At the hospital, the doctors said it was likely a threatened miscarriage.
The physician standing across from her was her own brother, Dimitri.
Callista bit down on her lip, fighting through wave after wave of stabbing pain, tears slipping down her face as she pleaded with him, “Dimitri… please, save my baby.”
Dimitri held her trembling hand and nodded. “I’ll do my best.”
Just as he was about to begin the procedure, a nurse came in and called him out of the emergency room.
Before leaving, he turned back to her and said, “Calli… Alexander just brought Vanessa in. He says she might be permanently disfigured. He told me you did it.”
“You made this mess. Now you need to live with the consequences.” He didn’t wait for her to respond. He left, taking the surgical team with him.
Alone on the operating table, Callista lay there in silence, tears falling without sound. Her heart didn’t even ache anymore.
Everyone kept telling her she owed Vanessa something, but no one could explain what.
Maybe this was for the best. The divorce was final. This child didn’t deserve to be born into this life anyway.
When Callista woke up again, a nurse was by her side. She gently told her that her baby was gone.
Callista nodded without emotion.
Dimitri came in shortly after. Seeing the once-vibrant sister he used to protect looking so hollow and frail made his chest tighten.
“Calli, the baby’s gone. I’m sorry.”
“But I have a favor to ask. Don’t tell Alexander you lost the baby. Vanessa would blame herself and I don’t want that for her.”
“It was just a child. You can always have another.”
She had already given up on him, but hearing those words still stung more than she expected.
That was the last straw. As far as she was concerned, from this moment on, her brother no longer existed.
Her voice was hoarse, her eyes shut. “Get out.”
Dimitri obeyed and left without another word.
Callista stayed in the hospital for two more days. She was supposed to remain for three, but she couldn’t wait any longer. Her professor had told her that her senior colleague had arrived and was ready to take her away—for good.
Once the discharge papers were signed, she returned to her room to collect her things, only to find Alexander and Vanessa waiting inside.
It had only been two days, but she already looked noticeably thinner, her face pale and jaw more defined.
Alexander frowned, guilt flickering across his face. “I didn’t know you were in the hospital. I’ve been busy. I’m… sorry.”
Callista looked at him, her expression unreadable. “It’s fine.”
She was leaving anyway. Whether he knew or cared didn’t matter anymore.
Her indifference unsettled him more than any outburst ever could.
Then Vanessa stepped forward, holding a container of chicken soup. “Ms. Katsaros… this is for you. It’ll help you recover.”
Callista’s voice remained flat. “No, thank you.”
Vanessa’s eyes reddened at the rejection.
Alexander immediately snapped, his remorse replaced by irritation. “Callista, if you want to take your anger out on me, fine. But don’t go too far.”
Callista paused mid-motion, then let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
She refused a bowl of soup from the woman who’d helped destroy her life—and that was "too far"?
Then what about the pain she’d endured two days ago in the ER? That didn’t matter for him, huh?
So, she said nothing.
Alexander grabbed Vanessa’s hand and stormed out, furious.
***
Three hours later, after packing up her belongings, Callista received a text from her senior colleague:
[I’m in the parking garage. Come down when you’re ready.]
She made her way there. But just as she stepped into the underground garage, someone struck her from behind.
Everything went black.
***
When Callista woke up, she was tied to a post in an abandoned warehouse. Vanessa was right next to her, also restrained.
She soon recognized that their kidnaper was one of Alexander’s longtime enemies.
Soon after, Alexander and Dimitri arrived, but the first words out of their mouths weren’t directed at her.
“Vee! Are you okay?” Alexander rushed forward.
Dimitri echoed, tension in his voice. “Vee, are you hurt?”
A knife pressed to both women’s throats, the kidnapper sneered. “Well, well, Alexander. Two women, both yours. You really don’t disappoint.”
Alexander’s voice was cold. “You asked for seven and a half million crowns. I wired it already. Now let them go.”
The man chuckled, shaking his head. “Oh, I’ll release one. But only one. The other comes with me.”
Callista felt all the blood drain from her face.
Before she could speak, Vanessa spoke up, pretending to be noble. “Mr. Throne, you don’t have to save me.”
Alexander didn’t hesitate. “No. I can’t live without you!”
Callista’s heart clenched.
Dimitri stiffened beside him. “Alexander, Save Vee!”
Even after everything, hearing her own brother choose Vanessa over her still made her eyes well with tears.
Dimitri avoided her gaze, his fists clenched tightly. “Vee’s fragile. She can’t handle this kind of fear.”
Then he leaned in closer to Alexander and whispered, “I already called the police. They’re on their way. Just get Vee out first.”
Alexander stared at Callista. His eyes flickered with conflict, but she had already shut hers.
The kidnapper growled, “Tick-tock. You don’t choose, they both die.”
Seconds later, Alexander shouted, “I’ll take Vee!”
Callista’s body went slack, like a balloon losing air.
True to his word, the man released Vanessa. She collapsed into Alexander’s arms, sobbing hysterically. Alexander and Dimitri hovered over her, panicking, trying to comfort her—completely forgetting the woman still tied to the post.
The kidnapper barked, “You got what you came for. Now get out! What? You wanna stick around and watch the show?”
Dimitri tugged on Alexander’s arm. “We need to leave. Now. The cops are close. If he thinks we tipped them off, he might kill her before they get here.”
Vanessa’s expression darkened.
The police?
Now, that wasn’t part of the plan. If they got involved, everything she’d arranged with the kidnapper would unravel.
Alexander hesitated, eyes fixed on Callista, silently pleading with her to understand they wouldn’t abandon her.
But Callista never looked back. She kept her eyes shut—because she couldn’t bear the sight of them anymore.
As they turned to leave, Vanessa "accidentally" knocked over a nearby barrel of ethanol, then slipped a lighter from her pocket and tossed it in behind her.
The warehouse exploded in flames. Metal shards tore through the air. A deafening blast rang out.
Alexander and Dimitri went pale.
They turned to run back inside, but Vanessa threw herself in front of them.
“It’s too late! If you go in there now, you’ll die!”
