Chapter 6

Winona woke up and found herself locked inside a cold room. Her abductors were wearing masks and equipped with knives. They surrounded her and brandished them at her. Winona's teeth began chattering from the immense cold and terror. Her voice trembled when she stammered, "W-What do you want? Let me go… I can pay whatever ransom you ask for!" The abductors burst into raucous laughter. "We don't need money! You offended the wrong people. You have no choice but to accept your fate." They approached her while brandishing their knives, leaving fresh cuts all over her body. Excruciating pain spread through Winona's body. She cried out in pain and tried to free herself, but the abductors kept her trapped in place. They continued to slice at her body, leaving hideous wounds wherever their blades touched her skin. The cold magnified her pain, but also slowed the flow of blood from her wounds. Winona was helpless to do anything but stare at the blood that seeped from the countless wounds littering her body and dripped to the floor. She started convulsing from the pain. She lost control and began screaming as tears rolled down her cheeks. She had no idea how much time had passed before the abductors dropped her into a pool of her own blood before taking their leave. Winona didn't know how long she waited in the cold room. Every breath that she exhaled turned to fog in the air. As she was forced to endure the cold and blood loss, she thought she could see Alice and Scott standing before her. They didn't look broken like they did before they jumped off the building. Their clothes were clean and tidy, and they were wearing warm, bright smiles. They extended their hands toward Winona. Winona forced herself to smile as she reached out for them. Their images dispersed when the door slammed open. As Winona fought to keep her eyes open, she saw Connor rush into the room. "Winnie!" Winona felt herself being picked up before a warm coat was draped over her body. Connor cradled her close to him as he tried to rub some warmth back into her freezing hands. She heard Zack's voice speaking. "You overdid it this time, Connor. Be careful not to kill her." The hands that were covering hers paused briefly. "Don't worry, Zack," Connor retorted in a cynical voice. "I calculated everything beforehand. I knew that she wouldn't die from the accident or today's abduction. I have experience with these things, after all. I survived the abduction from three years ago that was staged to move Winona's heart, didn't I?" … Winona jolted awake from the pain. Her body was littered with cuts. Every time she breathed, she would strain multiple wounds. The pain was so overwhelming that she wished she were dead. A nurse came in to change her bandages. When she noticed that Winona was awake, she said in relief, "You're finally awake. You're lucky that you were rushed here just in time. Any second later, and we would have lost you. "Your boyfriend also ignored the condition of his own body to donate blood to you. He only stopped after he fainted," the nurse added. "Winnie." Connor's voice resounded from next to Winona. Only then did she realize that he was lying on the bed next to hers. Although he looked a little pale, he still smiled gently at her. "Thank God, you're okay. My carelessness caused you to get abducted and tortured by a rival family. But don't worry. I've already sent all the abductors to jail, and they'll stay there for the rest of their lives." Winona looked at Connor's outstretched hand. She bit her lip and remained silent. If she hadn't heard the truth during her dazed state, she might have been moved by the fact that Connor had donated his blood to her. However, she knew without a doubt that there was no so-called rival family. Also, he was the one who had orchestrated the abduction in the first place. Just because Sadie had cut herself once, Connor wanted to take revenge on Winona by forcing her to suffer thousands of cuts. Furthermore, he had only donated his blood because he wanted to take her heart. On top of that, the abduction from three years ago that had touched Winona's heart was also all just an act to gain her trust. Winona could feel her blood boiling as she stared at Connor's adoring expression. An uncontrollable wave of anger surged through her heart. Her voice was cold when she spat, "Are you done acting—" The sound of something heavy crashing to the floor rang out from beyond the door. A few seconds later, multiple people screamed in terror, plunging their surroundings into chaos.