Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
“Demand Leila’s life? Do they have a death wish? Tell them if Leila isn’t returned safely, there will be consequences they can’t imagine.”
The assistant hesitated, his voice laced with concern.
“Mr. Morgan, I must remind you that if Miss Nixon is returned safely, she’ll inevitably discover everything about our actions.”
Clayton’s jaw tightened as he waved his hand dismissively.
“I don’t care about that right now. What matters is getting her back, safe and sound. If necessary, trade Sophie for Leila. She’s Leila’s daughter. If something happens to Sophie, Leila will be devastated but cling to life.”
Unbeknownst to Clayton, Sophie slowly stirred. She had barely touched the soup, and Clayton’s heated conversation with his assistant outside the door had roused her.
Though Sophie’s mind was still foggy, she caught fragments of their conversation, her ears picking up the mention of Leila’s name. She bit down on her tongue, the sharp pain jarring her into clarity. As the fog lifted, she overheard Clayton’s voice, his words cold and calculating, planning to put her at risk. He wanted her life as leverage.
The realization that Clayton’s kindness had been nothing more than a facade sent a wave of panic through Sophie, her heart pounding in her chest as anxiety gripped her. Perhaps driven by fear, her hearing grew more acute.
Sophie distinctly heard Clayton and his men discussing the possibility of using her as leverage to secure Leila’s return, ideally by the end of the day.
Sophie struggled to push herself up, but it felt as though a heavy weight was pressing her down. Cold sweat drenched her body as panic surged within her.
After a moment of struggle, Sophie finally managed to move.
Just as Sophie propped herself up, the door creaked open, sending a jolt of panic through her and forcing her back into bed. Clayton entered the room, calling out softly, “Sophie?” Sophie lay motionless, squeezing her eyes shut, feigning sleep, though her heart raced with fear. She curled onto her side, her back to the door, ensuring her face was hidden from Clayton’s view. If he saw her expression, he would undoubtedly grow suspicious.
Sophie held her breath, afraid to move, feeling Clayton’s gaze lingering on her.
After what seemed like an eternity, Clayton finally looked away, his footsteps retreating as he quietly closed the door behind him. Even then, Sophie remained cautious and stayed perfectly still.
Ten minutes later, Clayton truly left. He had been testing whether Sophie was truly asleep.
Sophie couldn’t help but admire her own caution from earlier. When she finally managed to get out of bed, her body was drenched in sweat.
With careful steps, Sophie tiptoed to the bathroom, locking the door behind her. Her hands shook as she retrieved her phone, her fingers trembling as she powered it on.
Sophie dialed a familiar number, her heart pounding in her chest. When the call finally connected, her voice cracked, tears threatening to spill as she whispered into the phone, “Dad, save me.”
Landon shot to his feet at her trembling voice.
“Sophie?” His voice was a mix of disbelief and urgency.
“What happened? Don’t panic. Just tell me everything, slowly.”
Tears choked her voice as Sophie struggled to get the words out, stumbling over her sentences.
Despite the overwhelming panic, it was impressive enough that Sophie managed to keep her thoughts clear. She explained as briefly as possible that she and Leila had been in danger, Leila was now missing, and Clayton intended to use her as leverage to exchange for Leila’s return.
Sophie’s voice quivered with emotion.
“Dad, I’ll do anything to trade myself for my mom, but Clayton is not a good man. Please, don’t let him get his hands on my mom.”
“Got it,” Landon replied, his voice cold, eyes burning with anger and resolve.
“Stay calm. I’m on my way.”
Landon told Sophie to find a good hiding spot, somewhere Clayton wouldn’t think to look.
Sophie tried to stay calm. She knew she couldn’t just sit there and wait for who-knows-what to happen. She had no idea when Clayton would be back. If Clayton found her awake, he would definitely take her away.
Sophie crept to the door and carefully opened it. She peeked out and, seeing no sign of Clayton, let out a sigh of relief. She quickly ducked under the bed and held her breath.
Time ticked by slowly. The drug Clayton had given Sophie was still making her feel drowsy.
Sophie felt the urge to fall asleep but fought hard to stay awake. Every time she felt herself drifting off, she pinched her thigh hard, leaving little bruises on her skin.
Two hours later, Sophie heard footsteps approaching. It was Clayton, and he wasn’t alone. He had brought a group of men with him.
When Clayton saw the open door, his face turned an angry red.
“Where is she?” he barked at his assistant.
The assistant paled.
“We were short-handed, especially with the ongoing negotiation. Sophie was drugged unconscious, so I thought even if she woke up, she wouldn’t realize anything was wrong. Besides, everyone here is familiar to her, so I didn’t think she’d try to escape.”
Though furious, Clayton could see his assistant’s point. He hadn’t expected Sophie to run away either. He had clearly underestimated Sophie. Leila’s kids were just as clever and cautious as their mother. He couldn’t treat them like ordinary children.
Clayton took a deep breath and forced a smile.
“Where could a child possibly go?” he sneered.
“We have men at every exit. If she had left, I would have been informed. This hotel is big, but there aren’t many places to hide. Find her! If she’s not found by nightfall, you’re all fired.”
“Yes, sir,” his assistant and the bodyguards chorused before hurrying off to search for Sophie. Their footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Clayton glared at the empty bed, his jaw clenched, before storming out of the room.
As the sound of footsteps faded away, Sophie let out a shaky breath. Tears streamed down her face. She was scared and nervous, but most of all, she felt deeply disappointed. She didn’t want Clayton to be her stepfather at all. But over the years, Clayton had been kind to her mother and had looked after them. Sophie had once held him in high regard, never expecting such a sinister side.
Sophie was baffled by Clayton’s actions. Was he simply trying to eliminate any obstacles to his relationship with Leila? Or was there something more sinister at play? Maybe Clayton had something to hide?
Sophie remembered the odd look on Clayton’s face when she mentioned that she and Leila were here on vacation, especially when he saw Brysen with them.
It was clear to Sophie that Clayton was hiding something. Perhaps he thought their arrival meant they had stumbled upon his secrets, forcing him to take drastic measures. But what about Leila? What would Clayton do to her? He might not harm her physically, but he would certainly find a way to make her forget about her trip.
Sophie’s anxiety grew with each passing thought. She needed to stay calm and safe, at least until Landon found her.
To be honest, Sophie wasn’t sure if Landon would actually come. But a voice deep down told her to have faith in Landon. Landon was her father, after all.
When Sophie was certain that no one was coming, she carefully crept out from under the bed and slipped into the bathroom. Maybe they wouldn’t think to look for her there. Sometimes, the best hiding spot was the one that seemed most obvious.
Sophie huddled in a corner of the bathroom, her heart pounding in her chest. She was just a teenager, caught in a terrifying situation. Her body trembled, and tears streamed down her face. Time seemed to blur as Sophie waited in the darkness. She drifted off to sleep, only to be jolted awake by a loud crash. The door burst open, and angry voices filled the room.
“Where the hell is that kid hiding? We’ve torn this whole hotel apart, but she’s nowhere to be found. She has to be in this room somewhere.”
“Mr. Morgan warned us that she’s a clever one. Search every nook and cranny! If we don’t find her, we’re all screwed!”
Sophie’s face went white when she heard this. She looked up and noticed it was dark outside. She had been asleep for hours. But after waking up, Sophie felt more energetic, without the previous dizziness. She quickly grabbed her phone. The signal was strong, and the battery was full, but there was no message or call from Landon.
Sophie was baffled. It had been nearly four hours. Where was Landon? Burmoos wasn’t far from Halsland. If Landon took a private jet, it would only take about an hour to get here. Plus, she had given him the address. Did Landon not want to save her?
Suddenly, Sophie regretted not calling the police. At that time, she hadn’t been thinking straight and had instinctively trusted Landon would come to her rescue.
Pushing down her feelings of disappointment and sadness, Sophie quickly looked around the room. If she couldn’t find a way to escape, she was doomed.
Luckily, there was a way out. Sophie noticed a small window high up on the wall. It was small, but she could squeeze through. Sophie quickly got up and started climbing, using her hands and feet to pull herself up. She had taken dance classes and martial arts lessons, making her agile and flexible enough to move silently.
Like a cat, Sophie crawled out of the window and into the darkness.
It was a long way down from the second floor, but Sophie took a deep breath and jumped.
Luckily, she landed on a balcony below.
Sophie’s feet stung, but she didn’t stop. She quickly climbed over the railing and ran toward the backyard.
Just as Sophie was about to reach the door, a figure stepped out of the shadows.