SWNOVELS Chapter 24
Chapter 24
“What are you standing there for? Come with me.”
At the sound of the woman’s voice, Joana’s fear and anxiety miraculously settled. She turned her head, and under the hazy moonlight, the eyes of the girl before her remained clear and bright.
Karla took the lead, and after a brief hesitation of less than two seconds, Joana quickly followed. Karla knew Joana was staring at her, but Karla was in no mood for chitchat. After bringing Joana to the spot Nicholas had arranged in his note, Karla finally spoke, “Wait here. Nicholas’s wheels will be here any minute.”
“Who are you? Why are you helping me?” Joana asked urgently.
Karla frowned at her, not out of a desire to be unpleasant, but simply because a smile was impossible for her right now.
From Rowan’s perspective, this woman was truly heartless. Karla knew people were selfish, and it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, selfishness could be good. The catch was, it shouldn’t harm others. If Joana had shown even a shred of concern for Rowan, Karla would not have been so cold. Sadly, Joana did not.
“Who I am doesn’t matter. Besides, I’m not helping you,” Karla said with an icy tone. “Someone wishes you to be free, I’m just fulfilling that wish for him.”
Joana’s expression turned awkward. She might have guessed, but she said nothing.
Shaking her head, Karla turned and walked away without looking back. When she returned to the room, Karla saw that Rowan had awakened at some point and was sitting on the bed, his slender frame exuding loneliness. He looked up when she entered.
Karla paused, for a moment imagining a grown–up Rowan.
“Is she gone?” he asked.
Karla nodded, “Yeah, she’s gone.”
A silent exchange followed. Rowan didn’t ask any more questions and laid back down, but Karla knew he wasn’t asleep.
Without any drowsiness herself, Karla slumped on the couch, propping her chin in her hand, her thoughts a tangled mess. She couldn’t shake this nagging premonition of unease. It felt like Joana wouldn’t make her escape that easily.
As she drifted off into a restless sleep, a commotion outside jolted her awake. Rowan stirred too, sitting up in bed with a panicked look at Karla.
Karla’s heart skipped a beat. Her first thought was that Joana hadn’t managed to escape and had been recaptured by Landon. And sure enough, Burk’s arrival confirmed their
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Chapter 24
fears; Joana had been brought back by Landon.
“It doesn’t make sense. How could he have known?” Karla wondered aloud, baffled at Landon’s untimely return when he should have been oblivious to Joana’s escape plans.
Suddenly, Rowan pieced something together, his voice tinged with panic, “Was it that day?”
“What day? What did you remember?” Karla pressed him urgently.
Rowan turned pale, “At the party… he knew I had met with Nicholas.”
“What are you saying!” Karla gasped, the pieces falling into place. If she had known Landon was aware that Nicholas had been in contact with Rowan, she never would have allowed Joana to leave. But now was not the time for regrets.
Rowan, thinking he was at fault for Joana’s failed escape, lamented, “It’s all my fault…”
“Stop! It’s got nothing to do with you. Don’t you dare think like that.” Karla walked over and knocked on his head.
Rowan looked at her with teary eyes, “Are you sure it’s not my fault?”
“Of course, it isn’t. Don’t you trust me?” Karla said firmly.
Rowan stopped blaming himself, but his expression remained grim.
Karla was fraught with concern. Judging by Joana’s past failed attempts to flee, she feared this time would be no different.
No, this couldn’t happen!
Karla clenched her fists, her resolve hardening. She couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.
However, before she could act, the sound of an ambulance pierced the air. In that moment, Karla’s heart sank. The ambulance meant that Joana was in mortal danger.