Chapter 133 - "Unraveling the truth"

Five torturous days. Each stretched longer than the one before. Savannah crouched in the corner of the tiny, ice-cold room, the harsh concrete floor cutting into her skin. The blackness never ended, a suffocating blanket that made her feel even more hopeless. She couldn't tell time except for the one meal that came through the door each day. It kept her from starving but didn't give her any real energy.

She still thought about her try to get out through the rusty stuck window. She'd used everything she could-her nails, her shoes even a loose piece of metal she'd discovered-but the old frame didn't budge. Her fingers still hurt and bled from all that work. The person who set this up had thought of everything. There was no way out.

In the heavy quiet, she couldn't stop thinking about Blaze. She wondered if he looked for her. She felt sure he did. When she imagined how worried and desperate he must be, she started to cry. She almost heard him calling her name. The love they shared was her anchor, but doubt crept in during the long, sleepless hours. What if he couldn't find her? What if no one did?

The creak of the opening door broke the quiet snapping her back to reality. Light crept into the room making her eyes narrow. Her heart raced as her kidnapper stepped out of the darkness. He looked taller now, his shape looming in the low light. This time, someone else came with him.

Another man walked in with a wooden chair. He set it down near Savannah in a careful way then slipped back into the shadows without speaking. The man who abduct her sat down, his dark eyes shining with an eerie joy.

"I hope you're not too uncomfortable, Mrs. Baldwin," he said in an calm voice.

Savannah's voice broke as she answered, her throat dry from talking for days. "What do you want?"

He leaned in a bit, his mouth curving into a hungry smile. "Desperation. The downfall of your husband."

His words felt as icy as the room surrounding her. Savannah frowned puzzled. "What do you mean?"

The man let out a sinister laugh. "Judging by that look on your face, you really don't know, do you? Blaze isn't who you think he is."

Her tiredness made it tough to grasp his mysterious statements, but a spark of rebellion ignited inside her. "If you're here to play games, save your breath," she spat, her voice sharper than she felt.

The man's grin grew. "Ah, that fire. You're truly his wife. I see the resemblance in more ways than one."

Savannah gazed at him trying to pinpoint why he seemed familiar. Something about him nagged at her memory, but her exhaustion made it hard to make the connection. "Do I know you?" she asked, her tone full of irritation.

"Do you remember Veronica?" he asked, his voice dripping with mocking.

The name hit her like a jolt. Veronica. That obsessive, erratic woman who had tried to infiltrate her life, claiming to be a friend. Savannah's stomach churned. "That weird woman?" she blurted out before she could stop herself.

The man's smile suddenly grew sinister. "Yes, her. I'm her—as you might have guessed-husband, Rodriguez."

Like a freight train, the revelation hit her. She remembered him now-a fleeting, uncomfortable meeting years ago when Veronica had introduced them. "What do you want from me?" Savannah demanded, her voice trembling with both fear and anger. "Let me go, or I'll-"

"Tell on Veronica?" Rodriguez interrupted, laughing darkly. "You won't get the chance."

Her blood ran cold. The finality in that tone had made her stomach drop completely.

"She's dead," he said matter-of-factly, never breaking eye contact.

The words echoed in the room, leaving Savannah stunned. Her throat tightened, and she voice came out as a whisper, "W-what?"

Rodriguez leaned back in his chair, enjoying the reaction. "Yeah, your so-called 'friend' is gone. And you had no clue. Guess that makes you a pretty lousy friend, huh?"

Savannah's mind was spinning. She couldn't wrap her head around what he was saying. Veronica... dead? "How... how did she die?" she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

Rodriguez's smirk faded, and his expression darken. "You'll find out soon enough," he said, his voice threatening. "But first, let's talk about Blaze."

Her heart sank. The air in the room felt thick, like it was crushing her.

"What about Blaze?" she asked, her voice shaking.

Rodriguez's smile came back, but it was colder this time. "Your perfect husband, the guy who has everyone fooled. He's been hiding things from you, sweetheart. Things you wouldn't believe."

Savannah shook her head, her voice rising. "You're lyi-"

Rodriguez slammed his hand on the arm of the chair, silencing her. "You think you know him? You don't. But don't worry—I'm here to open your eyes."

Savannah stared at him, her mind spinning with questions and fear. Whatever Rodriguez had in mind, it wasn't over yet. She had a feeling this would change everything.

The dimly lit room grew even darker as she stared at Rodriguez. Her mind was reeling from what he'd just said. Her body was already weak from the cold and lack of food, and now her spirit was falted too. She searched his face for any hint of lies, hoping this was just another twisted trick.

"You're lying I know," Savannah managed, her voice rough but strong.

Rodriguez leaned forward in the chair, the smirk on his face widening. "I knew you'd say that again," he said, his voice full of sarcasm. "But why would I lie? What could I possibly gain from that? No, Savannah, this is the truth. Your precious husband is a murderer."

Savannah's hands balled into weak fists, her nails digging into her palms as she struggled to hold back tears. "I don't believe you," she whispered, her voice shaking but firm. "Blaze... he would never—"

"Would never what?" Rodriguez interrupted, leaning more forward, his elbows on his knees. "Would never kill someone? Oh, sweetie, you have no idea who you married. Blaze Baldwin is not the guy you think he is."

Savannah's mind raced as she remembered her time with Blaze. She thought about his gentle moments, how he cared for her, and how he made her feel safe. Could it all have been an act? Doubt started to creep in, even though she tried to push it away.

"I don't believe you," she repeated, though her voice was quieter now.

Rodriguez sighed, as if disappointed. "You're loyal, I'll give you that. But loyalty won't save you, Savannah. You see, Veronica was my world. And your husband-" he spat the word like venom -"took her from me. He thought he could bury the truth, but I've been digging it up piece by piece."

Savannah's eyes narrowed, her exhaustion replaced by anger. "Veronica was a manipulative, obsessive woman," she said sharply. "She was dangerous, and if Blaze had to protect himself from her, then maybe—"

Rodriguez clenched his fist on the arm of the chair, cutting her off mid-sentence. "You think you know everything again Mrs. Baldwin, don't you?" he hissed. "You think you understand the lengths your husband will go to? You don't. Veronica wasn't the only one he silenced."

Savannah felt her heart drop. "What do you mean?"

Rodriguez grinned, leaning back as if enjoying her distress. "You'll figure it out soon enough," he said mysteriously. "For now, just sit there and think about the guy you've tied your life to. The one you trust with everything."

He got up suddenly and signaled to the guy behind him. "Keep her alive," Rodriguez instructed. "But make sure she's not too comfy. I want Blaze to feel her absence in every breath he takes."

The door slammed shut, leaving Savannah alone in the dark. Her mind raced as she tried to process what Rodriguez had said.

Could Blaze really be hiding something from her? Something this dark?

Or was this all just a cruel game to break her?

Author's Note :

Thankyou for reading<3

Have a good day/night <3<3