Secrets Of The Neglected Wife: When Her True Colors Shine

Chapter 257: On the highway, a black sedan tore through the traffic.

Lornas eyes fluttered open.

Her vision was blurry at first, but as the scene before her cinto focus, she gasped.

Her eyes widened instinctively, but no sound escaped her lips.

Her mouth parted as if to scream, but no sound emerged.

She was like a marionette, her strings cut, her limbs powerless.

Listen, kid, growled a man in a baseball cap, his voice gruff.

If you want to leave here alive, I suggest you keep quiet! He pulled his cap lower, shielding his face from the fading light of the sunset.

Then, noticing the car gaining on them in the rearview mirror, his frown deepened into a scowl.

This is off.

No way they shouldve caught up that fast.

We didnt leave anything behind, right? The lean man next to him snorted derisively, flicking his fingers as if dismissing a bothersfly.

Whats the big deal? Worst-case scenawe go down swinging.

He opened the glove compartment and retrieved a small handgun.

Were dealing with the Lloyds.

Of course, theyd cafter us.

But itll be dark soon, and even if they keep tailing us, they wont make a move.

Dont forget, were on a highway with so many cars around.

One wrong step, and the girls finished.

In the car following close behind, the tension hung thick in the air, as heavy as the stillness before a storm. Allison leaned forward, narrowing her eyes at the sedan ahead.

Mr.

Lloyd, youve set up a roadblock up ahead, but with traffic this thick, one crash and itll be a disaster.

And with Lorna inside... we cant take that chance.

The thought of the kidnappers making a panicked move sent a chill down her spine.

It could turn into chaos in an instant, with Lorna caught in the middle.

Kellan, without a moments hesitation, made the call.

Send in two more cars.

Have them flank from both sides.

Well force them off the highway and drive them toward the outskirts.

Fewer people there, and we can stop them without causing a scene.

His tone was as cold as iron, his eyes bloodshot with fury.

The air between them crackled, thick with unspoken threats, ready to slice through the night and end this pursuit, one way or another.

Sherman nodded, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Yes.

He knew well the depths of Kellans rage.

If anything happened to Lorna, ending up as fish food would be the least of his problems.

Sherman was drowning in guilt.

If only hed been more alert, Lorna wouldnt have been taken.

Now, he obeyed Kellans every word without hesitation, desperate to atone for his failure.

Allison could feel the pressure emanating from Kellan.

Since Lornas abduction, hed been wound so tight it was a wonder he hadnt snapped already.

His fingers repeatedly rubbed his temples, a telltale sign that his old condition was threatening to resurface. Believe me, Mr.

Lloyd, Lorna will be safe, Allison reassured him softly, handing over a small bottle of aromatherapy spray she always kept on hand.

The key right now is to stay level-headed.

If we lose control, those lowlifes have already won.

Kellan accepted the spray, his movements deliberate as he spritzed son his wrist.

As the scent enveloped him, a faint sense of calm began to take root.

Thank you, Ms.

Clarke.

His long fingers clenched around the bottle, veins bulging, as if holding something small was all that kept him from unraveling.

Youre right, Kellan admitted, briefly closing his eyes.

I have to keep my head.

But even as he said it, his imposing figure seemed to sink into the shadows around him, the air in the car thickening, heavy with tension.

It felt like the moment before the sky broke open in a storm.

Were it not for Allisons calm presence beside him, Kellan might have already lost it.

Dont mention it, Mr.

Lloyd.

Lornas more than just a student to me, Allison responded, her eyes fixed on the black sedan ahead.

Despite her outward calm, there was a fierce, almost predatory aura around her.

Sherman, steering the car with rigid focus, stole a glance at her through the rearview mirror.

Allison was undeniably striking, but there was something about her that commanded distancean unspoken warning to stay away.

Much like Kellan, she exuded danger.

Together, they were an unsettling pairone as cold as the darkest winter night, the other alluring but deadly. Swallowing his nerves, Sherman finally spoke, his voice betraying a hint of hesitation.

Ms.

Clarke, how did you know the kidnappers were heading north? The race venues south of the city, s es south of wouldnt it make more sense for them to flee that way, where they could blend in faster? Allisons gaze didnt waver. They dont need tto stall.

Everythingfrom the chaos at the race to the kidnappingis part of a larger scheme.

You think thats a coincidence? I dont.

Sherman found it difficult to look her in the eyes, her strong and intimidating demeanor unnerving him.

Slowly, the pieces began to fall into place.

So... all that trouble at the race... it was just a distraction.

They wanted to get Mr.

Lloyd out of the picture long enough to take Lorna.

By the tanyone figured it out, theyd already be gone.

His mind raced.

It was a bold plan, but not without its flaws.

No one knew Travis was actually Kellan.

Even if these thugs intended to provoke Kellan into action, that kind of elaborate plot required meticulous foresight.

To pull off a stunt like that, the real puppet master would need inside helpsomeone to bribe the eventm coordinators, sabotage the equipment, set up the near-accident with the advertising boards, and plant a sedative in the resting area ahead of time. Sherman wasnt slow to catch on.

These goons... theyre just pawns.

Someone else is pulling the strings, arent they? Kellans gaze turned colder than ice.

Speople have a real knack for digging their own graves.