Chapter 16
Declan had been unconscious for three days after collapsing at the hospital. And the moment he came to, the first thing he heard from his assistant was news that set everything in motion.
If they wanted to protect Vivienne from prosecution by stashing her away in a psych ward… then he’d simply use that to his advantage.
He pulled strings and had her secretly transferred to the most rundown psychiatric hospital far from the city–a place where no one would come looking.
“Mr. Hawthorne, today Miss Blake will receive a double dosage. Treatment includes electroconvulsive therapy…”
A doctor reported the day’s plan in a flat voice.
Beyond the glass window, a nurse placed a cup filled with white pills in front of Vivienne. Her pupils contracted sharply. Her eyes burned with hate as they locked on the man standing behind the glass.
“Declan Hawthorne! Do you want me dead?!” She screamed like a madwoman, knocking the pills to the floor.
She’d had enough.
She wasn’t even mentally ill–yet they were forcing her to swallow psychiatric meds every day.
The side effects were brutal. Her body felt like it was falling apart. In less than a week, her hair had started falling out in clumps. She was the precious daughter of the Blake family–how could she endure this kind of torment?
Vivienne was on the
e edge.
“I’m not taking them! I’m not doing shock therapy either! Get away from me! Get out, all of you!”
She launched herself off the bed. Just then, the door was shoved open–and Declan stepped in, face dark with fury. He didn’t hesitate. His foot shot out and landed squarely in her abdomen.
“Ahhh!”
Vivienne crumpled to the floor, clutching her stomach. “You bastard! How could you be so cruel? What did I do wrong, Declan? I just loved you too much. I’ve loved you for more than ten years! How could you treat me like this?!”
When the man said nothing, terror flooded her. She broke down, grabbing his leg, her voice desperate. “Please! Please, I’m begging you, Declan! I know I was wrong. Let me go–I’ll do anything you say!”
He slowly crouched down and grabbed her jaw, fingers digging in so hard she thought he’d snap the bone clean off.
“Let you go? Sure… just give me Sloane’s life back.”
His voice was icy. “Vivienne, you’re a legally registered psych patient now. Everything I’m doing is just ‘part of your treatment.‘ And this won’t stop–not today, not tomorrow. Every single day, you’ll suffer for what you’ve done.‘
Then he shoved her away like she was garbage. Vivienne hit the ground hard and screamed.
“Fine! Just wait, Declan Hawthorne. My family will come for me. They’ll never let you get away with this!”
Re scoffed. “Your family? They’re drowning in scandal right now. Can’t
even save the with this!”
what? I’ll be right there to personally deliver you… straight to prison”
And even if they do find you–guess
Several nurses stormed in. They pinned Vivienne down and forced open her mouth, stuffing those colorful pills down her throat one by
She thrashed wildly. But then came the searing pain of electricity–a jolt so sharp it felt like it ripped through her chest.
She was supposed to be under anesthesia for this ‘treatment‘. But now… she had no choice but to endure it fully conscious.
Declan stood there, watching her scream, face expressionless.
Chapter 16
Until his phone started to buzz. “Mr. Hawthorne, we just found a ring wedged in the yacht’s upper deck railing…
Declan went completely pale, voice trembling. “Don’t move it. I’m coming right now.”
Three days later, out at the countryside villa, Sloane stepped into the waiting Maybach, white cane in hand.
It was the first time she’d gone outside since the incident.
“Mr. Sharpe, really… I can go by myself.” She felt a little uneasy.
Today was her mother’s birthday. And soon, she’d be leaving Riverstone for good–never to return.
She just wanted to see the ocean one last time. To say goodbye.
What she didn’t know, though, was that this quiet little trip… was about to set off a storm she never saw coming.
Chapter 16
