of fresh air filled her chest, her lungs expanding painfully as consciousness snapped back. Blanche’s eyes flew open, and she collapsed forward, coughing up river water–all of it landing on the man in front of her.
Her blurred vision gradually cleared, focusing on a strikingly handsome, composed face–calm, almost indifferent.
Surviving the ordeal, Blanche clung to Ablett McCarthy, inhaling the faint, familiar scent of his cologne. Overwhelmed, she burst into uncontrollable tears.
“If you’d been two minutes later, I’d be dead,” she sobbed, smearing tears and snot all over Ablett’s shirt. “Director–General.”
A large hand settled gently on her back, pulling her securely into his embrace. Ablett pressed his face beside hers, murmuring softly, “It’s over. You’re safe now.” He let out a long, silent breath of relief.
rmit.
Once the flood of emotion passed, Blanche pulled away, suddenly self–conscious. She watched as Mr. Jordan led a team searching the river for any sign o.
“Director–General, Mamie…”
She remembered that both she and Ablett had left the estate, leaving Mamie behind. After coming so close to death, her longing for her daughter was almost unbearable.
1/3
10:00
“The nanny will take good care of her.”
Ablett’s tone was calm. “Didn’t you want to go home?”
Kermit was still missing, but the case was closed. It was time for her to leave.
Blanche nodded, reassured–the nanny had been personally chosen by Ablett, after all.
Ablett brought Blanche back to McCarthy Mansion. As soon as Gaylord and Wilhelmina McCarthy saw their son, they were overcome with emotion. It had been years since they’d last seen him. They hadn’t known where he was or what he was doing. Even when they tried to get information from Hector, he always told them that no news was the best news.
Tears streamed down their faces as they saw their son and daughter–in–law, both drenched and streaked with yellow mud. “Did you two go for a wild swim? And what’s with all this mud?” Wilhelmina fretted.
“Don’t ask–just get some hot water ready for them to bathe,” she said anxiously.
Ablett simply murmured his agreement and headed to the inner hall. Blanche, wrapped tightly in a towel, followed close behind.
Watching the two walk single–file with a formality that bordered on awkwardness, Gaylord and Wilhelmina exchanged a skeptical glance. “Are they really married, or are they just putting on a show for us?” Wilhelmina whispered.
Her words floated softly after Blanche and Ablett.
Ablett’s face remained unreadable, but his pace slowed.
Blanche caught up, reaching out to take his hand. He wrapped her fingers in his palm.
Side by side, they walked into the inner courtyard together.
Gaylord and Wilhelmina still had their doubts. The two seemed less like husband and wife and more like… acquaintances.
After their bath, Blanche and Ablett changed into clean clothes and sat wn for dinner in a small parlor.
Blanche had little appetite. Her phone was lost, and so was her laptop. “Could I borrow your phone for a minute? I need to call Fernando.”
“I’m worried he and Terrell are panicking.”
213
10:00
Chapter 206
“After dinner,” Ablett replied without looking up, sliding a bowl of soup toward her.
Blanche couldn’t eat much, but she managed to sip the soup.
When the staff cleared the table, Ablett finally handed her his phone. Blanche immediately dialed Fernando’s number.
