Chapter 21: The Truth Unfolds-1
Jamie didn’t expect a knock this early.
He had just finished putting the dishes away, wiping down the table, and taking the morning meds
Maya had set out for him before she left – barely two hours ago, when a soft, deliberate knock
echoed through the apartment. He frowned, tossing the dish towel onto the counter as a flicker of
unease crept into his chest.
When he opened the door, his breath caught. He recognized James immediately – and behind him
stood another man, taller and bulkier, someone he didn’t know but who looked intimidating.
“Mr. Horton?” Jamie’s brows furrowed.
“What-what are you doing here? Is Maya…?” His voice cracked before he could finish. The panic was already setting in.
“Is May okay? Did something happen to her?!”
The sharpness in his voice turned brittle. His protective instinct surged faster than logic, heart
thudding in his chest.
James was about to speak when the sound of plastic bags rustling interrupted them.
Ms. Janice had just returned from the market, arms full of fresh produce and worry etched into her aging features.
“Jamie?” she called from across the hall, her brows furrowing. “Everything okay? Who are these
gentlemen?”
James turned toward her with calm composure and gave a polite nod.
“Good morning, ma’am,” James said with calm authority. “I’m James Horton, from Blackwood Enterprises. And this is Monroe – our head of security.”
Ma. Janice froze.
Her eyes widened slightly. “Blackwood Enterprises?” she echoed, then paused. “Is this about Maya?”
The air shifted. Something unspoken passed between them-he could feel it in James’s silence, the heavy way Monroe stood behind him like a wall.
Jamie stepped forward, his voice cracking with urgency. “Mr. Horton, please. Answer me. Is my sister okay?”
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Chapter 21 The Truth Unfolds-1
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James met his gaze. “Ms. Thompson didn’t report to work today. I’m here to check on her. Just to make sure everything is alright.”
Jamie’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“No-no, that’s impossible!” Jamie blurted, panic rising in his voice. “May left around seven! She said she was going to work. She even told me not to wait up – she’s got classes tonight. She… she asked if I needed more books…” His voice faltered, cracking. “She was fine.”
A sharp breath escaped him, panic climbing.
Ma. Janice, still holding her bags, fell silent for a moment… then slowly nodded.
“Actually…” she murmured. “I saw her this morning.”
James’s gaze snapped to her.
“She got into a dark vehicle,” Ms. Janice said cautiously, eyes narrowing in thought. “It was parked across the street. There was a man… he waved at her. I couldn’t see clearly at first… but then…” her face paled. “Right! That man. I recognize him.”
She shivered slightly.
“That’s the creepy doctor from the hospital,” Ms. Janice said slowly, her brows drawing together.” The one who kept bothering Maya during your checkups. We always tried to steer clear when he was around.” Her voice dropped, laced with unease. “I never trusted him. He looked at her like… like she was something to own. Not a person. Like she was his.”
Jamie went stiff. “Beckett?!!”
Ms. Janice nodded grimly. “Yes. That’s him. I didn’t get to stop her-she was already getting into the car. But that was just after seven.”
James exchanged a look with the tall man behind him.
Monroe, tall and broad-shouldered, gave a brief, tight nod. His jaw clenched ever so slightly, and his eyes darkened with an unreadable weight.
“I’ll check the building’s footage,” he said, voice low and steady, before turning on his heel and disappearing down the hallway with purposeful strides.
Jamie’s fists clenched at his sides. His voice trembled as he spoke, eyes fixed on the floor.
“We have to find her. I knew something was wrong with that guy… That day at the hospital, he looked at her like she was already his.”
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.