Chapter1

When I opened my eyes, all I felt was intense pain throughout my body. Everything in front of me was pitch black—if not for the stinging in my eyes and the fact that, after a few minutes, I started to vaguely make out the outlines of objects in the darkness, I would've thought I had gone blind. I tried moving my hands and feet, only to find I was tightly bound—so tight I couldn't move at all. Judging by the numbness in my limbs and the coldness in my extremities, I had clearly been tied up for quite a while. I had been kidnapped. The intense pain all over my body made it impossible to think. Every time I tried to recall what had happened before I passed out, stabbing pain would pierce through my temples. My heart was pounding uncontrollably. In the silence, I could even hear the sound of my own heartbeat. All I could do was count my heartbeats to estimate the time and try to calm myself down while waiting for the pain to subside. My name is Summer Blake. I'm 21 years old and currently a junior in college. My mother is a well-known entrepreneur in the city. Her business is in a sensitive industry, and all kinds of people—those coveting her assets, those jealous of her wealth, and those who simply can't stand her—are after her. Even though she did her best to protect me growing up, I've still been kidnapped twice before. Oh wait, not twice—this is the third time. So I'm not panicking. There's no use panicking anyway. The first time I was kidnapped, I was fifteen. I panicked like crazy and cried my eyes out. All it did was earn me a few more slaps, and it got the nanny who had taken care of me since I was a child killed while trying to protect me. Later, I figured it out—as long as they wanted something from me or my mom, I wouldn't be in immediate danger. And as long as I stalled for time, I would definitely be rescued. After all, my mom had spent a lot over the years to ensure my safety. But this time was different from what I expected. The moment I saw the kidnapper, my heart sank. Even though he didn't know that I had already recognized him. By the time the pain subsided, about ten minutes had passed. I tried to adjust my posture to allow blood to circulate through my numb limbs, hoping to regain some sensation, all while observing my surroundings. The kidnapper wasn't nearby. Not that I cared whether he was there or not—actually, it was better that he wasn't. Based on my past kidnapping experiences and drills, I knew that his absence would give me a better chance to stall for time, look for a way out, and avoid the hassle of answering his questions. But this time, my body couldn't afford to wait. The damn kidnapper had tied me up far too tightly. Even though I tried my best to adjust my position, the numbness in my limbs showed no sign of easing. This wouldn't do—being tied up too long could lead to necrosis. My heart kept pounding, and after it had beaten 3,820 times, I had no choice but to act. From the moment I regained consciousness, I'd been trying to reclaim control over my body. By counting my heartbeats, I estimated that more than forty minutes had passed. And during those forty minutes, I'd been trying to move—but without success. I could still feel the presence of my limbs, but I couldn't move them. The only improvement since I first woke up was that, based on my posture, I could tell I was tied to a chair.