Chapter 156 Doubts in the Shadows
Tracy blinked in surprise. “When did you make this?”
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Ronald didn’t hide the effort he had put in. “I didn’t Chapter 155 Guarded Rest
Ronald had promised himself to wait four days, and God knew how hard it was to hold back the urge to
act.
Tracy finally rxed. Without thinking, she gave him a smile. “You must have been worried.”
Ronald shook his head, his grin warm as he held up a bundle of sage. “CeeCee, open your hands. Let me chase away the bad luck for you.”
Something about his bright, casy grin lightened the heavy mood that had been pressing on her.
Tracy raised her arms, letting Ronald sweep the sage smoke over her.
When he was done, he tossed the bundle aside and guided her into a nearby SUV.
Before closing the door, he nced back at Chris, who still stood frozen. A shadow crossed Ronald’s eyes.
If it weren’t for that man, Tracy wouldn’t have gone through all this.
She might not hold a grudge, but Ronald could not let it go.
Since Ronald didn’t have a license, Tracy took the driver’s seat.
The SUV wasn’t borrowed–it was brand new, something he had bought outright just to pick her up.
After he first gave her a bank card, Ronald had been depositing money into it every month.
It was meant as living expenses and payment; he would continue to deposit, whether she used it or not.
This month, instead of transferring the money, he had used it to buy the car for her.
He knew how often she had to shuttle between/the hospital, the Jackman Vi, and her rental apartment. A car would make her life easier.
When she realized the vehicle was meant for her, Tracy froze. She looked at Ronald for a long moment.
The car was already bought and registered in her name, so she didn’t bother with false modesty. Instead, she said quietly, “I’ll pay you back.”
Her bluntness caught Ronald off guard. Then he chuckled. “Fine. You can pay it back into that same bank
ount
Since the card and ount were under her name anyway, he had arranged everything for her.
Unaware of his real thoughts, Trady drove straight back to her apartment.
No matter how much the Jackmans despised her, after being taken away by the police at Erin’s birthday party, she knew they would soone looking for her.
But she was too drained to face them now.
She hadn’t slept a wink in four days, her nerves stretched thin the entire time. Now that she was finally
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Chapter 155 Guarded Rest
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safe, the exhaustion crashed over her.
The moment she stepped inside the apartment, she headed straight to bed, not even bothering to close
the door.
Ronald followed quietly behind. Watching her tiptoe even when exhausted, shrinking into a ball under the covers, made his chest ache.
He knew exactly what those small habits meant.
Ronald had lived like that for most of his own life.
Looking at her was like looking into a mirror of himself.
He slipped into the room, meaning only to pull a nket over her. That’s when he noticed her hands folded over her chest, gripping a pair of scissors.
Ronald had known she kept scissors under her pillow, but he always thought it was just for convenience.
Now he realized the truth.
A sharp ache stabbed his chest. His eyes darkened.
Still, he draped the nket gently over her.
The instant the nket brushed her body, Tracy’s eyes snapped open.
Though hazy with sleep, her hand jerked up, scissors ready to strike..
Ronald reacted quickly, catching her wrist.
He bent close with his warm, boyish smile, dimples deepening. “Go back to sleep. I’ll watch over you.”
Her drowsy eyes lingered on his face for a long moment before she slowly closed them and drifted back to sleep.
Ronald gently lowers her hand and steps back, closing the door softly behind him.
The moment thetch clicked, his sunny expression disappeared, reced by cold fury and hostility.
Whoever had shattered the peace he wanted with Tracy–whoever had pushed her to this–deserved to pay.
He stared at the closed door, drew a long breath, and forced the rage back down,
Since he had promised Tracy he’d stay. He wouldn’t break that promise.
The rest could wait until she woke.
So he stayed. Other than stepping onto the balcony to take calls, he never left the apartment. He moved quietly, making sure not to disturb her.
He hadn’t expected her to sleep for an entire day and night.
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If he hadn’t checked on her every hour, he might have thought something was wrong.
When Tracy finally stirred, her head was foggy from so much sleep.
Shey still for a while before her stiff body obeyed her again.
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Habitually, she tucked the scissors back under her pillow and opened the door. Coincidentally, Ronald was in the living room, facing her.
His face lit up. “CeeCee, you’re awake!” Relief softened his voice. “You must be starving. I’ll get you some food.”
In no time, he returned with a steaming bowl of creamy pork grits, still warm and fragrant.
know when you’d wake up, so I kept it warm on the stove. Your stomach’s not in great shape, and you’ve been asleep for a whole day. For now, you can only handle some grits. Tomorrow, I’ll make you something better to build your strength back up.”
At first, Tracy hadn’t felt hungry; she’d gone longer without food before.
But the moment he said it, her stomach tightened, and suddenly she realized how hungry she was.
She took a spoonful of the hot grits, and the warmth spread from her chest down into her stomach.
While she ate, Ronald told her what had happened during the day and night she’d been asleep.
The police had found evidence, and the kidnappers finally confessed. They admitted it was just them–no one had ordered them to do it.
Their original n was to kidnap the Jackmans‘ heiress. They grabbed Tracy first, but when they realized she wasn’t worth any ransom, they turned their attention to Erin instead.
When they were caught, they tried to pin the me first on Chris, then on Tracy, just to escape punishment.
This story was far more believable than their earlier excuses. After all, everyone knew how much the Jackmans valued Erin. When Tracy was kidnapped, the family hadn’t paid a single cent.
Once the case was officially closed, everyone seemed relieved and pleased.
The Jackmans‘ partnership with the Woodwards could continue, and the family wouldn’t have to carry the shame of raising a criminal. To everyone else, it was the perfect ending.
To make up for Erin’s ruined birthday party, the Jackmans even doubled her gifts and started nning to throw her another party.
It seemed like everyone had forgotten Tracy–the one who’d been falsely used and locked up for days, who still hadn’te home.
Everyone except Liam,
It wasn’t that he remembered Tracy’s birthday or the apology he owed her. What nagged at him was the police report–it didn’t sit right.
He had been the one who first dug into the case, and aside from the police, he knew the details best.
While tracing the kidnappers, he had sensed someone else helping them from the shadows. Now, with this confession, none of it made sense.
<b>And </b><b>after </b>they were caught–when they tried to frame Chris and then Tracy–That only made him <b>believe </b>that the truth hadn’te out.
He wanted to voice his doubt, but when he lifted his head, he saw Erin smiling happily, <b>surrounded </b><b>by </b>her
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Chapter 156 Doubts in the Shadows
family.
Strangely, it reminded him of Tracy at the party.
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Erin’s birthday had been full of music andughter, but Tracy had stood alone in the corner, looking like she didn’t belong at all. The air around her wasn’t festive–it was heavy with loneliness.
But that wasn’t how Liam remembered her.
In his memory, even when Tracy was alone, she carried a quiet calm around her, not istion.
“Liam, what are you thinking about? Erin’s been calling you for a while.” Daphne held Erin’s arm, her eyes full of reproach as she looked at him. Erin stood on the side and looked hurt.
Snapped out of his thoughts, Liam saw everyone staring at him. He hesitated, then said slowly, “I just think
maybe there’s more to the kidnapping than what we’ve been told. I can’t shake the feeling there was someone behind the kidnappers who hasn’t been revealed. Maybe it wasn’t about money at all. Maybe it was a scheme aimed at our family or even at Erin.”
Erin nearly dropped her act, but she forced herself to hold on to her hurt expression.
Inside, she seethed. <i>Is </i>he <i>crazy</i><i>? </i>
Everything’s <i>already </i><i>settled</i><i>, </i><i>and </i>now <i>he </i><i>wants </i><i>to </i><i>stir </i><i>things </i><i>up </i>again?
Digging her nails into her hand to keep control, she let her eyes fill with tears.
“Liam, are you saying this is my fault? Do you think I arranged the kidnappers myself?”
Her tears made Liam panic. He tried to exin, “No, that’s not what I meant—‘
But Daphne cut him off, her voice sharp. “Liam, how could you say that to your sister? That’s way out of line!”
Benjamin’s face darkened. “Boy, are you asking for trouble? Maybe you need a good beating to remember your ce.”
Andrew said nothing, but behind his gold–rimmed sses his re burned with rage.
Liam stood frozen, confused.
That wasn’t what he meant. Why were they twisting his words?
Erin pressed against Daphne, her tears threatening to spill as she looked at him with wounded eyes.
“Liam, what’s happened to you? Why do you always take Tracy’s side and doubt me? I was a victim too. I’ve never done something as awful as nning a kidnapping. If anything-”
Her voice cracked as she sobbed. “If anything, it’s Tracy… Why do you always point at me?”
As she spoke, Erin could no longer hold them back–her tears finally fell.
Her crying tore at Andrew’s heart.
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Chapter 156 Doubts in the Shadows
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He couldn’t hold back his anger anymore. He red at Liam. “You’ve really lost your mind. How dare you even think Erin would do such a thing? She’s too kind and pure for that. If anyone in this family would stoop so low, it’s Tracy. Don’t forget–years ago, she was the one who hired someone to kidnap Miranda.”
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