Chapter 13 Leaving the Bennetts Family, I’m Moving to Garrison City
Lauren had always known they didn’t care about her, but hearing those words from David still sent a sharp pain through her heart. He didn’t love me, not even enough to pretend.
Fortunately, she hid her emotions well. No one could see the pain beneath her stubborn exterior
“Alright,” she said flatly
David frowned. “What did you say?”
Looking up at the four people standing on the second floor. Lauren met their gazes and spoke with a calm resolve. “Alright, I’ll leave the Bennett family right now. From this day forward, I sever all ties with you. Mr. David, Madam Alice, rest assured I will never bother you again. Even if I die out there, I won’t come back.
With that, she felt nothing for this place anymore. Three years of wounds had already taught me a harsh lesson. How could I still hope for a love that was never meant for me?
This time, she walked quickly. Her injured leg throbbed with pain, but she gritted her teeth and kept moving. For the first time, a glimmer of light shone in her dark eyes–the light of breaking free from her chains and of embracing freedom. In no time, she reached the living room door and pulled it open. She left without hesitation, without looking back. Her departure was absolute.
Elliot’s pupils constricted. He wanted to chase after her, but his stomach pain had drained him of all strength. All he could do was shout at the closing door, “Lauren, get back here.”
His voice echoed through the vast living room, consuming the last of his energy. But Lauren never looked back; she vaguely heard someone yelling, but she couldn’t make out the words. Not that it mattered; the door had already shut behind her, and with her impaired hearing in one ear, their voices no longer reached her.
Whatever they were saying, it had nothing to do with me anymore.
The moment she stepped out of the Bennett Residence, the suffocating weight on her shoulders lifted. Her steps felt lighter; she walked for about five minutes when she noticed someone approaching from the opposite direction. It was late at night, and suddenly seeing a man on the street made her tense. Instinctively, she stepped into the shadows, hiding from the streetlights. As the man came closer, she recognized him at a glance..
Jeffrey was Elliot’s friend, and her strongest impression of him could be summed up in one word–sharp–tongued
She still remembered the first time they met. He had given her a once–over, then remarked, “So shabby; if you didn’t look a little like Elliot, no one would believe you’re a Bennett family members
Elliot had been standing right there at the time, yet he hadn’t stopped Jeffrey’s mockery. He had merely exhaled ant ambiguous breath, Back then, what hurt the most wasn’t Jeffrey’s deliberate hostility; it was Elliot’s indifference.
She had been only fifteen, she had finally found her family, yet when someone bullied her, not a single person had stood up for her. At that moment, she had felt like a stray dog. So pathetic!
Jeffrey passed by without noticing her in the shadows. Lauren followed him with her eyes until he entered the Bennett Residence. She realized, then, that he was probably here to treat Elliot. Emerging from the darkness, Lauren quickened her pace. Her original plan was to find a motel for the night and search for a job in the morning. Now, she changed her mind. / had to leave Hoverdale.
She had overheard the conversation in the study room earlier. David clearly intended to follow Kenneth’s demand, to make her kneel at Elaine’s hospital bed and beg for forgiveness.
But why should I do this?
David and Alice both knew that Elaine had been pushed down the stairs by Willow, Yet, they still insisted that she take the fall. She had once longed for parental love, and for that, she had paid the price of five years in prison, a broken leg, partial deafness, and the loss of a kidney. Her body had already been battered beyond repair. Now, they wanted her to clean up Elliot’s mess. To protect Bennett Corporation, Lauren was sure the Bennett family would come looking for her again.
She hated hem, but more than that, she feared Kenneth. She had experienced his cruelty firsthand in prison. That was the darkest chapter of her life. She never wanted to go through that again; her body wouldn’t survive it. I needed to escape: I had to
Jeane Hoverdale dicennaar in a slave suhere theu mould meer And nur
1/2
Chapter 13 Leaving the Bennetts Family, I’m Moving to Garrison City
She counted the 300 dollars in her hand, all of it from Marilyn. Thinking of Marilyn made her eyes misty.
Would I ever get the chance to repay her?
Standing by the roadside, she waited a long time before finally flagging down a taxi
“Where to?” the driver asked, rolling down the window.
“How much for the South City train station?”
at
Finished
“You leaving Hoverdale? In the daytime, it’d be around 40 dollars, but this late at night, it’ll cost you 70 dollars. Can you manage that?”
Without hesitation, Lauren got in. She already had a plan–get out of Hoverdale as soon as possible. Once she reached South City’s train station, she’d catch a train north to Garrison City. Word was, houses there were the cheapest in the country–just a few thousand bucks for a whole place. It was the perfect spot for someone like her.
As long as she avoided big cities and crowded places, as long as she tucked herself away in a remote, freezing, resource- depleted town like Garrison City, the Bennetts family would never find her. Imagining a peaceful, laid–back life there, a sliver. Jof hope flickered in her ice–cold heart. Leaning against the car window, she gazed at the dazzling city lights of Hoverdale’s
center.
Towering skyscrapers lined the streets, their facades adorned with neon lights, some flashing high–end brand logos, others. displaying stunning advertisements, painting the city in vibrant colors. The warm yellow glow of the streetlights softened her features. Traffic was sparse at this hour. The taxi sped down the road.
Two hours later, she arrived at South City train station. Lauren took out her ID and bought a ticket. She was lucky; there was still a ticket available for the one o’clock morning train.
She only had to wait one more hour before she could leave and go to Garrison City. The waiting area was nearly empty at this time of night. She found a quiet corner and sat down to rest. Half–asleep, she vaguely heard an announcement over the station speakers.
She was exhausted. Her right ear was damaged, so she didn’t catch the words clearly. Five minutes later, another announcement rang out
[Attention passengers! Train 205 from South City to Garrison City is now boarding. Please have your tickets and belongings ready and proceed to the designated gate for check–in.
Lauren jolted awake, eyes snapping open. She quickly looked toward the gate; passengers were already lining up for boarding. Excitement surged within her.
Once I step onto that train, the Bennetts family will never find me again
She wasted no time, getting up and heading straight to the boarding line. Step by step, she followed the queue. When it was her turn, she handed her ticket to the attendant.
Just as the attendant was about to take it, a large hand suddenly reached out, gripping her wrist and the ticket tightly. Lauren turned around sharply, her pupils constricting in shock.
Send Gifts
