Chapter 251
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Chapter 251:
The officer glanced at the plastic bag on the side table. “Hotel security provided us with your emergency contacts. We’ve been trying to reach a Mr. Collins, but his phone has been going straight to voicemail p>
Jocelyn looked around the empty room. No Gaston.
He doesn’t know, she thought, a fresh wave of despair washing over her. Or maybe he’s still angry and turned his phone off.
She felt small. Vulnerable. The mask of the confident, independent woman she wore so tightly had cracked. She wasn’t ready to face his I told you so — not when she felt this broken.
“Can I make a call?” she asked.
The officer handed her the phone.
She hesitated, unable to bear the thought of leaving him a panicked voicemail.
𝗔𝖽𝗱𝗂c𝗍𝗶𝘃𝖾 𝗻ov𝘦𝘭ѕ 𝘰ո
She dialed Bella Douglas instead.
“Bella?” she whispered. “I’m in the hospital p>
Bella screamed on the other end. “I’m coming! Where are you p>
“St. Lenox. Don’t tell Kieran. Just come,” Jocelyn begged.
She hung up and lay back against the pillows. Her hand drifted to her neck.
The necklace was gone.
“Where is my necklace?” Panic spiked through her chest.
“Evidence bag. It’s safe,” the officer said, pointing to the plastic bag on the table.
Jocelyn stared at the diamonds through the clear plastic. They looked cold, sharp, and lonely.
She began to shiver — uncontrollably, helplessly. The shock settling in at last.
The door flew open.
It wasn’t Bella.
It was Gaston.
He looked as though he had run a marathon in a three-piece suit. His tie was crooked, his hair wild, his eyes wide and terrified — stripped entirely of their usual cool reserve.
“Jocelyn p>
His voice broke on her name.
Gaston didn’t walk to the bed. He ran.
He ignored the police officer. He ignored the doctor. He grabbed Jocelyn’s hands, his grip desperate.
“Are you okay? Did he touch you?” he demanded, scanning her face, her arms.
“I’m okay,” she cried, tears finally spilling over. “I locked the door. He didn’t get in p>
Gaston pulled her into a crushing hug and buried his face in her neck. He was shaking. The powerful, untouchable Gaston Collins was trembling like a leaf.
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled into her hair. “I should have been there. I shouldn’t have fought with you. I should have fired him myself p>
“You were right,” Jocelyn sobbed into his shirt. “About him. You were right p>
“It doesn’t matter,” Gaston said, pulling back to cup her face in his hands. His eyes were dark, filled with a violence that was both terrifying and comforting all at once. “I’ll kill him. I will have him erased so completely his own mother won’t remember his name p>
The police officer cleared his throat. “Sir, threats are recorded p>
Gaston turned his head slowly. He fixed the officer with a stare of such intensity that the man took an involuntary step back.
“Do I look like I care?” Gaston snarled. “Get out p>
The officer, sensing he was well out of his depth, gave a small nod and slipped quietly from the room.
Gaston turned back to Jocelyn. He reached into his jacket and produced a folded file, his voice dropping to a lethal whisper.