“Mr. Herbert, it’s time to choose again. Who should we pick this time?” the scar-faced man lazily asked.
Brian’s eyes flicked to Adeline. Her face was pale, but her eyes fixed on him that were full of hope.
“I choose Adeline!” he shouted firmly.
The kidnapper smirked, unlocked one of the cages and shoved me inside instead. The iron door slammed shut with a loud clang. The dark, cramped space closed in around me, making it hard to breathe.
I curled up in the corner, my whole body shaking.
My voice cracked as I called out softly, “Brian … ”
But outside, there was only Adeline’s sobbing and Brian’s gentle words as he comforted her. Only after a long time did he remember me. His voice turned impatient as he spoke, “Name your price. Don’t hurt Lilian again.”
The scar-faced man laughed mockingly before he responded, “Wonderful! One hundred million. That’s enough to buy one life. So, Mr. Herbert … who do you want to save?”
Brian’s answer was sharp and quick.
“Don’t touch her. Redeem Adeline.”
He practically shouted the words.
Meanwhile, I leaned weakly against the cold bars as Adeline was untied. She threw herself into his arms as she cried dramatically while I was too exhausted even to curse. Brian then lifted her carefully and looked at me with a complicated expression.
“Lilian, your sister is fragile. I’ll take her first. Wait here. I’ll transfer the money and come back for you.”
He didn’t wait for me to reply. Without another glance, he left carrying Adeline. The scar-faced man crouched in front of my cage and kicked my leg casually.
“Your fiancé is really devoted to her, huh?”
I realized that I was coughing blood, but I forced myself to sit up straighter as I looked at the man coldly.
My voice was steady as I asked him, “How much would it cost to save my life? I’ll pay you double whatever Adeline gave.”
The man froze for a moment, then his lips curled into a grin. As I suspected, these men were indeed people ordered by Adeline. He quickly stopped with his act, boldly saying, “Your sister wants you dead. But we only care about the money.”
My hands shook as I pulled out my cracked phone. I called a trusted friend and wired two hundred million on the spot. The kidnappers checked the transfer, then cut the ropes around my wrists.
I walked out without looking back, hailed the first taxi I saw and headed straight to the airport.
Right before boarding, my phone buzzed. One billion appeared in my account. A message from my friend followed.
[Brian was fooled. Two days later, their stocks would crash and they would lose their critical technologies.]
I stared at my phone screen. A faint smile tugged at my lips. It began.
Meanwhile, Brian had rushed back to find me after sending Adeline to the hospital. But Adeline clung to his arm to stop him.
“Mum and Dad just called. They said they already rescued my sister and took her home. If you leave now, I’ll be all alone.”
Brian couldn’t help but feel irritated with the crying Adeline. He kept recalling my last cold, distant look. It left behind a strange unease in his chest.
However, Adeline kept talking, “Mum said Lilian’s resting. And you’re marrying her tomorrow, remember? It’s bad luck to see the bride the day before the wedding. You’ll see her tomorrow. Don’t worry.”
It was only after Adeline told Brian that I was safe and sound that he exhaled slowly. He told himself that he would make everything up to me tomorrow and for the rest of our lives.
The next day, the wedding was everywhere in the news. Everyone was talking about the grand union between the Wyatt and Herbert families, calling it the wedding of the century.
Brian stood at the altar, excitement lighting up his face as he saw the bride walking toward him in a sea of flowers. He rushed forward and pulled “me” into his arms.
“Lilian, I missed you so much!” he said warmly.
But then the bride turned around. Brian’s entire body froze. With a shocked expression, Brian angrily asked, “Adeline, why are you here? Where’s Lilian?”
