Chapter 9 Jared slammed his fist into the wall , eyes blazing with fury . Elsie flinched at the sudden outburst . He'd always been so gentle around her , so she'd never seen him like this before . She mustered up her courage and reached for his arm . " Jared , isn't this our chance now that Willow's gone ? Don't worry . I'll love you just as much as Eleanor did ! " He pushed her off with a hard shove , his face stone - cold . " Get out ! " After he drove Elsie away , Jared realized something too late . He jumped in his car and tore off toward my house . Lauren Brown , the maid , answered the door . " Ms. Clarke isn't home . She left town with Mrs. Clarke . " Jared didn't believe a word of it . He tried to push past her , only to be stopped by security rushing in at the sound of the commotion . He wouldn't back down . He raised his voice and shouted toward the house , " Willow ! I know you're in there ! Are you still mad at me ? Just give me a chance ! Let me explain ! " Lauren shot him a glare , her patience snapping . " Save your breath . Ms. Clarke is at the beach with her mother . You could scream all day , and they still wouldn't hear you . " " The beach ? " Jared let out a wild , broken laugh . " Yes , " Lauren said . " Willow always wanted me to take her there . Every time we fought , that's where she went to clear her head . How could I forget ?" Jared stopped struggling . Without another word , he turned and got back in his car , peeling off toward the coast . The whole drive, he clutched his phone like a lifeline , terrified he'd miss a message from me . He didn't know I'd already changed my number . I'd been a fool for three years . But now , finally , I could leave it all behind and step into the life I was meant to live . BIG SALE 3500 BONUS FREE FOR YOU ! Click to get it