Rylee’s POV
I passed out the moment I stepped out of the elevator.
When I woke up, it was already the next day.
The door was open, and nurses were coming and going, chatting eagerly.
“And Miss Winters… Who would’ve thought—one is a rich lady, the other a maid.”
“You should’ve seen how worried Mr. Armstrong was yesterday. For four whole hours, he didn’t drink a drop of water. He just stayed by the other Winters’ daughter’s side, kissing her hand over and over, praying she’d wake up.”
Every word from outside stabbed at my heart, but I forced myself not to listen.
For the next week, no one came to see me.
Vlad and my parents were always at Madeline’s side.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and went home by myself.
The villa felt enormous, filled with memories of Vlad and me.
The furniture, rugs, chandeliers, paintings, decorations—every item carried her heart and soul.
Once, I had dreamed of having a beautiful home. Now, I loathed it.
I packed everything piece by piece, throwing all traces of Vlad into a box.
I only kept a few personal items and clothes for myself in my suitcase.
A few more days, once I got the divorce papers, and I would leave for good.
With my packing done, I was about to say goodbye to my friends.
Just as I turned the corner, I heard a familiar voice behind me.
I turned and saw Madeline walking toward me, her face glowing with smug satisfaction.
“Rylee, you just got out of the hospital and already in such a rush? Where are you going?”
I bit back my anger and ignored her, ready to leave.
But she stubbornly followed, her damn eyes shining with provocation.
“You actually dared to threaten Mom and Dad for five hundred million. So what if you got it? Once you leave Vlad and this family, you’re nothing.”
I let out a cold laugh and shot her a glance.
Ah, so it’s the five hundred million that got under her skin!
“Sure, I’m nothing, but at least I have money! Not like you, a sickly brat who only thinks about scheming every day.”
Unlike usual, she didn’t fly into a rage. She just stood there in the backlight, smiling.
Before I could react, several masked men charged at us.
In the chaos, I felt a stick slam into my back.
Then, we were both dragged into a car.
I lost track of time, but eventually, we were thrown into an abandoned warehouse.
Madeline curled up in a corner, crying so hard she could barely catch her breath.
The kidnappers took out a phone, recorded a video of us being kidnapped, and sent it to Vlad.
I leaned against the wall, sweat running down my back from the pain. I gritted my teeth and addressed the kidnappers.
“How much do you want? I can pay.”
But they just burst out laughing.
The lead kidnapper stepped toward me with a knife. I struggled backward, but someone pressed me down and covered my mouth.
The knife cut through my clothes, and a cold shiver ran through me. I widened my eyes and shook my head frantically.
Harsh laughter and rough hands restrained me, their greedy eyes roaming over me.
I desperately looked at Madeline, but her gaze was merciless, cold, and unfeeling.
In that instant, it felt as if I had fallen into an ice abyss.
The humiliation I had feared never came. Instead, I was clothed again, blindfolded, and Madeline’s voice disappeared.
Minutes later, the warehouse door opened.
I heard Vlad’s anxious voice… but he was calling Madeline.
Through a gap in the sack over my head, I saw him cradling her collapsed form, his voice trembling.
“Maddie! Don’t be afraid… I’m here.”
Madeline buried herself in his arms, crying and gasping.
“I thought I’d never see you again…”
Seeing so many people arrive, the kidnappers tried to flee.
But suddenly, one of them shouted in my direction.
“Miss Rylee! We’re leaving now! Take care of yourself!”
The moment he spoke, Vlad lunged forward, yanking the sack off my head and grabbing my shoulders.
His gaze was icy, cutting right through me, his teeth gritted as he spat, “Rylee! You were in on this? You planned the kidnapping?!”
He happened to grab the wound on my back. The pain was so sharp I couldn’t even say a word.
