Lucas seemed to be making a silent announcement.
Between love and career, he chose career.
Between me and Sophia, he chose Sophia.
I stood frozen, unable to accept it.
I didn’t notice the kidnappers’ expressions changing.
On the eighth day, the ransom still hadn’t arrived.
The kidnappers broke my fingers as a warning.
Lucas didn’t respond, didn’t yield.
On the ninth day, the ransom still hadn’t come.
They recorded my humiliation, threatening to destroy my reputation.
Lucas didn’t reply, only issuing a company statement that afternoon:
“The Lawrence Corporation will never bow to evil forces.”
On the tenth day, my parents announced they were cutting off the investment and relocating overseas.
I became completely abandoned, stripped of the last shred of value.
The kidnappers were furious.
Their rage drove them to torture and degrade me with everything they had.
At that time, both they and I still clung to faint hope—
That someone would come to save me.
But no one did.
While I was held captive, Lucas and Sophia grew ever closer.
News reports poured in.
The two attended countless events together, hosting grand celebrations.
They mingled and basked in the spotlight, thriving.
Every finance channel was buzzing.
Lucas’s investment was a huge success, and he was poised to become one of the richest men in Newport’s elite.
Ahead of him was a dazzling future.
Behind me, however, was a group of cruel demons.
They took out every bit of their anger and resentment on me.
Whips, daggers, branding irons, steel needles—
They made me beg for death.
On the fifteenth day, I finally found a chance to escape.
I can no longer remember the obstacles and terrors along the way.
I only remember running and running.
Running until my legs went numb, until my wounds tore open again, until I was down to my last breath.
Just as I was about to collapse, about to despair, about to give up,
a melody guided me.
I no longer cared that I was naked.
I didn’t care about dignity or shame; all I wanted was to survive.
But when I arrived at the scene, I saw Lucas taking Sophia to the countryside for charity work.
The setup was grand; reporters filled the place.
How ironic.
He had money for investments and charity, but none to rescue his fiancée.
He had time for receptions and interviews, but none to save his fiancée.
He basked in praise and applause, while I endured humiliation and torture in the hands of a monster.