"Elena, didn't you know?" her uncle said over the phone. "We're all at the hospital Mr. Thorne arranged. He said he'll schedule Grandma's surgery in a few days."
The revelation hit Elena Vance like a physical blow. Cillian Thorne, that beast! He wasn't just chasing her; he had systematically gathered her family as hostages. No wonder he hadn't sent guards after her last night he knew she had nowhere to run.
Her uncle had lost an arm saving her years ago, and her grandmother was deathly ill. Elena sat on the floor of the phone booth, sobbing until she gagged. But finally, the tears stopped. Her eyes turned cold and empty. She stood up, wiped her face, and began the long walk toward the Thorne estate on Mount Mid.
Walk of Penance
By dusk, Elena reached the foot of the mountain, swaying from exhaustion and the scorching sun. A black luxury car pulled up beside her. Inside, she heard Philip Woods speak.
"Mr. Thorne, it's Mrs. Vance. Should we take her up?"
"Back now? Too late," Cillian's voice was like ice. "The Thorne Family's doors aren't open for her to enter and leave as she pleases."
The car sped past, leaving her in the dust. Elena fainted, only to be woken by a sudden, freezing autumn rain. Philip Woods stood over her with an umbrella.
"Mr. Thorne said that if you kowtow every three steps from here to the manor and arrive before dawn, he will allow you to enter."
Elena's face paled. "Is he crazy? The baby... I'll lose the child!"
"Mr. Thorne says that if the baby is lost, it saves the cost of a hospital abortion," Philip replied blankly.
Elena gritted her teeth. "Fine. I'll do it."
Step by step, she knelt and pressed her forehead to the wet asphalt. By the time she reached the gates, the road was streaked with her blood, washed away by the torrential rain. She collapsed at the entrance, a silent vow of revenge burning in her heart.
The Morning After
Cillian watched the courtyard from his balcony, turning the pages of a book.
"She collapsed, sir," Philip reported.
"Is she dead?"
"Not yet."
"Then throw her in the yard. If she survives the night, let her in. Don't let her die outside and become a laughingstock."
The next morning, Elena woke up under the eaves, shivering but alive. After a quick shower and bandaging her own wounds, she was summoned to Cillian's bedroom. He sat in his wheelchair, looking every bit the tyrannical emperor.
"Do you know why I'm keeping you around?" Cillian asked, his eyes scrutinizing her pale, stubborn face.
"I suppose I'm still useful," Elena whispered. "What can my worthless life do for you, Mr. Thorne? I won't resist anymore, as long as you spare my family."
The True Objective: The Codes
Cillian's eyes flashed with a hint of appreciation. She was smart.
"Help me get something, and I'll release you and your relatives. There is a set of encryption codes hidden within the chip you brought as a dowry. Your father, Jason Vance, is the only one who knows how to unlock it. Get those codes from him, and you're free."
Elena hesitated, then nodded. "Deal."
"Now," Cillian commanded, extending his arms slightly. "Go to the closet. Get me a shirt and change me."
Elena didn't dare refuse. She walked into the closet, fetched a crisp shirt, and leaned in close. With trembling, slender fingers, she began to unbutton his shirt, one button at a time...
