After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 1202

Cabinda Hospital.

Barbara was rushed to the hospital after being rescued. She hadn't sustained any severe physical injuries, merely knocked unconscious by the kidnappers. By the time the police and the elite search teams found her, she was just waking up.

To ensure she was completely unharmed, everyone insisted on a thorough medical examination.

Aside from a throbbing pain at the back of her neck, Barbara was physically fine, but the ordeal had left her severely traumatized.

The kidnappers had groped and harassed her. Though they hadn't crossed the ultimate line, their repulsive taunts had cast a dark, suffocating shadow over her mind.

The moment she saw her family, Barbara threw herself into Samantha's arms and broke down in tears.

Her parents held her tightly, overwhelmed with relief.

The rest of the Carter family had rushed to the hospital in droves after receiving the call that she was safe but needed an evaluation. Seeing her safe in person was the only thing that finally put their minds at ease.

Once her tears slowed, Barbara grabbed a tissue, dabbing her eyes while trying to comfort her frantic family. "Mom, Dad, Harold... I'm okay. They didn't really hurt me. They just wanted money."

Harold stared at the angry red mark on the back of her neck, his jaw tight. "You say they didn't hurt you, but look at your neck."

Barbara reached up, touching the sore spot. "They got a phone call from someone and suddenly started panicking about moving to a new location. They dragged me along at first, but I guess I was slowing them down, so they just knocked me out."

She took a shaky breath. "Someone was supposed to pick them up. I don't know how many of them there were in total, but they were definitely taking orders from someone else."

This wasn't a random kidnapping for ransom.

Though blindfolded and terrified, Barbara had listened closely.

The kidnappers had made a couple of calls to her family demanding money, but the rest of the time, they were reporting to a boss. She had clearly heard one of the men complain over the phone about how hard this money was to earn.

Someone had carefully orchestrated this entire nightmare.

Salome held her tightly, her eyes welling with tears. "Thank God. I was so terrified they were going to hurt you."

After a long moment, she pulled back, scanning Barbara from head to toe. Aside from looking a bit disheveled, the girl was in one piece.

The heavy weight on Salome's chest finally lifted.

Isabella stood quietly near the door, not saying a word. She wasn't officially a member of the Carter family yet, and in a deeply intimate moment like this, she felt it was best to step back and give them space.

Through the crowd, Barbara's gaze met Isabella's. For a split second, they locked eyes—and then Barbara abruptly looked away.

Isabella's stomach dropped in unease.

She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat, not daring to ask what that look meant.

By nightfall, Harold had convinced the rest of the exhausted family to go home. Only he and Isabella stayed behind to look after Barbara, though she hardly needed physical care since she wasn't truly injured.