“Hannah,” she said, her voice gentle, “I’ve arranged everything in Sydney. You’re all set to go.”
I wiped my tears, trying to steady my voice. “Mom, I don’t know if I can…”
“You need this, sweetheart,” she interrupted. “After everything you’ve been through, you need a fresh start. And Scott will be there with you. He’ll look after you.”
“Scott?” I asked, frowning.
“Yes, your childhood friend. You remember him, don’t you? He offered to help you settle in. I trust him, Hannah. You’ll be safe with him.”
I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to go through with it.
“Honey,” Mom added softly, “don’t worry. We’re going to catch those men who hurt you. We’ll make them pay for what they did.”
Her words hit me hard, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Thanks, Mom,” I whispered.
As I hung up, a new thought crept into my mind. I wanted to make those men pay. But more than that, I wanted Oliver to pay. He had betrayed me, dismissed me, and treated me like I didn’t matter.
I wasn’t going to let him win.
Wiping my tears, I stood up and grabbed my suitcase. I started packing, shoving clothes into the bag with a determination I hadn’t felt in a long time. I was leaving this place.