Ruins
1306 Words
Suddenly, several cars pulled into the Lavenders' family villa, and men in black attire got down.
Joe, hearing the noise, got down in his pyjamas to see what was happening even though the sleep was still in his eyes.
He stepped down and regarded the men for a moment.
“How can I help you?”
“Get him!” One of the men ordered.
At the order, two men lurched forward and gripped him hard by his shoulders, then they dragged him into the car.
They entered the house and dragged everyone out, even Sean and Cynthia, who were sleeping. Then, they bundled them into the car.
Just at the same moment, they broke into Betty's house.
“Who are you!” Ann yelled as she tried to make a run for it. “We are under attack, Liam!” She yelled.
Liam retrieved the lamp and threw it at the men. It merely hit them and shattered, but it didn't even affect them. Then, they took them even as Ann struggled against them.
Eventually, they got them inside the tinted cars and drove over to Aurum Hall's basement.
Betty was in the basement, forced to sit and tied at the legs and hands. Suddenly, the door opened behind her, and her family was led inside, tied as well.
Everyone was kidn*pped, including her mother and father; Ann Lavender, Liam Lavender, Cynthia Lavender, and the rest.
Sean’s eyes widened with shock at the sight of Betty. “You are here.”
Someone cleared his throat suddenly, and everyone looked up. Lucas sat at the far end, a cigarette in hand.
“Please, why are we here? What have we done? Please forgive us,” Joe went on his knees and pleaded. “We have never wronged you, Sir Lucas. Please, if we have done something wrong, let me know. I will do anything to ask for forgiveness.”
Lucas scoffed and looked at Betty, who had been shedding tears since they brought her to the basement. Her face was reddish and almost swollen now.
“Do you know what you did?”
Betty shook her head quickly. “I have no idea,” she confessed.
Which was right. She had no idea how she was accused of making the painting break. It was the men that hit her, but when she was watching the video, it looked as though she was the one that hit them. How was the video manipulated?
Lucas laughed, a dry and scary one. Then he looked at Joe. “Do you want to know what your daughter did?”
Joe felt a stab of annoyance at this question, but it was directed at Lucas, not at Betty.
“You this child! What did you do?”
“What have you done this time? Why have you put us in this situation?” Ann yelled.
“I knew it! I knew she would be the end of all the family!” Sean added.
“Well, your daughter destroyed a painting worth 700 billion dollars. I want you to pay for it!”
Lucas went stiff for a moment. It was as if he had zoomed off. The shock made the blood on his face dry up, and he now appeared pale.
“700 billion dollars?” He exclaimed.
Lucas nodded once. “She destroyed ‘The Night Watch.”
At this moment, Joe had no words to say. It felt like they were all stuck in his throat. If they liquidated all their assets, they wouldn't even be able to pay for the damage. They would totally go bankrupt.
“What! You destroyed 700 billion worth of painting? How could you!” Liam, who has been quiet all this while, yelled suddenly.
Betty was the one that placed him in a tight position in the first place. It was because she got inside the fire ten years ago that he was reduced to nothing. And when he thought he was finally back in the limelight, Betty had to come with her bad luck again.
Betty still couldn't believe all of it. It still felt surreal to her. She looked at Lucas. “Why are you so ruthless? What have we all done to deserve this?
“Oh, you don't know what you have done?” Lucas snickered. “You didn't know what you were doing when you called Damon to bankrupt the Sterling family?”
What!
Betty's face as realisation dawned on her.
“So, this wasn't even about the paintings.”
“Well, it wasn't,“ Lucas admitted.
“This is all your fault, Betty!” Joe yelled instantly.
Betty was shocked. What!
“But, Grandpa—”
“Don't grandpa me!” Joe snapped. “All this was your fault. You brought all this into this mess, and you still had the guts to talk?”
Betty couldn't believe what she was hearing. The Lavenders' family benefitted from what had happened. Why would they blame her alone for it?
“Yes! She deserves to be punished alone. Why involve the rest of us when we have no hand in this matter? It's totally unfair,” Sean cried.
“Shut up!” Lucas yelled. “Do you think I have the time for all this nonsense? You think I have come here to play?”
“Please, I will never intentionally do anything to offend you. Please. Sir Lucas. Have mercy on us. Please!”
Lucas scoffed. “No one in the Lavenders' family will be able to leave here alive!”
Sean and Cynthia started wailing.
“Please, let us go. We have nothing in this.”
“Please, let me go. I am innocent!”
“But I'm willing to let you go on one condition,” Lucas said suddenly, and everyone went mute.
A feeling of hope washed over them. Lucas could actually release them. It was a good thing.
“What's it? Anything. We will do anything,” Joe assured.
Lucas stood up. “Not you, though. It's your daughter that can actually help you out. She's the only one that can help you.”
Joe turned to look at Betty. “You better do anything Sir Lucas asks you so we can get out of here quickly.”
“Yes! Betty sweetheart. Please, you must do anything he wants,” Ann said softly.
Lucas moved towards Betty slowly and pulled out a pocket knife.
“You see, something baffles me about you, Betty. Ten years ago, you ran inside the fire to rescue someone. And then, you ended up getting burnt. How are you so flawless now?”
Betty started to sob again.
Lucas laughed, then sobered up immediately. “Who did you rescue, Betty? Who was the man you saved ten years ago?”
Betty sobbed even harder. “I have no idea what you are asking me.”
Lucas clenched his teeth. “Do you think I'm playing with you?” He muttered from behind her and placed the knife against her cheek. “I will advise you to start talking and don't upset me because you won't like what the consequences will be.”
Betty shivered. “Please.”
Lucas cut her face with the pocket knife with him.
Betty winced as liquid stained a side of her face.
Everyone screamed at the sight of blood. Those who couldn't withstand it fainted.
Betty yelled again. “Please! Let me go!” She yelled with the hope that someone could hear her and come rushing inside.
But no one did.
Lucas snickered and moved the knife to the other side of her face. “Tell me, Betty. Who did you save? How did your face clear? Where is the man?” He cut the other side of her face, and Betty yelled again.
- Writer
