The Abandoned Wife's Second Chance (Scarlett and Jasper) novel Chapter 167

Chapter 167

(Jasper’s POV)

I sit up so fast, I get dizzy.

“What do you mean by she’s gone? Didn’t you say she’s in the waiting room?”

+25 Points

The nurse, startled by my strong reaction, takes back a step. “She was…but she’s not there

anymore.”

I try to calm down, telling myself she might’ve just stepped aside for a call, or to use the restroom. I tell the nurse to go and check again, to ask the other staff if they she’d seen when

she left and where she went.

When she returns, she asks, “Is your wife’s name Scarlett?”

I nod, wondering why she’s asking this when I told her to find out about Scarlett.

“The name of the woman who was waiting outside is Virginia, Mr Blake. Your wife left an hour ago, and from what the staff have told me, she didn’t even stop when you fell.”

My mind goes blank. For a second, I feel as if my heart stops beating, a loud buzz ringing in my ears. Scarlett left. She didn’t even stop, didn’t even look back when I fell?

The knowledge stabs my heart like a knife, the pain so intense, I find it hard to breathe. But more intense, more numbing than the pain is the fear that grips me when the meaning of her words register in my mind.

Scarlett is gone. She’s been gone for over an hour.

I tug off the IV lines, turning a deaf ear to the nurse’s anxious cry to stop, to lay back down. Scrambling off the bed, I pull up Dorian’s number as I head out the door.

“Hello?”

“Dorian, it’s me. Gather your men and come get me. Scarlett might be in danger.”

(Virginia’s POV)

I don’t remember driving to the warehouse. One moment I’m in the hospital parking lot, the next I’m pulling up to a crumbling brick building that looks like it hasn’t been used in years.

John is waiting outside, smoking a cigarette. He’s exactly what you’d expect from Morgan’s trained dog–thick neck, cold eyes, tattoos crawling up his arms. I can’t believe a trash like him is related to me.

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“Lily?” I ask as I approach with barely concealed disgust.

+25 Points

“She’s inside,” he says, dropping the cigarette and crushing it under his boot. “Quiet as a mouse. Barely made a sound when the drugs wore off.”

“And Chloe?”

“The friend? Still out cold. We gave her a bigger dose.”

I push past him, my heels clicking against the broken concrete. The warehouse door screeches when I pull it open.

It’s dark inside. Musty. Light filters through holes in the roof, creating patches of brightness in the gloom.

I hear her before I see her.

Soft whimpering. The sound a child makes when they’re trying very hard not to cry.

My chest tightens.

“Lily?”

At the sound of my voice, there’s a movement in the corner. I walk toward it, my eyes adjusting to the dim light.

They’ve locked her in what looks like an old office. Through the grimy window in the door, I can see her sitting on the floor, her arms wrapped around her knees. Chloe is slumped against the wall beside her, unconscious.

Lily’s face is streaked with tears. Her school uniform is dirty.

She looks up when she sees me, and for a moment, her face lights up. “Aunt Virginia!”

Her brown eyes, so familiar and so identical to Jaspers, the joy in her voice, they all make me uncomfortable.

I fumble with the lock, my hands shaking. John appears at my shoulder.

“What are you doing?”

“Opening the door.”

“Morgan said-”

“I know what Morgan said. You don’t need to tell me again.” The lock finally gives way. I shove the door open and step inside.

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Chapter 167

+25 Points

Lily’s gaze becomes wary when she catches John behind me. Smart girl. She probably figured out I’m not here to save her.

She curls into herself, her small body trembling as she whimpers, “I want Mama. Aunt Virginia, I want my Mama.”

I can’t breathe. Can’t think. Can’t do anything except stand there while she cries out in fear.

John clears his throat behind me. “We need to get moving. Morgan’s expecting-”

“Get out.”

“What?”

I turn to face him, fists clenched. “I said get out. All of you. Leave us alone.”

He stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “That’s not part of the plan.”

“The plan. Did Morgan say the plan is for you to supervise me while I do my part?”

He goes quiet at that. Still, he doesn’t make a move to leave. His eyes narrow, his gaze sweeping between me and Lily for one tense moment that makes me nervous. Just as I’m about to give up, to do what I came to do and leave from this hellhole, a strange smile curls his lips.

Before I can understand the meaning behind it, John actually pats me on the shoulder and

leaves.

He actually backs away, hands raised. Leaving me alone in the cell with a whimpering Lily, and an unconscious Chloe.

I hear him talking to the others outside. Arguing. But I don’t care. I sink to the floor, and Lily immediately crawls into my lap.

“Where’s my mama?” she asks, her voice small and scared.

“She’s coming,” I whisper. “She’ll be here soon.”

It’s not a lie. Morgan’s waiting for me to send the text. Waiting for me to lure Scarlett here to

her death.

I look down at Lily. At her tear–stained face and terrified eyes. At the trust she’s showing me even though I’m the reason she’s here.

This child did nothing wrong. She’s innocent in all of this.

The same way I was innocent when my adoptive parents made me sleep in the basement.

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< Chapter 167

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