Page 57 of Entwined
I swallowed hard, the words catching in my throat. “I need your help.”
I could hear the shift in his tone immediately, the sharpness of a man who knew something serious was going down. “I don’t handle criminal cases, but I can direct you to someone who does.”
“I have an attorney for this case. It was a setup. I would never enter such a place on my own.” I continued. “Vaughn,” I began, my voice faltering for just a moment. “He tricked me. I signed the house over to him, but I realize now it was under false pretenses. He doesn’t care about me. He just wanted the mansion and to be sole CEO.”
Xander was quiet for a beat, then I heard him exhale slowly. “That bastard. You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I wish I was,” I said bitterly. “But I need to know—can you stop the deed transfer? Has it been filed yet?”
Another pause, and I held my breath, the weight of everything pressing down on me. If the papers had been filed, there was no going back.
“I can stop it,” Xander said finally, his voice low and firm. “The deed transfer hasn’t gone through yet. I’ll make sure it never does.”
Relief washed over me, but it was tinged with the bitter taste of betrayal. “Thank you,” I whispered, closing my eyes for a moment.
“You don’t have to thank me,” Xander said. “Just be careful, Josephine. It sounds like you stepped into a hornet’s nest.”
“I know,” I said softly. “Believe me, I know.”
By the time the city streets had quieted, and the paparazzi had retreated for the night, I was ready to leave. I couldn’t stay in New York—not after everything. My name was tarnished, my reputation in shambles. The life I’d built here was gone, swept away in a tidal wave of lies and manipulation. But I wasn’t going to stick around to watch the pieces fall.
I slipped out of my penthouse at 3 a.m., my heart racing as I moved swiftly through the lobby, avoiding the concierge’s gaze. The cameras weren’t around now—thank God. I’d managed to dodge the swarm of photographers that had hounded me since the arrest, but I knew they’d be back with a vengeance tomorrow.
An Uber was waiting outside, the driver barely glancing at me as I slid into the backseat, pulling the hood of my jacket over my head.
“Wake me when we arrive.”
He nodded, and we pulled away from the curb. As the lights of the city faded behind us, I felt a strange sense of freedom. I wasn’t sure what would come next, but for the first time in days, I had a plan. Vaughn might have tried to destroy me, but I wasn’t going down that easily.
The sun was just starting to rise when we arrived in Mystic. The small coastal town was still quiet, the streets lined with charming shops and old homes that reminded me of a simpler time. I paid the driver, my eyes scanning the sleepy town as I stepped out of the car. It was so different from New York. Peaceful. Unassuming. Exactly what I needed.
I found a small inn on the edge of town, its wooden sign swinging gently in the morning breeze. The Innkeeper gave me a warm smile, clearly unaware of who I was or the scandal that had swallowed my life whole. That was a relief. I just wanted to be anonymous for a while. No gossip, no cameras, no whispers behind my back.
After checking in, I climbed the stairs to my room, my body aching from the stress and exhaustion. The room was quaint—nothing like the opulence I was used to, but that was the point. I wasn’t here for luxury. I was here to escape.
I collapsed onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling, my mind racing. I couldn’t stay in the inn forever, but I also couldn’t go back to New York. Not yet. Maybe not ever. I needed something permanent, something real.
Pulling out my phone, I started searching for homes in the area. Rent. No need to own anything right now. As the listings popped up, I felt a small flicker of hope. There were places here—cozy, unassuming cottages by the water, little houses tucked away in quiet neighborhoods.
This was what I needed. A fresh start. Away from Vaughn, away from the Ashworth legacy, away from all of it. I’d built my life on the ashes of someone else’s name, but now it was time to build something for myself.
I paused on a listing for a small house with a white picket fence, just outside of town. The rent was no problem with my wealth, the pictures quaint and welcoming. It wasn’t the penthouse, but that didn’t matter. I didn’t need luxury anymore. I needed peace.
It was just after 7 a.m. and I called the number, my heart racing as the phone rang. I didn’t expect an answer, instead preparing to leave a message but someone picked up
“Hello, this is Lucy from Shoreline Rentals,” a cheerful voice answered.
“Hi,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m interested in the house on River Street. Is it still available?”
“Yes, it is,” Lucy replied. “Would you like to schedule a viewing?”
“Yes,” I said, feeling a strange sense of calm settle over me. “As soon as possible.”
As I hung up the phone, I sat back on the bed and exhaled. Vaughn might have tried to destroy me, but I wasn’t done yet. I still had something he didn’t expect.
Myself.
I couldn’t disappear without telling a few people who mattered. Simone, Easton, my parents and Logan—they needed to know where I was, or they’d worry. I swore them to secrecy, though.I wasn’t running away forever. I just needed time. Time to breathe, to think, to regroup after two years of living in the chaotic world of the wealthy. Now, I had the space to figure out who I wanted to be.
