Chapter 14: The Rescue
1476 Words
Amelia's wrists burned from struggling against the ropes that tied her to the chair.
The abandoned warehouse was cold and dark. A single light bulb hung from the ceiling, flickering every few seconds.
She took a shaky breath, trying to calm herself.
Across from her stood Richard Carter, her stepfather, with a cruel smile on his face.
Beside him sat Victor Harrison, the wealthy old businessman who wanted to marry her. His gray hair and wrinkled face made Amelia feel sick.
"I gave you a chance," Richard said coldly. "If you had obeyed me, none of this would have happened."
Amelia glared at him.
"You are not my father."
The smile disappeared from his face.
"I raised you!"
"No!" she shouted. "You used me! You only care about money."
Richard's face darkened.
"You ungrateful girl!"
He raised his hand and slapped her.
The sound echoed through the warehouse.
Tears filled Amelia's eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
"You can hurt me all you want," she said through clenched teeth, "but I will never marry him."
Mr. Harrison chuckled.
"She has spirit."
Richard sighed.
"Don't worry. She'll agree eventually."
"I won't."
"You don't have a choice."
Amelia's heart pounded.
She thought of Ethan.
Did he know she was missing?
Would he come?
Suddenly, she remembered.
Before Richard's men had taken her phone, she had managed to send one message.
Help.
She prayed Ethan had seen it.
---
At Kingsley Group, Ethan stared at his phone.
The message from Amelia had arrived an hour ago.
He had called her immediately.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
A terrible feeling settled in his chest.
Then her location disappeared from the tracking app.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
"Ethan?" Daniel, his assistant, said carefully.
Ethan stood up.
"Find Amelia."
Daniel blinked.
"What happened?"
"Now."
The dangerous look in Ethan's eyes made Daniel move instantly.
Within minutes, several security officers were searching for her.
Ethan paced his office.
His hands were shaking.
He had never been this afraid.
Not for himself.
For Amelia.
Without realizing it, she had become one of the most important people in his life.
An hour later, Daniel rushed back into the office.
"We found something."
Ethan looked up.
"What?"
"Your wife's stepfather rented an old warehouse outside the city."
Ethan's eyes darkened.
"Take me there."
---
Back at the warehouse, Amelia was exhausted.
Mr. Harrison slowly walked toward her.
"You are beautiful," he said.
She shivered.
"Stay away from me."
He smiled.
"You'll be my wife soon."
"I would rather die."
The old man's face twisted with anger.
"You should be grateful."
Amelia looked away in disgust.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps outside.
Then voices.
Richard frowned.
"Who is there?"
A loud crash echoed through the warehouse.
The doors burst open.
Several men in black suits rushed inside.
And then...
Ethan walked in.
He looked furious.
More furious than she had ever seen him.
"Amelia."
Relief flooded her heart.
"Ethan..."
Richard's face turned pale.
"How did you find this place?"
Ethan ignored him.
His eyes stayed on Amelia.
He saw the ropes.
The bruise on her cheek.
And something inside him snapped.
He slowly looked at Richard.
"You touched her?"
Richard took a step backward.
"I-I can explain—"
Before he could finish, Ethan punched him.
Richard fell to the ground.
Amelia gasped.
She had never seen Ethan like this.
His face was cold and terrifying.
Mr. Harrison stood up.
"Who do you think you are?"
Ethan turned toward him.
"I am her husband."
The old man laughed.
"Her husband? Do you know who I am?"
"I don't care."
Mr. Harrison's smile faded.
"You dare disrespect me?"
Ethan took another step forward.
"You kidn*pped my wife."
The warehouse suddenly felt colder.
Even Daniel looked nervous.
Everyone knew Ethan Kingsley rarely lost his temper.
But when he did...
People suffered.
Mr. Harrison pointed at Amelia.
"Her father promised she would marry me."
"She said no."
"That doesn't matter."
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"It matters to me."
The old man scoffed.
"And who exactly are you?"
Ethan reached into his pocket and handed him a business card.
Mr. Harrison looked at it.
Then his eyes widened.
His face turned white.
"E-Ethan Kingsley?"
The room became silent.
Richard's mouth dropped open.
"No... impossible."
Ethan was one of the richest and most powerful businessmen in the country.
No one dared offend him.
And Amelia...
Was his wife.
Mr. Harrison's hands trembled.
"Mr. Kingsley, this is all a misunderstanding."
"It doesn't look like one."
"I didn't know she was your wife."
"You should have listened when she said no."
The old man quickly stepped back.
"I apologize."
Ethan ignored him and walked toward Amelia.
He carefully untied the ropes.
"Are you hurt?" he asked softly.
Tears filled her eyes.
"No."
"You don't have to be brave."
The concern in his voice made her cry.
He gently wiped away her tears.
"I'm here now."
Amelia threw her arms around him.
Ethan hugged her tightly.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Then she whispered,
"I was scared."
His heart broke.
"I'm sorry."
She shook her head.
"You came."
"Of course I came."
He pulled away slightly and looked into her eyes.
"I will always come for you."
Her tears fell faster.
No one had ever protected her like this.
No one.
Richard slowly got up.
"Amelia, listen to me—"
She turned to him.
For the first time in years, she wasn't afraid.
"You are no longer my family."
His face changed.
"What?"
"You used my mother's ashes to control me."
"Amelia—"
"You never loved me."
Richard looked speechless.
"You only wanted money."
The warehouse became silent.
"I hate you."
Those words hit him hard.
Amelia's eyes filled with pain.
"My mother trusted you."
Richard lowered his head.
For a moment, he looked guilty.
But only for a moment.
"You owe me everything!" he shouted.
Amelia stared at him.
"No."
She took Ethan's hand.
"I owe everything to myself."
Ethan squeezed her hand proudly.
Richard's face twisted with anger.
"You'll regret this!"
"No," she said firmly. "You will."
Ethan looked at Daniel.
"Call the police."
Richard froze.
"You can't!"
"I can."
Mr. Harrison immediately panicked.
"Please don't involve me."
Ethan's expression remained cold.
"You helped kidnap my wife."
"I'll pay you!"
"I don't need your money."
Within minutes, police sirens echoed outside.
Richard's face turned pale.
Two officers entered.
"Mr. Richard Carter and Mr. Victor Harrison, you are under arrest."
"No!" Richard shouted.
He looked at Amelia desperately.
"Please help me!"
She said nothing.
The man who had made her life miserable was finally facing the consequences.
The officers dragged the two men away.
As Richard disappeared through the door, he looked back at her.
But Amelia didn't stop him.
She couldn't.
Because she was finally free.
---
Outside the warehouse, the night air was cool.
Ethan removed his jacket and placed it around her shoulders.
"Thank you," she whispered.
He looked at her.
"You never have to thank me."
They walked toward the car.
Halfway there, Amelia stopped.
"Ethan?"
"Yes?"
She looked up at him.
"Why did you come?"
He seemed surprised.
"What do you mean?"
"You could have sent the police."
He smiled softly.
"I couldn't."
"Why?"
For a long moment, he didn't answer.
Then he reached out and touched her cheek.
"Because I was terrified."
She blinked.
"I thought something happened to you."
His voice shook slightly.
"And I realized something."
"What?"
He looked directly into her eyes.
"I can't lose you."
Her breath caught.
The world seemed to stop.
"Ethan..."
He took a deep breath.
"I don't know when it happened."
She couldn't look away from him.
"But somewhere along the way..."
He smiled softly.
"I fell in love with you."
Her heart skipped a beat.
She stared at him, unable to speak.
Ethan looked nervous for the first time.
"I know this is sudden."
She still said nothing.
"If you don't feel the same—"
Before he could finish, Amelia wrapped her arms around him.
Ethan froze.
Then she whispered,
"I thought I was alone."
He hugged her tightly.
"You aren't."
She closed her eyes.
"I think..."
He waited.
"I think I've fallen in love with you too."
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
For the first time that night, he looked relieved.
He gently lifted her chin.
"Really?"
She nodded shyly.
He smiled.
The most beautiful smile she had ever seen.
Then he kissed her forehead.
"I promise," he whispered, "I'll protect you for the rest of my life."
Tears filled her eyes again.
But this time, they were tears of happiness.
As they stood beneath the moonlight, Amelia realized something.
Her wedding day had been the worst day of her life.
But meeting Ethan Kingsley...
Had become the best thing that ever happened to her.
And their story was only beginning.
- Writer
