Whispers Carved Into the Wind 3

Chapter 3 

Mr. and Mrs. Reid couldn’t stand Riley, but Callum wouldn’t back down. 

Eventually they just gave up and started planning this huge engagement party. 

It was at some country club in Stamford. Super fancy. People kept looking at me. 

“God, poor Vivian. She spent years looking for him and now he’s marrying someone else.” 

“They grew up together. Everyone thought they’d end up married. This is so messed up.” 

“If I were her, I’d lose it. How’s she even here right now?” 

Then Riley walked out in this designer gown and headed to the center of the room. 

Callum took her hand. He looked so freaking happy, like nothing else mattered. 

‘Hey everyone,” he said, and his voice had that smooth, confident thing going, “So I wanna introduce-” 

Just then, the lights flickered. Twice. 

Everything went black. 

Total chaos. People screaming, chairs scraping, glass breaking. 

backed into a corner. Then someone grabbed my wrist and shoved something over my mouth and nose. Sharp chemical 

smell. 

Everything started spinning. I thrashed but my arms wouldn’t move right. 

Then nothing. 

don’t know how long I was out. 

When I started waking up, I heard Riley’s voice. Low and pissed off: 

You MORONS! The engagement party meant FRAME her, not fucking kidnap her!” 

I said make ME the victim! Who said grab Vivian too?!” 

Forget the rest of your money. You screwed everything up!” 

My head cleared fast. 

got it-another one of Riley’s schemes. But this time it didn’t go the way she wanted. 

When I’d fought back earlier, I’d felt a gun holster on the guy’s waist. These weren’t small-time guys Riley could control. 

And the kidnapper’s voice-I recognized it. 

Marcus Brennan. The business rival Callum had destroyed a few months ago. 

After a long time, the lead guy made a video call. 

“So here’s the deal, Reid. One girl’s your childhood best friend you’ve known for twenty years. The other’s the girl you fell for after you lost your memory. Who you saving?” 

Callum’s face stayed calm until he saw the red marks on Riley’s shoulder. Then he lost it. “Touch Riley again and I’ll bury your entire family.” 

I closed my eyes. Tears came before I could stop them. 

No point hoping. I already knew what he’d choose. 

The guy laughed. “You really think I’m letting you choose?!” 

Next thing I knew, someone was shoving me into a glass box. Another body pressed against me-Riley, still knocked out. 

They threw the box into the ocean. Water exploded around us. 

There were weights tied to the bottom. We were sinking fast. 

I kicked off my heels and used the metal heel to smash the glass. 

Shards sliced through my arms and legs as water rushed in. I clenched my teeth, pulled Riley’s limp body out, and kicked toward the surface. 

By the time I broke through, I could barely move. But I shoved Riley onto a piece of driftwood and tapped her face. 

‘You need to stay alive.” 

Because if you live, his obsession has somewhere to go. 

I started pushing the wood toward shore. But then the ALS hit. 

My arms just… stopped. Completely useless. 

[ sank. 

Looking up at the light rippling on the water’s surface, I slowly let my eyes close. 

Fine. It’s okay. 

Right before everything went black, I thought I actually saw someone reaching for me through the water. 

When I opened my eyes, I was staring at a hospital ceiling. 

A nurse rushed over, eyes huge with relief. “Oh my God, you’re awake! You’ve been out for two days!” 

“Two days! They almost cut your antibiotics. Lung infection-you stop meds, you’re done.” 

My throat felt like sandpaper. “Anyone visit me?” 

“Nope.” 

.” She sighed. “That girl with you? Just swallowed some water. Her boyfriend put her in the VIP suite, hasn’t left since.” 

I froze. Then a tired smile pulled at my mouth. 

Right then, someone knocked on the door. A voice I knew way too well: 

“Vivian.” 

My head snapped up. When I saw him standing there, tall and familiar, tears just came. 

“Couldn’t reach you. So I came.” 

My brother walked over and pulled me into a hug, one hand smoothing down my hair. “Come on. Let’s go home.” 

Garrett wrapped me in a blanket and carried me onto his helicopter. 

The private jet cut through the clouds, heading out of the country. I wiped my eyes one last time and stared out the window at the sky. 

Callum, I hope you and Riley are happy. 

This is me letting you go. 

We’re done.