A bitter laugh echoed in my mind. I truly didn't understand him.
Maybe this was just another one of his tricks...
"Money's boring. Let's play a game, Mr. Delgado."
The man's mocking voice cut through my thoughts. He waved at the surveillance camera overhead.
"Bring her in!"
Two minutes later, a familiar shriek pierced the air.
I slowly turned my head. Yvette Henson. They'd taken her too.
My heart sank. This wasn't a trick after all.
"Howard, save me!"
Yvette burst through the door screaming like a woman possessed.
The man aimed his phone at both of us.
"Mr. Delgado, all of Kingston City says you're a devoted man. Well, now both your women are here. Pick one."
"Let them both go! I have money—"
Before he finished, the man backhanded Yvette across the face.
Then he grabbed my hospital gown and ripped it open.
"Stop stalling, Mr. Delgado! If you won't choose, you lose them both. Two minutes. Give me your answer!"
"Howard! Save me!"
Yvette's sobs filled the room.
I knew—I knew—Howard wouldn't choose me.
But something possessed me to speak anyway.
"Howard, I've saved you so many times. Just this once... save me back?"
On the screen, Howard's gaze flickered between us. Back and forth. Back and forth.
"Time's up, Mr. Delgado..."
The man's hand reached toward Yvette's clothes.
"Stop!"
Howard's eyes blazed red as he roared.
"I choose her!"
His eyes squeezed shut as he pointed at Yvette.
Bitterness flooded through me. I should have known.
"Very good, Mr. Delgado. Come collect her yourself."
The call ended. They dragged Yvette away.
Then the man tore the rest of my hospital gown to shreds.
While Howard retrieved Yvette from the next room, the man took what he wanted from me.
Through the thin walls, I heard her voice—coy, simpering.
"Howard, I was so scared. Thank god you chose me. I love you so much..."
"It's alright. You're not hurt, that's what matters. This is my fault—I made enemies, and they came after you."
They cooed at each other like newlyweds.
Not a single word about me.
I don't know where I found the strength, but I screamed toward the door.
"Howard... save me..."
My voice tangled with the sounds of what was being done to me.
The flirting outside went silent.
But no one answered.
The engine roared to life. The sound faded into the distance.
My heart plummeted into an abyss.
Blood filled my mouth. I bit down harder, repeating the words like a mantra:
Howard Delgado, what you've done to me today—I will repay you a thousandfold.
I lost track of time.
When the sky began to lighten, the man finally tired. He dressed himself, glancing back at me with something like pity.
"You know, you used to be somebody's princess. Why'd you have to pick a heartless bastard like him?"
He left, satisfied.
I swallowed my nausea, gathered the shredded remains of my gown, and stumbled out of that hell.
But when I pushed open the door, I realized—
The real hell was waiting outside.
A sea of reporters had surrounded the abandoned factory.
The moment I stepped out, hundreds of cameras and microphones thrust into my face.
