The Day Love Betrayed Me and Never the Plan 128

Chapter 128 

When they looked up, they met two wary gazes. 

“It’s you?” Hammer said. 

The moment Hammer saw Linda and Chiara, he immediately remembered their last run–in. 

He’d had his eye on Chiara before, but Linda had fought tooth and nail to stop him, so he didn’t get his way. 

He’d been hung up on Chiara ever since. 

Even with Chiara’s face covered in grime, he recognised her in an instant. 

He cracked a wicked grin. 

“Well, well, look who’s still kicking,” Hammer sneered. 

“It’s you?” Chiara spat, glaring at them. 

She instinctively shrank back behind Linda, fear flickering in her eyes. 

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Hammer shoved his way into the tent and said, “Yeah, it’s me. But your mom doesn’t look nearly as tough as she did last time.” 

As he said this, he scanned Linda from head to toe with a predatory grin. 

“Let’s see if you can keep your daughter safe this time,” he sneered. 

The freezing winter outside was nothing compared to the chill in Linda and Chiara’s hearts. 

Last time, they’d only managed to escape Hammer thanks to a rush of desperation and reckless bravery. They never expected to run into him again. 

Linda thought, ‘Is fate really out to get us?‘ 

Hammer shot a look at his buddies, and they all exchanged knowing grins before heading out. 

“Hey, Hammer, when you’re done having your fun, how about letting the rest of us get in on the action?” one of the guys called out, his voice dripping with sleaze. 

He was lounging there, leering at Chiara with a look that made her skin crawl. 

HE thought, ‘If she just washed her face, she’d be a real beauty. 

“No, please, don’t do this!” Linda cried out, her voice shaking with terror. 

“My daughter is only seven! I’m begging you, she’s just a child. Take me instead, I’ll do anything you want. Just please, let my daughter go!” Linda pleaded, her voice cracking with desperation. 

Linda’s desperate pleas just got the thugs even more riled up. 

Hammer curled his tongue, spitting out bubbles in a way that was downright creepy and gross. 

He yanked Linda by the hair and smashed her head into the ground. 

Hammer snarled, “You filthy bitch, where’s all that badass act now? You really thought you could threaten me with a knife? Today. I’m gonna make sure you regret ever messing with me.” 

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Chapter 128 

Just remembering how Linda nearly cut him up with that knife last time made Hammer furious. 

“Get outta here! Don’t get in the way while I enjoy my time with this beauty,” he snapped at his crew. 

“You got it. We’ll clear out and let you enjoy your treat,” one of the guys said with a greasy grin. 

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The thugs, including the ugly one, all slipped out, even zipping up the tent behind them like they were doing Hammer a favour. 

Screams of pure agony rang out from inside the tent. 

Outside, the thugs were grinning with twisted satisfaction, looking like they’d just hit the jackpot. 

***** 

Lucian, the kind–hearted man who’d been working with Chiara, came back carefully, clutching three packs of cookies to his 

chest. 

He was surprised to see missing person posters had appeared along the road, though no one knew when they’d gone up. Powered humans were standing guard by each poster. Clearly, whoever they were searching for must be someone special. 

Small groups of refugees were starting to head back to the camp. 

All day, everyone had been talking about those missing person posters. 

“Who is this Linda woman, anyway? How did she end up causing such a stir?” someone wondered aloud. 

“I saw the army out there, and even a squad of powered humans, another person chimed in. 

A woman glanced at the poster on the wall and said, “If only someone were searching for me like that.” 

The person next to her snickered, “Dream on. Have you looked in the mirror lately? Who’d ever want to find you?” 

Everyone snickered. 

Some folks were scratching their heads. 

One said, “Hey, that person in the photo… why do I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before?” 

Another refugee pulled him away and said, “People like her? We’re just nobodies. Let’s get moving and head back to camp,” 

As he said that, he glanced up at the gloomy, cloud–covered sky and shivered. 

“Damn, it’s cold,” he grumbled. 

As Lucian walked along, he overheard the refugees talking and, puzzled, he wandered over. 

He heard Linda’s name come up, along with talk about twins. 

He went over to the wall to take a look. 

When he saw the poster, his eyes widened in surprise. 

It was a large, square missing person poster, about 20 inches across, with a huge photo of Linda and her two kids taking up half the space. 

Isn’t that Linda and her kids?” Lucian blurted out, totally stunned 

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Chapter 128 

Shock hit him like a tidal wave. He could hardly believe his eyes 

After all, no one knew what Linda and her kids really looked like better than he did. 

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Just a couple of weeks ago, he was the one who smeared mud on their faces. 

He’d helped cover up their good looks. Otherwise, trouble would come knocking for sure. 

For a mother and her kids all alone in this hellhole, there were only two fates: either they ended up as meat for the pot, or they got turned into some sick bastard’s toy. 

Lucian mumbled under his breath, and when he turned around, he almost pissed himself from shock. 

Somehow, a dozen burly powered humans and soldiers armed with sniper rifles had appeared right behind him. 

“Y–you guys…” Lucian stammered, his voice shaking. 

“Have you seen the people in this photo?” one of the powered humans demanded, eyes blazing with excitement. 

Before Lucian could even answer, another powered human cut him off, practically bouncing with anticipation. 

His eyes were shining with excitement, and his grip on Lucian’s arm was so tight that one could feel how nervous he was. 

He was worried the military would grab the reward before he could. 

After all, that was 300 pounds of food. 

Lucian hesitated, unsure if he should say anything. 

Linda and her kids stood out with their looks, and Lucian had no idea whether the ones looking for them were friends or 

foes. 

One of the powered humans seemed to read Lucian’s mind and quickly said, “It’s their family who’s looking for them.” 

Lucian hesitated for a moment, then nodded. 

“Come with me,” he said. 

Lucian thought, ‘If it’s really their family, they shouldn’t do them any harm. 

Just thinking about how the whole military and a squad of powered humans had been mobilized for this, Lucian couldn’t help but think, ‘Whoever that mysterious relative is, they must be a real heavyweight.‘ 

As they walked, Lucian sighed and started chatting. 

Lucian said, “Those twins are real good kids. The boy, Filip, went out scavenging with the crew days ago and still hasn’t come back. Who knows what happened to him? 

“Chiara’s just a little thing, but she’s already hauling bricks at the border. Her hands get all torn up, but she never says a word. Poor kid, and her mom’s so sick.” 

Lucian just couldn’t stop talking as they made their way along. 

These days, life was rough for everyone. Lucian wished he could help more, but there wasn’t much he could do. 

Feeding his own family was already a struggle. There was never enough to go around. 

At best, all he could do was help out here and there. 

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Chapter 128 

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The group was hustling along. One of the powered humans‘ eyes flickered. He quietly ducked out and slipped away from the 

crowd. 

He raced through the dim twilight, running like his life depended on it. 

Chloe sat cross–legged on the villa’s sofa, the AC cranked up so high it felt like springtime inside. 

in the 

When she slowly opened her eyes, everyone group crowded around her, watching with hopeful eyes. 

away. No one was allowed to get any closer. 

Frank craned his neck, tugging at Noah’s arm for a better look. 

“Chloe, how are you feeling?” Frank asked, his voice full of concern. 

They all gazed at Chloe with anticipation, barely daring to breathe. 

Noah blocked everyone, keeping them at least six feet 

It was as if they’d all rehearsed it beforehand: everyone froze in the same pose. 

Everyone was just staring at Chloe, eyes wide and not even blinking. 

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