Chapter 137 - Reality Check.

The Search Zone

The night was heavy, with an eerie silence hanging over the deserted industrial area where Blaze and his team had arrived. This was one of the spots flagged by his tech crew—an old, rundown factory that Rodriguez was said to have used before. The air smelled of rust and rot, and every sound echoed weirdly in the empty hallways.

Blaze got out of the armored SUV, with Arthur and five other operatives at his side. Everyone was armed, their faces tight with concentration. Blaze's sharp eyes swept the place, taking in the broken windows, the graffiti-covered walls, and the distant hum of machinery deep inside.

"Third site today," Arthur said under his breath, holding a flashlight and a map. "The other two were dead ends. Let's hope this one isn't."

Blaze didn't respond. His jaw was clenched, his mind racing. The longer Savannah was missing, the gloomier his thoughts got. He tried not to think about the worst, but the fear nagging at the back of his mind wouldn't let him be.

Entering the Factory

The team moved in silence, their boots crunching on the gravel. Blaze was up front; even in the dim light, he looked imposing. He had a weapon at his side, holding it steady.

"Spread out," he said. His voice was calm but firm, leaving no room for argument. "Check every corner, every hidden passage. She could be anywhere."

They split into pairs, each taking a different part of the factory. Blaze and Arthur headed toward what looked like an office area—an elevated section of the factory floor accessible by a rusty staircase.

The Office Search

The office was a mess of overturned. Furniture and scattered papers filled the room. Blaze's eyes darted around, searching for anything that might hint at Savannah, looking for any sign of Savannah. He saw a broken chair, a half-empty water bottle, and a tiny smear of blood on the desk corner.

Arthur spotted it too. "Boss," he said, pointing at the stain.

Blaze knelt down on one knee, his hand hovering over the dried blood. His heart tightened, but he tried to stay calm. "Bag it," he said, his voice tight. "Get it analyzed. Now."

Arthur nodded and quickly called for a forensic kit from one of the operatives outside.

The Factory Floor

Meanwhile, the other pairs scoured the huge, dim factory floor. Rusty machines loomed like abandoned guards, and the distant drip of water echoed strangely.

"Clear," one of the operatives said over the comms.

"Same here," another added.

Blaze's frustration mounted with each report. He stepped out of the office, his face turning grim.

"Keep searching," he barked. "This place isn't clean yet."

A Faint Lead

One of the operatives waved from the other side of the factory. Blaze and Arthur hurried over and found a hidden door tucked behind a pile of old crates.

"Found this." the operative said, pointing to a keypad next to the door.

Blaze inspected. "Must be Rodriguez's doing," he grumbled. "Can you crack it?"

Arthur pulled out a little gadget from his kit. "Let me give it a shot."

While Arthur fiddled with the keypad, Blaze got antsy. He started tapping his gun, the sound bouncing off the walls.

"Got it," Arthur said at last. The keypad beeped, and the door clicked open.

Blaze pushed the door open, revealing a narrow staircase leading down into darkness.

Savannah's Side

Savannah squinted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to hear your lies."

Rodriguez laughed, shaking his head. "Lies? Oh, Savannah, you really don't get it. That's the problem, you don't know the man you married."

Savannah straightened slightly, summoning strength she didn't know she still had. "You don't know him either," she shot back. "Whatever beef you have, it's built on your own failures."

For a second, his smile wavered, turning into a flash of anger. "Oh, I know him," he said icily. "Far better than you do. And I know what he's capable of and what he's done."

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a secretive whisper. "Did he ever tell you how he built his empire, Savannah? Did he share the story of his first big break-the one that set him on the path to glory?"

Savannah didn't say anything, but her silence was enough for Rodriguez to keep going.

"It wasn't talent or hard work that got him there," he sneered. "It was all about betrayal and manipulation.He orchestrated the downfall of his closest ally-a man who trusted him, who helped him start it all. That man lost everything because of Blaze's greed."

Savannah's breath caught in her throat, but she quickly hid her reaction. "You're lying," she said, her voice a bit shaky.

Rodriguez grinned, picking up on her doubt. "Really am I? Let me guess, he told you he came from nothing, built everything from scratch with his own two hands? The self-made man? It's a nice story, Savannah, but it's just a fairy tale."

He leaned back, his voice getting darker. "The truth is, he's left a trail of ruined lives—business partners, employees, anyone who got in his way. And then there's Veronica."

Hearing her name, Savannah winced, her jaw clenching tighter.

"Ah, now we're getting somewhere," Rodriguez said, sounding almost excited. "You remember her, right? The woman who tried to befriend you and get close enough to show you who your husband really is. What did Blaze do? He ignored her, he played her. And when she got too close, he got rid of her."

Savannah's stomach churned. The Veronica she remembered was unstable and obsessed, but now doubts started creeping in. Could there have been more to Veronica's story?

Rodriguez leaned forward again, his voice soft but sharp. "He killed her, Savannah. With his own hands, he pushed her to it. He broke her spirit and left her with nothing, just like he did to me."

Savannah's head spun. The room felt like it was closing in as his words sank in. Could Blaze—the man she loved and trusted—really be capable of such things?

"Stop," she said, her voice breaking.

Rodriguez's smile got bigger. "Stop? Why? Is it too much for you to handle? Or is it because you know I'm right?"

Savannah shook her head, tears starting to form in her eyes. "You're just trying to turn me against him," she said, but her voice didn't sound very sure.

"Turn you against him?" Rodriguez laughed sarcastically. "No, Savannah. I'm giving you the truth—the truth he's kept hidden from you all this time. And do you know why he hides it? Because he knows he's nothing without you. You're his shield, his excuse to act like he's a good guy. But he's not. He's a monster."

Savannah felt her chest tighten. The weight of Rodriguez's words felt like it could crush her. She wanted to scream and deny everything, but the words were stuck in her throat. Memories of Blaze flashed through her mind—his charm, his strength, his constant support. Could it all have been fake?

Rodriguez saw the turmoil on her face and pushed harder. "He'll come for you," he said. "I'm counting on it. But when he does, you'll see the real Blaze Baldwin. And when you do, you'll understand why he has to pay."

Savannah's tears rolled down, but she gritted her teeth, refusing to let Rodriguez see her break completely. "You're wrong," she said softly, even though her doubt was clear.

Rodriguez rose up, looming over her. "We'll see," he said, sounding pretty sure of himself. "But don't worry, Savannah. I'll be here to clean up when your perfect world falls apart."

He turned and walked towards door, leaving Savannah alone with her thoughts. The sound of the lock clicking echoed in her ears as she sat there in the dark, her heart racing.

She didn't want to believe him. She couldn't. But the seed of doubt had been planted, and it was growing rapidly, threatening to consume her.

Author's Note

Thankyou for reading<3

Have a good day/night y'all<3<3