Shattered Then Healed By His Love (by Haley Blanton) novel Chapter 12

6:18 Fri, Sep 26

Chapter 12 Searching the Orphanage

Chapter 12 Searching the Orphanage

Natalie blinked twice, her lashes fluttering uncontrollably as she read the message.

It probably meant that the inmate’s daughter had finally found a lead.

She quickly dialed Lucy’s number and held the phone to her car.

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The call connected. Lucy’s voice came through. “Finally! I’ve been trying to reach you…”

“Did you find something about Lily?”

“We dug up some basic info. Apparently, she was placed in an orphanage three years ago. We don’t know which one yet, but the most likely are Love Orphanage and Cinder Orphanage- they’re the closest to her home.”

“Is the info solid?”

Lucy hesitated. “I can’t say for sure. It’s just what we found in the initial search. I’ve got an important meeting tomorrow, so I probably won’t be able to check either place until the day after.

“I’ll go ask around tomorrow.”

“Alright. If you find anything, let me know.”

“Okay.”

She ended the call and placed the phone on her nightstand, setting it on top of the black business card.

She glanced at it briefly, then lay back down and pulled the covers over herself.

Natalie had planned to visit the orphanages in the morning, but when she woke drained, she decided to wait until the afternoon.

still feeling up

The two orphanages were far apart.

After checking the first one, the director told her they didn’t have a child by that name. So she made her way to the second one–Cinder Orphanage.

When she arrived, she met with the director.

“She stayed with us for a year,” the director said, “but her biological father came and took her

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6:18 Fri, Sep 26

Chapter 12 Searching the Orphanage

away. After that, we didn’t hear anything more. Her records were deleted as well.”

The words hit Natalie like a blow to the chest.

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Cindy, the inmate on death row, had once saved her life. Her daughter’s father was said to be a gambler who constantly mistreated her. Cindy had placed the child in the orphanage before going to prison, hoping she’d have a better life and escape from him.

But now Lily had been taken back.

As she left the orphanage, Natalie decided to update Lucy and ask her to help track down Lily’s father. He was the only link left.

She pulled out her phone, but a deep voice suddenly came from behind.

“I told you to go home.”

Natalie turned around quickly.

Her brows knit at the sight of the man walking toward her.

Jackson.

Her expression tightened, wariness flashing in her eyes. “How did you know I was here?”

“I told you to come home today. Why didn’t you? What are you doing in a dump like an orphanage?”

Jackson strode over and grabbed her wrist, trying to pull her toward the street.

A familiar black Cullinan was parked nearby.

His car.

Natalie’s voice dropped. “Jackson, are you following me?”

She resisted and stopped walking. Looking up at him, her eyes were ice cold.

“If you’d just gone home like I asked, I wouldn’t have had to assign someone to tail you.”

Natalie looked around in disbelief.

She scanned left and right but didn’t see anyone suspicious.

“Why are you going to so much trouble to drag me back to Clear Estate?” She yanked her arm

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6:18 Fri, Sep 26

Chapter 12 Searching the Orphanage

free. “I already told you I want a divorce. Why are you still making this difficult?”

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“If you don’t come back today, Grandpa’s going to kick both me and Aiden out tomorrow.” He suddenly stepped closer, staring down at her beautiful face. “I’m not going to let you destroy this family with your own hands.”

So that was it.

It was Grandpa who was blocking the divorce.

No wonder Jackson had called in the middle of the night, begging her to come home no matter what.

And no wonder he said something as ridiculous as refusing to sign if she didn’t return. Before Natalie could react, Jackson suddenly bent down and hoisted her over his shoulder. The world tilted beneath her. Instinctively, she grabbed at the back of his suit for balance.

Once steady, she pounded on his back. “Jackson, put me down!”

He ignored her and carried her across the street.

The car door opened, and he shoved her into the back seat.

He looked

up

and told his assistant, “Drive.”

“Yes, Mr. Jackson.”

As the car started to move, Natalie tried to open the door to get out.

But Jackson grabbed her wrist again, firmly holding her in place.

She didn’t know couldn’t bring herself to go back to Clear Estate.

why but she

That house had been their marital home–the place where the three of them had lived together for years.

And it was there that Victoria had ruined her life.

Just the thought of it made her want to stay far away. If she could, she’d never set foot in that place again.

“Let go.”

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6:18 Fri, Sep 26

Chapter 12 Searching the Orphanage

Natalie glared at him, her eyes ice cold.

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“Just sit still. I’m not going to hurt you. As long as Grandpa stays calm, we can talk about everything.”

But his grip on her wrist only tightened.

She winced slightly from the pain.

Now that she knew his real reason for forcing her back, a fire rose inside her.

Without thinking, Natalie grabbed his hand and bit down hard.

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