Unspoken Hearts: My Neglected Mute Wife’s Escape

Chapter 873:

In a stroke of luck, Jake managed to grasp one of the branches, his fingers digging into the rough bark.

Jake was weak and injured, so he couldn’t get a good grip on the branches. He slipped through them, his fall only slightly broken. The tree slowed him down a bit, but not by much.

Luckily, it wasn’t the rainy season, so while the river looked rough, the current wasn’t too strong. Before Jake passed out, he managed to drag himself out of the water and onto the riverbank. With the last of his energy, Jake crawled into a hidden cave.

He knew Clayton wanted him dead. And Clayton did send people to look for Jake. But they barely even bothered to search the area below the cliff. They figured that if Jake had fallen from that height, he wouldn’t have survived. There were no bloodstains, so they assumed he’d landed in the river.

Clayton’s men concentrated their search on the river. They scoured the riverbank for miles, both upstream and downstream, but they couldn’t find any sign of Jake. Some of them figured his body must have been swept away by the current. And even if Jake had somehow survived the fall, he wouldn’t have just stayed put.

But Jake did the opposite. He holed up in that cave for five days. He didn’t know when Clayton would give up the search, but he knew one thing: he couldn’t let Clayton find him. He’d rather die than be captured.

If Lacey hadn’t stumbled upon him, he probably wouldn’t have made it. Jake wasn’t sure what Lacey was doing here, but he was grateful she’d found him. As soon as he was strong enough, he thanked her.

Payne, I didn’t expect to be in your debt

I ever repay you?” he said, his voice rough

gaze, her expression

M𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓊𝓅𝒹𝒶𝓉𝑒𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝑔𝒶𝓁𝓃𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁𝓈.𝒸𝑜𝓂

came here to

eyes clouded over, and he

A wave of gratitude for Kallie washed over her. She was

Lacey. But remembering Jake’s distant behavior, she quickly

to stay with you. I

don’t mean anything romantic or anything like that. I’ve just seen a lot of scary things lately, and I’m worried about my sister and me. You’re powerful and can protect us. If you’re with us, Jeanette

height of his

of people want me dead. It would be dangerous for you and

Lacey shook her head.

scared. I just want to advance my