Chapter 8
After two days of recovery, Allison was summoned back to the Rockwood Estate.
“I hear you’ve been planning Alex’s wedding?” Cornellus sat at the head of the drawing room table, his gaze sharp and commanding
Allison lowered her eyes and nodded. “Yes.”
“Ridiculous,” he snapped, slamming a hand against the chair arm. “Absolutely out of the question.”
She flinched, her voice quiet. “It’s his dying wish. I just… want him to leave this world with no regrets.”
Cornelius stiffened, “What did you just say?”
She pulled out the forged medical report and hospice declaration. “He doesn’t have long. I just want him to go in peace.”
The old man’s expression froze.
He had always believed in marrying within one’s class–he never liked Sarah, the maid’s daughter
Hittle pedigree. He would never allow her to marry into the Rockwood family.
But now, he hesitated.
“Please,” Allison said softly. “Let him have this.”
Cornelius said nothing more. He waved his hand, signaling her to leave.
With too much ambition and too
Allison returned to the guest bedroom she’d been staying in. She had barely lain down before the door burst open with a violent kick Alexander stormed in, eyes blazing with fury.
“I should’ve known better than to trust you,” he spat, grabbing her by the wrist and yanking her out of bed.
Caught off guard, Allison fell hard onto the floor.
“You got your damn shares and now you’re pulling stunts behind my back?” His voice shook with rage. “Where is Sarah? Why the hell would you send Grandpa after her?!”
don’t know what you’re talking about!” she cried, scrambling to her feet. “Do you honestly think I have any power over your grandfather’s decisions?
He didn’t even blink. “You have one day. Bring Sarah back, or your dad dies.
Allison froze.
Her blood turned to ice.
“You wouldn’t-“Her voice cracked. “What did you do to him?!”
Instead of answering, he shoved a phone in her face.
The screen lit up with a live video.
William was dangling by his wrists from a crane at the edge of Kingston Harbor, swaying in the wind like some horrifying threat. “Please—please let him down!” Allison dropped to her knees, grabbing at his shirt. “I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t hurt him.” Alexander’s eyes flickered, but his tone stayed cold. “Bring me Sarah, and he walks free.”
“He has a heart condition–he could die from the stress. I’m begging you,” she sobbed.
You should be using that energy to find her,” he said, pocketing the phone. “You’ve got one hour.
Then be turned and walked out
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Allison staggered to her feet and rushed to Cornelius’s study.
She stood just outside the heavy double doors, clutching her chest as her voice cracked.
“Please, Grandpa… let them be together. Just a small ceremony. Quiet. Private. No press, no damage to your reputation.”
She leaned against the doorframe, begging over and over, her voice cracking with desperation.
“Please. Just let Alex meet Sarah.”
She stayed there for forty minutes, repeating it like a prayer, until the door finally creaked open.
Cornelius stood in the doorway, a long sigh escaping his lips.
“Fine,” he muttered. “Maybe I’m too old to understand how you kids do things anymore. She’s at the West Hill Vineyard. Go get her.”
“Thank you,” Allison whispered breathlessly. She tried to take a step, and she collapsed to the floor.
Gritting her teeth, she forced herself upright–only to stumble again moments later, this time tumbling down the stairs.
Still, she forced herself to get up, pressing a hand against her ribs as
as she lim
limped to the garage.
She found Alexander in the garage, keys in hand.
“Sarah’s at West Hill,” she said, panting.
Het
froze.
Without a word, he jumped into his car.
Allison stepped directly in front of the vehicle.
He slammed the brakes, nearly hitting her.
“What the hell is wrong with you?!”
“Where is my dad?”
She stood firm, arms spread, eyes locked on his.
Something flickered in his gaze.
Maybe surprise.
Maybe guilt.
But only for a moment.
“Kingston Harbor,” he finally said, teeth clenched.
Allison bolted for a different car and sped out of the estate, beating Alexander onto the road.
She arrived at the dock just as the wind picked up.
Her father was still hanging there, unconscious, pale, his body swaying above the cold steel platform. Tears streamed down her face as she climbed the tower, hands shaking as she operated the controls. The crane groaned and lowered.
She ran to him the second he hit the ground, untying the ropes with trembling fingers.
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But he didn’t move.
“Dad? Dad!” she sobbed, pressing her hands against his chest. “Please… don’t do this to me.”
“Wake up. Please.”
“Don’t leave me…‘
Her vision blurred with tears as she called 911 and rushed him to the hospital.
The doctors did everything they could.
But it was too late.
Allison collapsed against the cold hallway wall outside the ER, clutching her coat tight.
She opened her mouth to cry-
But nothing came out.
Nothing but a broken, empty silence..
Her chest ached like it had been torn open from the inside.
And for the first time, she realized
Real heartbreak doesn’t always make a sound.
Chapter B
