I felt a pain in my head as I woke up on a soft, cream-colored sofa. My eyes swept across the spacious room with high walls adorned with golden carvings, while a crystal chandelier hung majestically in the center of the ceiling. There wasn't a single ordinary-looking thing in the room-everything looked expensive and grand.
I quickly got up, feeling unfamiliar with this place. With careful steps, I endured the dizziness. My mind tried to remember why I was in this place.
It wasn't until I remembered something that those strange men had kidnapped me. I started looking for the exit. My heart beat faster when I realized the large door I found was locked tightly. Frantically, I tried to pull the door open, but my efforts were in vain.
As I was about to check the other doors, a strange feeling came over me. It was as if I was being watched. Sure enough, when I stopped, then turned my head slowly. Instantly, my body froze.
Behind me stood a man dressed all in black, tall and well-built, and his cold aura made the room feel even more tense.
The man didn't stop staring at me, as if I were his prey. In a low, calm voice, the man said.
"Welcome, Evelyn. You're awake."
I was surprised that he could say my name. While I had no idea who he was.
"How do you know my name? And who are you?" I swallowed after asking him that question. The man slowly approached me. I kept staring at his mysterious movements.
I stared intently at the man, as if not showing my fear of being in this place. My eyes widened when I saw my necklace in his hand. I felt my neck, making sure the necklace was mine. And sure enough, it wasn't.
"Introductions, my name is Dominic."
Dominic's fingers play with my shiny red pendant as if it were a worthless toy.
"Give me that necklace!" I exclaimed in a fit of rage. But the man named Dominic smiled a smirk. He raised his eyebrows.
"You want this necklace?" He asked in a casual tone, dangling the pendant on his fingertips, letting it glitter under the lights.
"Why? Does this necklace mean so much to you?"
I clenched my fists, my breathing ragged.
"It's mine! You have no right to take it from me!"
Dominic approached slowly again, his steps seemingly calm.
"I did not take it from you, Evelyn. I just... took what was rightfully mine."
I stared at him sharply, not taking a step back.
"What do you mean? It's mine! You took my necklace and brought me to this place."
Dominic narrowed his eyes, his expression turning cold. There was now no distance between us, only a few inches.
The faint smile on Dominic's face disappeared, and his hand suddenly lifted, grasping my face gently. I looked up, forced to look directly into the man's eyes.
"It's not your necklace," Dominic said in a low, yet firm voice. His eyes blazed with an emotion that was hard to interpret. "It's mine. Now, which one is the real one?"
I frowned, confused by the accusation. "What do you mean?" I asked in a shaky voice.
Dominic brought his face closer, his eyes sharp as knives.
"No need to pretend, Evelyn. Where did you get this necklace? You stole it from my group, didn't you? And replaced it with a fake one?"
I shook my head weakly, my body trembling.
"I... I don't know what you're talking about. I never stole anything. That necklace... it was given to me by my boyfriend."
Dominic was silent for a moment, his expression turning suspicious.
"Your boyfriend? Who is he? And why does he have this?"
I tried to speak, but my voice was choked. Only then did I realize that the gift Vance had given me could be disastrous for me. I was beginning to understand why Dominic had suddenly kidnapped me.
But, what exactly was Vance hiding from me?
I tried to brace myself even though my heart was beating fast.
"Take your hands away first! Let me explain!" I did my best to hide the fear that was creeping up.
Dominic raised an eyebrow but slowly withdrew his hand.
"Speak the truth, or this gun will erase your lies," Dominic said in a cold tone while holding his gun which was now aimed right at my head. I could hardly breathe.
"Okay. Let me explain. My boyfriend is just an ordinary person. Regardless of how he got the necklace, I don't know. Because he gave me that necklace right on my birthday." I gulped with difficulty.
Dominic narrowed his eyes, his finger tapping on his gun.
"Am I supposed to believe you?"
I stared at him, trying to look calm despite my weak knees.
"Whether you believe me or not is up to you. But clearly, I've told you the truth."
Dominic was silent, but his eyes remained sharp. Just then I thought of something. Yes, I remembered the necklace.
"Ah, I just remembered! There was a necklace just like this. Maybe mine was fake, and hers was real."
Dominic leaned in slightly.
"Who? Explain!”
