My car had just rolled off the main road outside the old house when an unfamiliar van appeared in the rear-view mirror.
At first, I didn’t think about it until that vehicle suddenly sped up out of nowhere and swerved hard toward me.
A sharp screech tore through the night.
The next moment, my car door was pulled open from the outside.
I didn’t even have a second to react before someone dragged me out.
The world spun, the back of my head hit something hard, and before I could make a sound, a hand covered my mouth, and I was shoved roughly into the van.
The door slammed closed with a loud bang.
In the darkness, I heard the engine start again.
Fear rushed up in me.
On instinct, I wrapped my arms around my belly, my fingers shaking badly, my trembling hand trying to find my phone in my bag.
When the screen lit up, I dialed Zion’s number almost without thinking.
No answer.
I refused to stop and called again.
A third time.
A fourth time.
The phone vibrated again and again in my hand, but he still didn’t answer.
I started sending voice messages, my tone pressed down low but still shaking out of control.
“Zion… something happened to me.”
“Pick up the call, alright?”
“Just answer the phone, I’m begging you…”
Each voice clip went out like it was tossed into a deep void, with not even a sound coming back.
I stared at the screen, my hand turning colder bit by bit.
The man across from me suddenly let out a laugh.
“Stop calling. It won’t work.”
The van's light was dim. His face stayed in the shadows, but his voice carried clear mockery.
“Mrs. Payne, right?”
“You look really sad right now.”
He spoke in a lazy tone, “Can’t even get your own man to answer. Really makes me wonder why you’re still sticking to him.”
I forced myself to settle down, my throat tight, but I still asked, “Why did you kidnap me?”
“Because you’re standing in my sister’s way.”
“If someone stands in the way, then she has to be removed.”
My heart dropped straight down.
“Your sister… is she Maeve?”
He didn’t reply straight away, only let out another cold laugh.
A dull ache started in my stomach, cold sweat sliding along my back.
I knew I couldn’t drag this any longer.
“I have money.”
My voice was rough, but I forced myself to speak clearly, “I have plenty of money.”
“Let me go, alright?”
“Whatever Maeve gave you, I’ll give you ten times more.”
The van went quiet for a moment.
The man clearly paused.
But soon, he let out a cold laugh again. “Maeve is my sister.”
“Can money match my sister?”
The pain in my stomach grew sharper, and I curled up instinctively, fear spreading through my whole body.
I was truly afraid now.
My hands began shaking. I was terrified the baby would slip away like this!
“I’ll give you one million!”
