Chapter 131
Edward followed in Jack's footsteps, arriving early, going to the school, chopping wood and lighting the fire, then making his rounds and helping anyone who needed it.
Elizabeth Delayne, those days were not very good, she was visited by her daughter and Abigail, but she said she didn't feel well, a bad feeling.
Charlote preferred to stay at home, Jack was on a mission, Tom was traveling with Henry, her daughter was very busy with her mother and school, Bill was away, and she was missing her husband terribly...
She smiled, thinking, "Months ago, I would never have believed it if someone had told me I'd be here missing my husband at home..."
Elizabeth Thorton hadn't been feeling well for days, so she decided to go to the infirmary to visit Carson. She reported everything and said that it could be stress from everything she'd been through with her family and then that arrest.
Dr. Carson agreed with her, not least because she had starved herself and lost a lot of weight, but she asked to lie down and asked some personal questions;
The doctor, attentive and experienced, asked detailed questions, noticing Elizabeth's embarrassed expression. Kindly, he clarified that there was no reason to be embarrassed in his presence.
- Elizabeth, as your doctor, I'm here to look after you in every way. There's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm here to answer all your concerns and make sure you receive the best possible care, said Dr. Carson, offering a reassuring smile.
Confident in the doctor's skill and understanding, Elizabeth shared all her symptoms and anxieties, her aversion to the smell of coffee getting worse every day. Dr. Carson, conducted the examination carefully, his experience bringing comfort to his patient. Elizabeth, at once apprehensive and hopeful, awaited the doctor's words.
At the end of the examination, Dr. Carson smiled at Elizabeth, delivering news that filled her heart with emotion.
- Elizabeth, congratulations! You're more than three months pregnant.
The news fell on Elizabeth like a soft melody, filling her with a mixture of feelings. The surprised look on her face turned into tears of joy as Dr. Carson hugged her affectionately.
- You are about to embark on an incredible journey of motherhood, Elizabeth. This is a special moment and one worth celebrating, the doctor said sincerely.
She left the ward and headed home, carrying with her the confirmation of the life that was growing inside her, she was going to keep it a secret and she knew that Carson wouldn't talk to anyone either, as she had asked him to. The first person to know about this pregnancy was the child's father, her handsome husband Jack Thorton.
The next morning, as she was leaving, Malyn and Edward were at her door. Edward didn't want to leave his girlfriend alone during these periods of her pregnancy, so she stayed at school with Elizabeth until he returned from his rounds.
Malyn didn't want to worry anyone, so she didn't tell him that she'd been feeling twinges and cramps in her stomach for days. But she was very happy to stay at the school, it was exciting to see Elizabeth teaching the children.
He dropped them both off at the school gate and hurried back to do his morning rounds.
Elizabeth always arrived at the school an hour before the children, so that the fire could be lit and the place warmed up for her pupils.
The morning chill still hung in the air when Elizabeth and Malyn heard a frightening voice echoing from behind the door.
- I've come for you, Elizabeth...
The voice of Charles Kensigton III, a sinister presence from their past, sent shivers down both women's spines. They cowered in the corner of the room, dread painting their faces.
Charles entered the room with a cruel smile, his eyes fixed on Malyn. At the sight of her protruding belly, he remembered the dark moment when he had hurt her months ago.
A malicious laugh escaped his lips as he proclaimed his possession.
- Ah, Malyn! I see I've made my mark. A bastard is growing in there. How charming, sneered Charles, his voice full of malice..., but you two won't have the luxury of seeing it happen. I'll make sure your hopes of this little monster being born are extinguished before I leave with my wife. And he looked at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth, despite the fear that enveloped her, stood up courageously, instinctively protecting Malyn.
- Charles, don't do this. There's no reason to hurt them. Leave us alone.
Charles laughed, a sound that echoed with disturbing coldness.
- Ah, Elizabeth... the past never dies. I've come to settle the score since she's here, I'll resolve this problem, but I've come for what's rightfully mine... you.
Charles' attack set off a whirlwind of events, prompting Elizabeth to throw herself at him, desperate to protect Malyn. Pushed violently, Elizabeth saw the man who had once been her childhood friend launch himself at Malyn with aggression.
The punches came down mercilessly, he was hitting Malyn with a horrible fury, but Elizabeth's resolve did not waver. With an audacious leap, she threw herself on Charles, trying to create a human barrier between him and Malyn. With one last push, Malyn managed to pull away, and Elizabeth, despite being caught, shouted for her to run.
- Run, Malyn! Run! These were Elizabeth's last words before Charles, furious, tried to grab the escaping girl.
Malyn ran out of the school, disappearing down the stairs, while Charles struggled with the momentary loss of his target. Elizabeth defiantly stood in front of him, willing to do anything to protect her friend.
The threat of a revolver hung in the air, and a desperate Elizabeth made a bold decision.
- Let her go, Charles. I'll go with you, just leave Malyn alone.
A cruel laugh echoed through the room, and Charles agreed, pulling Elizabeth's hands towards the car. Tying her wrists, he left her helpless as he got into the vehicle.
The car began to pull away, taking Elizabeth to an uncertain destination.
Elizabeth's mind spun in search of a solution, while fear and uncertainty embraced her.
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...
The day was hot, and Jack, confused and restless, was discovering the truth in the town he had been sent to. There was no mission, no one had called the mounties. The disturbing revelation shrouded him in a veil of uncertainty, questioning the reasons behind this deception.
With perplexity marking his face, Jack acted quickly. He sent an urgent telegram to Collins, his superiors, explaining the situation and alerting them to the possible fraud involving them. Every word he typed carried the urgency and seriousness of the misunderstanding that was unfolding.
Another telegram was sent to Bill in Hope Vale. Jack instinctively searched for connections and support in the face of the confusion.
- Bill, something's wrong. The mission doesn't exist. Stay alert and protect the town. I need answers urgently.
The metallic sound of the telegram resounded, echoing the urgency and tension that now defined Jack's journey. As the morning wore on, the truth spread like shadows, revealing that something sinister was at play.
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...
Meanwhile, on the side road, just around the bend from Agony, the breeze stirred that morning and rustled the leaves of the trees, while Frankison drove on alone. A shiver ran down his spine, a familiar foreboding he only experienced when something was wrong with his sister. He tried to ignore the sensation by insisting on following the original route, but the heaviness in his heart spoke louder.
The pain in his chest grew as the distance between him and Hope Valle increased. Brotherly loyalty spoke louder, and with a sudden decision, Frankison turned his horse around, heading back towards the town that represented his home and his sister's safety.
The road unfolded in front of him, the horse's hooves beating in unison with Frankison's accelerated heartbeat.
As he rode towards the town, Frankison knew that his decision wasn't just based on chills and forebodings.
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...
In Cap Fullerp, Wynn had just arrived at the battalion with the expectation of completing a mission and returning to his family, but reality proved different. He hadn't been drafted, no mission awaited him. Perplexity overtook him when he discovered that his retirement was already underway and that it all looked like a set-up, possibly to get him away from Hope Valle.
Determined to clear up the mystery, Wynn sought out General Patrick. The worried expressions on both their faces gave away the seriousness of the situation.
- General, something is wrong. This could be a trap to get me and Frankison and Jack out of Hope Vale. In a matter of hours, we've all been taken out of there. Wynn said, his voice laced with urgency.
Patrick was a loyal ally, they had known each other for years and had worked on several cases together, he shared Wynn's unease and they both decided to return to Hope Vale immediately. They rode together, their minds absorbed by the possible implications of this disconcerting situation.
While still in the city, they sent a telegram to Bill warning him of the suspicion and that the mission was not legitimate.
The landscape unfolded before them, and the fate of Hope Vale became increasingly uncertain. Wynn and Patrick's hasty return was imbued with a deeper mission; something was happening and Wynn's instincts were screaming, he felt a cold shiver run down his spine, it felt like they were tearing at his heart, like something was piercing his soul.
