Chapter 6 Cedric's The Only One I Trust

"Let go!" Heather wrestled free from Jeremy's grip, her eyes wary as she asserted, "I can make my way home alone, Mr. Buckley." Her voice carried a biting irony.

Jeremy's expression changed as he observed her more intently than before, a stark contrast to his sporadic glances in the hall. "Must you keep me at such a distance?"

Understanding the intent behind his scrutinizing look, Heather stepped back and stated frostily, "Mr. Buckley, I am Cedric's girlfriend. It seems you've confused me with someone else."

She rubbed her sore wrist and walked past the car towards the shadowy woodland path. Finding a taxi proved impossible with the spotty cell reception in the area.

The Maybach crept along behind her slowly, its headlights illuminating her path until it finally pulled up beside her. Jeremy leaned out of the rolled-down window and remarked, "It's a two-hour walk down the hill, potentially haunted. Are you going to keep avoiding me, or will you get in and we can talk?"

Heather eyed him, realizing that showing any hint of displeasure would only suggest lingering feelings. So, she halted and clarified, "I'm not upset with you. You just frightened me earlier. In the Buckley family, Cedric is the only one I trust."

Her repeated mentions of Cedric seemed to irritate Jeremy.

Heather, maintaining her poise, reached for the car's back door to enter when another vehicle approached rapidly from down the road.

The car halted abruptly, and the driver leaned out, calling, "Miss Taylor, Mr. Cedric Buckley sent me to take you home."

Aware that his mother might not look out for Heather, Cedric had preemptively arranged this ride. This was precisely what Heather had hoped for.

She flashed a relieved smile, eager to distance herself from Jeremy. As she began to enter the new car, she cheerfully announced, "Mr. Buckley, I think I'll go with the ride arranged by my boyfriend. Goodbye."

Her formal address and constant references to Cedric seemed to provoke Jeremy further. Unable to contain his frustration, he stormed out of his car, reached for Heather as she was getting into the other vehicle, and forcefully pulled her towards him, gripping her neck.

"Jeremy Buckley! Let go of me!" she exclaimed.

Heather tumbled onto the leather seat, quickly regaining her composure and attempting to exit through the opposite car door.

Outside, Jeremy swiftly locked the doors with his key and exchanged a few words with the driver. The driver glanced into the car, hesitated, and then drove off, leaving Heather without her escape route.

As darkness enveloped the road again, Jeremy unlocked the doors and opened his own door to enter. Heather, seizing the moment, reached for the handle to make her escape. Just as her fingers touched the door, Jeremy forcefully grabbed her ankle, pulling her back into the car.

The air thickened with a sense of danger as Jeremy climbed in. Heather found herself pinned beneath him, her gaze burning with anger and defiance.

"Why not keep pretending you don't know me?" Jeremy challenged, securing her wrists above her head. His tobacco-scented breath was close as he touched her waist. "You kept mentioning Cedric. I don't like it. Does he know you've been with his uncle? And you still plan to marry him?"

"If I had known you were his uncle, do you think I would have been with him in the first place?" Heather retorted sharply, struggling to free her wrists. "I love Cedric deeply now. It's best we act as if we don't know each other-for everyone's sake."