One Wild Night

Chapter 923  Living Hell

As they drove away from the decrepit asylum, Mia clutched her trembling hands in her lap, her mind replaying the harrowing events over and over.

The adrenaline that had kept her composed now drained away, leaving her feeling raw. The realization of how close she had come to being locked up here for life had Tom and Harry not been a step ahead of Henry overwhelmed her, and she broke into uncontrollable sobs.

The man driving the car, who had introduced himself as Barry, glanced at her through the rearview mirror with a look of understanding and sympathy.

"You're safe now," he said gently, his voice a soothing balm to her frayed nerves. "We'll get you home."

Mia could only nod, her sobs making it impossible to form words. The ride seemed to stretch on forever, but eventually, familiar landmarks began to appear, signaling that they were nearing her neighborhood. The sense of relief that washed over her was almost too much to bear.

When the car finally pulled up in front of her house, Mia took a deep, shaky breath, trying to compose herself.

As soon as the car door opened, her mother, Maria, rushed out, her face a mixture of worry and relief.

"Nessa!" She cried, enveloping her daughter in a tight embrace the moment she stepped out of the car. "Oh, thank God you're safe."

Mia clung to her mother, her body shaking with the force of her sobs. "Mom," she managed to choke out, her voice breaking.

Her mother stroked her hair, whispering soothing words. "It's okay, sweetheart. You're home now. You're safe."

Mia's father, Robert, appeared at the door, his expression grave. "What happened? Where did he take you?" he asked, his voice tense with concern.

Mia couldn't answer. The words were trapped in her throat, suffocated by her tears. She shook her head, her sobs intensifying.

"Let's get you inside," Maria said softly, guiding Mia toward the house. "You need to rest."

They led her to her bedroom, the familiar surroundings offering a small measure of comfort. Maria helped her out of her shoes and gently tucked her into bed. "Just rest, honey," she said, brushing a strand of hair from Mia's face. "We'll talk later."

Mia nodded weakly, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. As Maria left the room, closing the door softly behind her, Mia finally allowed herself to close her eyes, the weight of the day pulling her into a restless sleep.

Robert paced the living room, his mind racing with questions and worries. His wife just joined him when Barry knocked on the door, reminding them that Mia had not returned alone and she had been dropped off.

Immediately, Robert opened the door, "I'm so sorry I didn't think to thank you. Thank you for bringing my daughter home. If you don't mind me asking, who are you? And how did you find her?" Robert asked, assuming that he had rescued Mia from Henry.

After he got home earlier and his wife told him that Henry had taken Mia back to his house, they had hurried over to Henry's place but had met only Diana, who told them Henry had not been home since the previous day.

"I'm Barry. I have to leave in a moment, so listen carefully," Barry said urgently. "You're going to receive a call for an interview soon. It's important that you accept it."

"An interview?" Robert asked, confused. "About what?"

"About your daughter's mental state," Barry replied. "It's crucial that you take this opportunity to set the record straight and expose Henry's true nature."

Robert's heart pounded in his chest. "I understand. I'll do it."

"Good," Barry said and as he turned to leave, Mia's mother stopped him.

"Where did you find her? Where did that monster take her? Why is she not saying anything?"

Barry sighed, "I think she is in the best position to answer your questions."

"Are you the one who sent me those documents two weeks ago? The proof of Henry's deeds?" Robert asked and Barry nodded.

"Yes, I did. I have to leave now," Barry said with a polite nod before walking away.

As soon as he drove off, Robert's phone rang. He took a deep breath and answered when he saw it was an unfamiliar number. "Hello?"

"Mr. Lawson," a professional-sounding voice said. "This is Amelia Hayes from the Daily Tribune. We'd like to interview you regarding your daughter's recent ordeal and her mental health. Would you be available to speak with us?"

Robert's grip tightened on the phone. "Yes, I would. When would you like to schedule the interview?"

"We can conduct the interview over the phone right now if that's convenient for you," Amelia suggested.

Robert glanced down the hallway that led to Mia's bedroom, then nodded to himself. "Yes, now is fine."

"Thank you, Mr. Lawson," Amelia said, her tone professional but empathetic. "First, let me say that we're all very concerned about your daughter's well-being. Can you tell us what happened happened?"

Robert took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Yes. I will tell you everything."

Amelia paused for a moment, her voice becoming more serious. "Mr. Lawson, can you tell us about your daughter's mental state?"

Robert's jaw tightened. "Vanessa is not mentally ill. She is perfectly fine. Henry has been using these allegations to control and manipulate her. He's a dangerous man, and he needs to be stopped."

"But you also stated that she wasn't…"

"I lied. I'm ashamed of myself as her father. I lied because I didn't want to go against Henry. But now I do not care. My daughter's life and happiness are more important to me than anything else, so I'm going to say the truth," Robert said, his voice firm.

"I want people to understand that Vanessa is a victim of abuse. She's been through a lot, but she's strong, and we're doing everything we can to support her now. She didn't lose her memory. She ran away from him because of all he did to her but he managed to find her and bring her back. No one should have to go through what Vanessa has endured. I'm glad she has signed the divorce papers now and is home with us."

"Thank you, Mr. Lawson," Amelia said. "We'll make sure your message is heard."

As Robert ended the call, he felt a mix of relief and determination. He knew the interview was just the first step in a long battle to protect his daughter and hold Henry accountable. But for now, he was grateful that she was home and safe.

Away from there, Diana paced around her room, her mind a whirlwind of anxiety and determination.

The events of the past two weeks had left her deeply unsettled and now she couldn't shake the gnawing worry about where Henry might have taken Vanessa.

Henry's erratic behavior and sinister intentions had escalated beyond her control, and waiting for her anonymous ally to take action seemed increasingly futile.

The clock on the wall ticked relentlessly, each second amplifying her impatience. She had to do something before he returned. She had to make her move now.

Diana's resolve solidified. She couldn't afford to wait any longer. She walked to her closet, pushing aside a row of hanging clothes to reveal a hidden compartment she had made for herself.

Inside, she had meticulously prepared everything she would need for this moment: documents, evidence, and a small bag containing a syringe and a vial of clear liquid.

As she reached for the bag, her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Startled, she picked it up and her heart skipped a beat as she received the call when she saw it was from her anonymous ally.

"Hello?" she said, her voice a mix of urgency and hope.

"It's done," Barry said, his tone calm and composed. "Henry has been delivered to you. You're free to do with him as you please."

Diana's breath caught in her throat. "Where is he?"

"I've sent you the location. Check your messages," Barry replied. "Be careful, Diana. This is your chance to end this."

"Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She ended the call and quickly opened the message. The address of the asylum appeared on her screen.

Picking up her bag, she headed for the door, but before she could get to the door, the doorbell rang.

Diana froze, her mind racing. She hurried to the door and opened it to find Henry's lawyer standing there, a briefcase in hand and an air of impatience about him.

"Diana," he said with a curt nod. "I'm here to meet with Henry. He asked me to come over to pick up his divorce papers."

Diana's heart pounded. "When did he tell you this?" Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"In the morning," the lawyer replied, his gaze scrutinizing her.

She forced a calm smile. "Of course, come in. I will get the papers."

Leaving the lawyer in the foyer, Diana made her way to Henry's study. She rifled through the neatly organized desk until she found the envelope containing the divorce papers. Her hands trembled slightly as she took it back to the lawyer.

"Here you go," she said, handing him the envelope.

The lawyer glanced at her with suspicion. "Where is Henry? I need his signature on a few more documents."

Diana's mind raced for an explanation. "He hasn't returned home yet. I'm not sure where he is. But you can leave the documents. I'm sure he will sign them when he gets back."

The lawyer frowned but nodded. "I will take these for now. Thank you."

As soon as the lawyer left, Diana grabbed her bag and headed to her car. She drove through the dark streets, her mind a maelstrom of thoughts and emotions. The drive to the asylum felt interminable, each passing second fueling her determination.

When she finally arrived, the eerie silence of the place sent a shiver down her spine. She parked her car and walked briskly to the building, her resolve unwavering. The air inside was cold and oppressive, the remnants of its dark history palpable.

Following Barry's instructions, she made her way to the secluded room deep within the asylum. There, lying on a narrow bed, was Henry, unconscious and restrained and very much alone.

A mixture of relief and anger surged through her. She approached him cautiously, her eyes narrowing as she studied his motionless form.

Instead of waking him, Diana opened her bag and took out the syringe and vial. With steady hands, she drew the liquid into the syringe and approached Henry. Her heart pounded in her chest, but her resolve remained firm.

She injected the liquid into his arm and sat down to wait for the substance to take effect and for Henry to wake up.

Diana didn't have to wait for very long before his eyes fluttered open.

By the time Henry regained consciousness, he couldn't move. Panic flickered in his gaze as he realized his predicament, and his eyes widened in surprise when he saw Diana standing over him with a menacing smile curling her lips.

"Hello, Henry," she said, her voice dripping with cold satisfaction. "Welcome to your new reality."

Henry's eyes widened in fear, his body unresponsive to his desperate attempts to move. Diana leaned closer, her eyes blazing with a mixture of triumph and fury.

"Your life is about to become a living hell," she whispered, her words a chilling promise. "And I will make sure you suffer for every pain you've inflicted."

Henry's eyes darted around the room, his breathing rapid and shallow. He was completely at her mercy, and the realization of his helplessness sent a wave of terror through him.

"Do not bother attempting to move. You can neither move nor speak. I'm going to treat you like the animal you are. You have no idea how much I've waited for this day. How much I've longed to see you look so helpless," she said as she straightened up, her smile fading as she regarded him with cold detachment.

"This is just the beginning, Henry. I will make sure you pay for everything you've done. And I will destroy all you've worked so hard to build."

Leaving him bound and paralyzed, she walked out of the room, the echoes of her footsteps reverberating through the silent corridors.

She felt a sense of grim satisfaction knowing that she had taken control, and Henry would never be able to harm anyone again.

Instead of going back to the house, she drove to Mia's home to see if she had gotten home now and if she was alright.