BETSY

oice thick with emotion. "Bett" I know you can hear me"I

comfort they brought. It was the first time in days that someone had spoken to her like this, with such un

his steady voice, and for the first time in w

neath his unusually confident exterior. "We're not going anywhere

had noticed the way his eyes sparkled whenever she laughed, how his cheeks flushed when she complimented h

ay, he gathered all the courage he c

king. She hadn't expected this so

I'm not ready for a re

bring it up again." He paused, taking a deep breath before adding, "But please... don'

ng he tried to mask. She nodded, unsure of what to say next, but grateful for the rare ho

ed, but she knew it wasn't the distance she had asked for. Maybe sp

Time to breathe, to heal, to under

ll compared to the emotion surging in her chest.

them both, but

he unknown. She found strength i

whispers telling her to keep going

was the only sound she could hear. Her breath came in quick bursts, and her h

led, she felt as the world a

behind her made her pause, she turned

en followed??

es. For a moment, she thought it was just imagin

ently. Betsy could only feel it. She didn't dare turn around but rather cha

she rejoiced

r back. She struggled, kicking, trying to break free from this powerful

struggled still punching and kick

y". An unfamiliar voic

mix of frustration and con

d to be caught so e

fore her. His ocean-blue eyes gleamed with an intensity that seeme

y beard, and his dark chocolate brown hair cascaded in

all stature gave him an imposing presence. A faint scar ran across his

of him. Her heart raced, and a rush of heat flooded her cheeks as the absurd

feeling that something about him made her want to act

ity, as if he were a force of natur

go. His presence grounded her as

pless as she grudg

but he didn't reply. He simply stare

, Betsy glanced back. The tress now distant sha

not from fear. She would try again tomorrow, it was a feeling

d see the silhouette of her father standin

was going to escape?" So many questions

as though he had been waiting, watching. She held her breath, hoping he would not attack her or even beat

trembling despite her attempts to re

stood there, watching her with an

at Liam and stepped aside for her t

r knew him. She would nev

r happen again" We would w

she won't be able to es

react, Liam disappeared, le

daughter's gaze standing be

tretched, each passing seco

ng from the shadows. "You should have known, my dear," he said quie

an't run from him" The word

ll she thought had been buried. Th

for another moment, anticipating her every move? Every instinct in her body s