Broken Vows and Buried Twins novel Chapter 104

But that gang had been caught and locked up years ago.

Moreover, their motive back then had been crystal clear: they kidnapped her to extort Julian for cash. It was only when they couldn't get ahold of Julian that they flew into a blind rage and took it out on her...

But whoever grabbed Melody this time clearly didn't care about money.

It felt like pure, vindictive torture just to make a point.

"Look, however you spin it, Melody getting snatched is kind of a blessing in disguise for you," Gael’s voice echoed in the car. "If she hadn't been so desperate to flaunt her affair and parade around as Julian's favorite woman, the public might still think you and Julian were happily married. Then the kidnappers would have definitely targeted you instead..."

Gael’s words faded as Hester's mind drifted completely.

She stared blankly at the frantic windshield wipers, suddenly remembering the metallic tang of blood she had smelled on Julian outside the funeral hall...

Melody was kidnapped. Julian rushed to save her. He came back reeking of blood, looking like a ghost.

Did Julian get severely injured trying to save her?

Hester’s lips tightened. Her thoughts flashed back to the night of the charity gala fire, when Julian hadn't hesitated for a split second to throw himself over Melody to protect her.

Were the kidnappers hiding in the crowd that night, too?

A sudden realization exploded in Hester's mind!

Her breath hitched, and her hands, resting on her lap, curled into tight fists.

*No. That's impossible... is it?*

The car reached the bottom of the mountain and sped toward the city center.

Gael glanced over and noticed Hester’s pale, intense expression. "What’s wrong?"

"Which hospital is Melody at?"

"Veridian Private Hospital. Why?"

"I need to see her," Hester said, her voice laced with absolute certainty. "Take me there right now."

Her left eye was so severely swollen it was basically glued shut, leaving only a tiny slit. The entire right side of her face was mummified in thick gauze, and her arms were littered with brutal lacerations.

Her signature, perfectly styled wavy hair was now a matted, chopped-up disaster.

Hester stood silently at the foot of the bed, her face a mask of calm as she surveyed the wreckage that was Melody Monroe.

She didn't feel a triumphant thrill, only a cold certainty that Melody had reaped what she sowed.

"*Tsk, tsk.* Diagnosis confirmed: this was a pure, unadulterated beatdown out of spite!" Gael walked over, scanning the bed with a look of genuine satisfaction. "Gotta say, looking at this really clears my skin and heals my soul!"

Through her good eye, Melody finally recognized the women. Her pupil shrank in terror. "Hester... you... how did you get in here..."

Her voice was a weak, airy wheeze. Her sudden spike in panic caused her chest to heave, violently pulling at her broken ribs, making her gasp in agony.

"What do you want..." Melody couldn't turn her neck, so her eyes darted frantically around the room, clearly searching for her nurse.

"Save your energy. I knocked the nurse out cold. The gorillas outside think we're changing your bandages!" Gael planted her hands on her hips, glaring down at her. "Now you'd better play nice, or I wouldn't mind giving those fresh wounds a little extra attention!"