Chapter 7
995 Words
On the day she was released from prison, no one was waiting outside the gates.
Daniel had not come.
Standing beneath the dull gray sky, Evelyn took a deep breath. She hailed a taxi, planning to return home, collect a few things, and leave.
The car sped through the streets. Leaning against the window, waves of exhaustion washed over her.
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself tied to an iron chair, her arms bound tightly behind her back. Only her head could move.
She looked around.
It seemed to be an abandoned warehouse.
Not far away, Ivy was also tied to a chair. Her expression was hidden in the shadows.
"Awake?" A familiar voice sounded.
A man wearing a mask stepped forward, holding a leather whip in his hand.
He walked up to Evelyn and lashed the whip hard across her body.
Pain exploded instantly, burning through her skin. She clenched her teeth and let out a muffled groan.
That voice…
A memory buried deep in her mind was suddenly torn open.
Five years ago, on that night, this same voice, mixed with obscene laughter, had whispered in her ear.
He was one of them.
One of the men from that night.
"Still as stubborn as ever," the kidnapper sneered, raising the whip again.
"If you hadn't insisted on suing us back then and blown the whole thing out of proportion, our boss's company wouldn't have gone bankrupt. We wouldn't be living like rats on the run!"
Ivy screamed, "Aren't you afraid I'll sue you again?"
"So what if you do?"
The kidnapper interrupted her arrogantly.
"We managed to get you once. We can do it again."
"That so-called great lawyer of yours first used you as bait to lure our boss, then protected you while suing us to death. In the end, he swallowed the Shaw family's business for himself. Today I want to see whether that hypocrite chooses you or someone else."
Evelyn felt the blood in her body freeze.
All the scattered pieces suddenly connected.
It really had been Daniel who pushed her into the abyss.
Afterward, he appeared as her savior, devoured the Shaw family's empire, gained fame and fortune and made her grateful to him, completely devoted.
Her heart felt as though it had been torn into pieces.
She had thought her nightmare began when Ivy appeared.
But in truth, the trap had begun the moment she met Daniel.
Seeing the pain on her face, Ivy suddenly laughed.
"You've figured it out, haven't you?" she said smugly. "I planned this k********g myself. I just wanted you to see clearly who the real person in his heart is now."
The warehouse door burst open.
Daniel rushed in carrying a suitcase of cash and shouted, "Let them go! I brought the money!"
The kidnapper pointed his knife at both women and said darkly, "You think it's that simple? Choose one. You can only take one away. Quick. Who do you choose?"
Daniel's gaze moved between them.
It paused on Evelyn's pale face for a brief moment. Then he pointed without hesitation.
"I choose her."
Ivy was pushed toward him.
Daniel stepped forward quickly and grabbed her arm, shielding her behind him.
He looked at Evelyn and spoke hurriedly.
"Evelyn, Ivy is still young. She can't lose her innocence. Wait for me. I'll go get more money and come back for you right away."
A woman who had already climbed into his bed had innocence more important than his own wife.
The kidnapper's laughter echoed in the warehouse.
Evelyn trembled as she shouted at Daniel.
"Daniel, look carefully! He's one of the men who hurt me back then! If you leave me here, you'll regret it!"
Without turning back, Daniel said, "I'll send Ivy away and come back for you immediately. Trust me. What happened before will never happen again."
He turned to the kidnapper and said sternly, "I'm going to get the money. If you dare touch her, you'll face the consequences."
But the moment he turned away, the kidnapper's rough hand had already slipped inside Evelyn's clothes.
Evelyn screamed in despair. "Daniel! Call the police!"
Daniel seemed not to hear. Protecting Ivy, he retreated toward the warehouse door.
Evelyn clearly saw Ivy mouth a sentence to her:
"Useless trash that nobody wants."
The warehouse door slammed shut.
Evelyn fell into endless despair.
The kidnapper sneered as he tore at her clothes, his hands moving lower and lower.
Evelyn suddenly bit down fiercely on his hand.
The next second, a heavy slap landed on her face. The taste of blood filled her mouth.
She spat blood at him and dragged the chair, slamming it hard toward him.
Even if she died, she would never allow him to humiliate her a second time.
The kidnapper was completely enraged. Murder flashed in his eyes as he pulled out a dagger.
"b***h! Want to die? I'll grant your wish!"
Evelyn stumbled.
Before she could react, the cold blade plunged straight into her abdomen.
Pain pierced through her body.
She looked down and saw blood pouring from the wound.
Her vision blurred.
A ringing filled her ears as the world slowly faded to gray.
The last image in her mind was Daniel planting cherry blossom trees for her in their villa, making a gentle promise.
"Those terrible things will never happen again. I'll love you for the rest of my life."
Daniel, so this was how short your "lifetime" was.
"I will never fall in love with you again in my next life."
Her body grew lighter, her eyelids leaden.
In the final moment before her consciousness faded—
Bang!
The warehouse door was violently kicked open.
Someone rushed in like a madman and swept her into his arms.
Scalding tears fell on her face.
"Evelyn… don't fall asleep… please, don't sleep…"
She tried to see who it was.
But no matter how hard she tried, her vision had already failed her.
- Writer
