Chapter 6

The day before Elizabeth was set to leave the country, Samson sent someone to pick up both daughters from the hospital. Elizabeth and Cheryl ended up in the same car. Everything seemed normal until the driver, Edwin Ford, suddenly veered off course, turning down a narrow, isolated road. By the time Elizabeth realized something was wrong, the car had already stopped in front of an abandoned factory. Edwin opened the door, and two men with menacing expressions stormed up, yanking both her and Cheryl out of the vehicle. Cheryl screamed, her voice shrill with panic. "Help! Let go of me!" Elizabeth was stunned. Edwin had been arranged by Samson. How could he have been bribed by kidnappers? Before she could make sense of it, both girls were thrown into a rundown room inside the factory. One of the kidnappers, Rocky Bowen, spoke coldly. "You two—one's Daniel's fiancée, the other's his future sister-in-law. Asking for a hundred million in ransom doesn't seem too much, does it?" Cheryl's eyes widened in shock. She didn't even get a chance to speak before Rocky was already dialing Daniel's number and putting the call on speaker. "Hello?" Daniel's low, familiar voice came through. Rocky gave Cheryl a look. She caught on immediately and burst into sobs. "Dan, it's me, Cheryl! I've been kidnapped! They're asking for a hundred million…" Daniel's voice turned ice-cold in an instant. "Don't lay a finger on Cheryl. Send me the account details, I'll transfer the money now." Rocky smirked, then held the phone up to Elizabeth. "Your turn. Just say a few words. If Daniel adds another five million, we'll let you go too." Elizabeth clenched her fists tightly. Daniel hated her. Why would he ever pay to save her? She was still trying to figure out what to say when another kidnapper, Ted Vega, leaned in and whispered to Rocky, "Hey, didn't Ms. Elizabeth say a hundred million? Why's it…" The voice was low, but Daniel heard every word on the other end of the line. His grip tightened around the phone, his expression darkening. Elizabeth was in on it? So that was how they got to Edwin. That would explain the impossibly high price they were asking. Daniel's voice dropped, cold as steel. "Elizabeth's life or death has nothing to do with me. Do whatever you want with her." If Elizabeth wanted money that badly, fine, he'd give it to her. Consider it the price of ending whatever twisted bond remained between them. Hearing those words, Elizabeth felt her heart plummet. So, Daniel really did want her dead… There had never been love; only hatred—deep, cold, and endless. … Not long after, screeching tires echoed outside the factory. Daniel burst in, rushing straight to Cheryl and pulling her into his arms. Then, as if catching sight of something foul, his gaze flicked to Elizabeth—slumped in the corner like discarded trash. He turned to Rocky and Ted. "The money's been transferred. As for Elizabeth, do with her what you want. Sell her off to some remote village or just get it over with. Up to you." Elizabeth watched with wide, disbelieving eyes as Daniel carried Cheryl away without once looking back. The moment they left, Rocky and Ted dropped the act. Their faces twisted into mocking sneers. "Heard you slept with Daniel. Figured he'd care a little, but damn, he won't even fork out five million. You must mean less to him than a dog." Elizabeth looked at them coldly. "You got your money. Can I go now?" "Go?" Rocky laughed like it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard. "We might've gotten paid, but the job's not finished. So, sit tight and enjoy what's coming." Rocky and Ted lunged at her, cackling, tearing at her clothes. Then, a searing burn. A lit cigarette was pressed hard into her skin. Elizabeth screamed, the sound tearing from her throat. Cold sweat and tears streamed down her face. Seeing her like that only excited them more. "Heard this is what they used to do to you at school. Let's help you relive those memories." "Hey, let's burn a word into her." "Hell yeah. What should we write?" "How about slut? Fits her perfectly!" They laughed as they burned her again and again—on her legs, her back, her waist. Elizabeth's entire body trembled, soaked in sweat, the pain nearly driving her unconscious. She didn't know how long it lasted. Eventually, they stopped, laughing and strutting out like it was nothing. Elizabeth lay curled in the filth, her body twitching with the aftershocks of pain. It wasn't until the sky began to darken that the agony finally dulled. Only then did she force herself to move, clinging to the wall, her whole body shaking as she took the first step forward.