Fallyn’s POV
“I did not!”
I shouted it with every ounce of strength I had.
Garth paused when he heard me.
Noticing this, Heisley’s gaze flickered with a hint of malice. She pulled out her phone, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded toward him.
“Garth, please… please make her release my parents. I’ll beg and apologize to her as long as she’s willing to let go of them!”
Garth glanced at the video on Heisley’s phone, his expression unreadable.
The next second, he began walking toward me, each step slow.
“Fallyn. Apologize to Heisley,” he said. His voice was calm, even tinged with exhaustion.
“Tell me,” he asked, “where did you take her parents?”
A chill seeped through me. My voice came out hoarse and strained.
“I didn’t fucking kidnap them!”
The next moment, his hand clamped around my chin, hard and unyielding.
“Why?” His deep, shadowed eyes bored into mine. “Why would you do something like this?”
“If you don’t tell me the truth right now,” he warned, “I’ll have no choice but to stop your dad’s surgery.”
My eyes widened in disbelief. I stared at him, unable to believe what I’d just heard.
“Garth! That’s my father!”
He let out a long sigh, but his tone was chillingly damn serious.
“You’re the one who chose to disregard the lives of Heisley’s parents. Now, cooperate with me—tell me where they are, and nothing will happen to your dad.”
I glared at him, my heart twisting in bitter realization at how laughable all my devotion to him had been.
“Garth,” I rasped, forcing the words out, “I told you—I didn’t do it. Why won’t you believe me?”
Something flickered in his eyes. He released me suddenly, and for the briefest moment, guilt crossed his face.
But almost instantly, Heisley’s sobs rose from behind him.
She crawled closer on her knees, tears falling as she choked out, “Fallyn… my parents can’t hold on much longer. Please, I’m begging you, let them go! I’m begging you—just please…”
Before her words had even faded, Garth’s face darkened.
He waved a hand sharply. And in an instant, bodyguards rushed toward Dad’s operating room!
The next second, the red light above the door went dark…
And then, the chief surgeon was dragged out by force!
My vision went red. I lunged forward, trying to shove the surgeon back inside, but Garth’s grip locked around my wrist like iron.
“Let me go! I told you I didn’t do it! Let the surgeon back in! Hurry!”
My voice broke into a hysterical shout.
But Garth only stared at me with indifference, his grip not loosening in the slightest.
“Apologize to Heisley, tell me where her parents are, and your father’s surgery will continue,” he demanded.
“Otherwise…” he warned, “that red light above your father’s OR will never come on again.”
My whole body trembled like a leaf in the wind.
“They’re in the basement of the West Hill Villa.”
Clinging to the last scrap of hope, I lied.
Garth studied my face for several seconds, and then he finally released me.
I rushed to the surgeon, shoving him back through the doors of the OR.
But only minutes later, he came out again.
He sighed, shaking his head.
“I’m sorry. We couldn’t save him.”
My pupils trembled. My eyes went wide.
“No… No, that’s impossible. Dad wouldn’t just die…”
I couldn’t hold myself back any longer. I stumbled into the room, only to be met with Dad’s lifeless, pallid face.
All strength drained from my body, and I collapsed to the floor.
Even Garth froze for a moment at the sight.
He reached out, as if to comfort me.
But then Heisley’s choked voice came from the doorway.
“Garth, can we go find my parents now? Please, I’m really so worried about them…”
His outstretched hand stilled in midair.
A few seconds passed before his voice came, rough and low.
“Sorry. Lives are at stake.”
With that, he turned and strode away, his steps urgent and eager to rescue Heisley’s parents.
That made a cold laugh escape from my throat.
“Garth. If you walk out that door, I swear, I will never forgive you for the rest of my life!”
His stride faltered for a split second. But in the end, he didn’t hesitate. He left.
I stared after his disappearing figure, feeling the hatred burning in my chest.
So Heisley’s parents’ lives mattered, but my dad’s didn’t?!
Thank God… Thank God, I had already prepared for this.
I felt Dad’s faint and shallow breath, and tears spilled down my face.
Calming myself, I sent a single message.
Within minutes, someone came to take him away.
In just four more days, I would be able to leave this hell for good!
