All Chapters of Divorced And Out of His League: Chapter 41 - Chapter 48

Kayla’s POVThe hospital room was unusually crowded that morning. The blinds were half-drawn, letting in streaks of pale sunlight, and the air smelled faintly of disinfectant. I sat upright on my bed, a pillow tucked behind me for support, while Maya stood by the window, scrolling through her tablet. My mother sat beside me, holding a cup of warm tea that had already gone cold.Across from us sat a man in a gray suit with slicked-back hair… the media expert Maya had brought in. His name was Mr. Halpern, and his calm yet serious expression told me this wasn’t going to be an easy discussion.“The situation online is escalating quickly,” he began in a firm but polite tone. “The longer we stay silent, the more power the rumours gain. Right now, the main narrative is that you planned Steven’s kidnap to gain publicity and sympathy. Some even claim you wanted revenge on him for a failed deal.”I felt

Kayla’s POVI sat up in bed, the morning light slipping through the blinds, hitting my eyes like tiny knives. My phone was already ringing beside me. It was Maya.“Kayla, they’re on the line,” she said quickly.The screen split into two as the officer in charge of Steven’s case appeared. He looked tired, his voice dry from too many nights without sleep.“I understand your concerns, Miss Brooks,” he said, “but the media already caught wind of this. It’s a public case, and Steven Wade is not just anyone. The moment we got that sketch confirmed, things started spreading.”I tried to stay calm. “Then stop it,” I said softly, rubbing my temple. “You can’t let this go public yet. It’ll destroy everything. People already think I had something to do with Steven’s kidnap.”The officer shook his head. “We can’t control everything, Miss Bro

Steven’s POVThe road ahead was quiet and lonely. The van bounced roughly over uneven ground, the dim light from outside barely reaching through the tinted windows. The four men in the vehicle were all armed. Their guns were trained on me, their eyes cold and sharp. One of them sat directly across from me, his finger twitching near the trigger.They needed the guns.I’d made sure of that.My jaw tightened as I stared at them in silence. The air inside the van was heavy with tension. I could almost hear their hearts beating fast under their tough expressions.As the engine rumbled, my mind drifted back to the moment they first caught me.   FlashbackI’d been dragged into the back of another van, my head covered with a rough black bag. The stench of gasoline filled my nostrils. The ropes around my wrists burned my skin as I twisted against them. I could hear them talking in low tones, laugh

Kayla PovThe voice on the other end sent a shiver down my spine. It was calm, deep, and far too familiar. For a moment, I couldn’t speak. My fingers tightened around the phone, and my throat went dry.“Why are you calling me again?” I managed to ask, my voice breaking. “I already told you everything I know.”“Calm down, Miss Brookes,” the man replied. His tone was patient, but there was something in it that made my chest tighten. “I’m not asking for more information. I’m giving you some.”My heart skipped. I pressed the phone tighter to my ear, trying to hear every sound in the background. “What do you mean?”“Steven has been found,” he said simply.I froze. The air in the room seemed to thin. For days, I had prayed to hear those words, but now that they were real, I couldn’t breathe. “He’s alive?” I whispered.“Yes