I Was My Fiancè's Pawn Until I Met His Rival

“Dad, didn’t you have the car tank filled?” Lexi asked anxiously, gripping her phone as she drove. Tonight mattered to her because it was the night she is to meet her fiancè and his family. Although Desmond didn't inform her about this meeting until a day ago when his personal assistant reached out to her. He called to let her know about the family dinner which she was to come with her dad who is her only guardian. Lexi got excited about it at the same time worried on how Desmond could miss such a moment. It was the first time she was meeting his family so she dressed her all. She assumed he must have forgotten, buried under his tight schedule. Lexi’s fiancé was the CEO of Kingsgate Enterprise, a forty-billion-dollar luxury conglomerate, with hotels in Beverly Hills and a few in Dubai. Because of the late notice, she had no choice but to drive alone, taking a shortcut. By nine that night, her car sputtered and came to a stop halfway. Her chest tightened as realization sank in, her father hadn’t filled the tank enough. It must have slipped his mind. “Sorry, love. I forgot about it. Where are you now? I can take a cab to pick you up.” Lexi exhaled slowly, frustration flickering across her face. She wanted to agree, but the thought of her father still managing his high blood pressure, and at this late hour made her decline his offer. “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll try to book a cab. Don’t think too much about me. Take care of yourself until I return.” “Okay, darling. Call me once you arrive, alright? Maybe this time I’ll finally be able to talk to my future son-in-law.” A faint smile touched her lips. “I will.” The call ended, the silence wrapping around her. The road stretched ahead, dark and lonely. Her fingers tightened around her phone as uncertainty crept in. Her first instinct was to call Desmond. She quickly dials his number but no answer, she tried again and again. Nothing. This wasn't the first time, she expected it but not when she was in this critical situation. Her brows furrowed, anxiety rising. Left with no choice, she typed a message: “DES, I’ve been calling but you aren’t answering. I’m sorry for running late, but right now I’m stuck on the road. I’ll leave my address. Please come pick me up.” She tried to send it but it couldn't go through. She shifted around, lifting her phone higher, stepping out of the car, searching for a signal but nothing. With the amount of fear piling in her, she quickly grabbed her bag and stepped away from the car, her heels clicking faintly against the rough ground. Her eyes darted behind her every few seconds, her breath shallow, as if expecting someone to emerge from the darkness. The area was unsettling, abandoned buildings, some half-constructed. The silence was heavy, but the fact she could hear the sound of cars from a distant brought a bit of comfort. Ahead of her, she notices three vans pulling ahead, doors sliding open. About six stepped out, two from each Van. She froze, her heart slammed against her chest. She was about to call for help when she noticed the guns they had. Her breath caught instantly. Without thinking, she ducked behind a pile of molded blocks, pressing her body tightly against the cold surface. She could feel her pulse raising as she peeked cautiously. The men, unaware of her presence, entered one of the buildings. She waited until she was sure they were gone did she slowly rise. She turned, ready to run back to her car when she heard a scream. it was sharp and desperate, it sounded like that of a teenage girl. Lexi froze mid-step, her heart twisting painfully. Every instinct told her to leave, run and stay safe but something deeper, stronger, refused to let her. Her jaw tightened, Carefully, she slipped into the building. The air inside was thick, stale. Her footsteps were light, controlled. She managed to pass two guards unnoticed, then quickly slipped off her heels, holding them in one hand to silence her movements. As she moved deeper inside, her stomach dropped. Her eyes caught the teenager struggling while being surrounded by two men. For a brief moment, she hesitated fear clawing at her but her conscience wouldn’t allow her to turn away. Her gaze darted around until it landed on a half-installed window. Through it, she spotted a vehicle parked between the vans. Quickly, she grabbed a heavy stone nearby and hurled it through the opening. CRASH! The car alarm blared loudly, echoing through the building. She ducked instantly, pressing herself against the wall as hurried footsteps thundered past her the men rushing outside. She sprinted toward the girl, her fingers trembling as she untied the ropes binding her wrists. Gently, she peeled off the tape from her lips and pulled her up. “Are you okay? We need to get out of here. I don’t think I distracted them for long.” The girl burst into tears, shaking her head. “We can’t leave… he’s still here. We need to help him.” Lexi blinked, confused. “Who are you talking about?” “My brother… They have him too. I think he’s upstairs. I need to save him.” The girl turned, ready to run, but Lexi grabbed her arm, stopping her. “You were almost r***d just now, and you want to play superwoman? I don't even know what I’m doing in this mess.” The girl clasped Lexi’s hands tightly, desperation in her tear-filled eyes. She kept pleading, her voice breaking. Lexi hesitated. Regret flickered through her, if she had just walked past, she wouldn’t be here, tangled in this nightmare. But looking at the girl… broken, terrified… She had no choice, “Fine. I’ll find your brother—but on one condition. I will go alone.” Without waiting for an argument, Lexi shrugged off her jacket and draped it over the girl’s shoulders. She handed her phone over. “Call for help. Here, take my car keys. Wait inside the car.” The girl nodded quickly and ran. Hearing voices returning, Lexi didn’t waste another second. She rushed toward the upper floor, her heart pounding with every step. The girl hadn’t lied. But what shocked Lexi most— The “brother” wasn’t a boy. He was a fully grown man, probably in his late twenties… maybe early thirties. He sat tied to a chair, his body limp, clearly weak. If she made another mistake now, they were both dead. “Where is the girl? Are you telling me you lost her, you morons?!” The angry voice echoed from the second floor. The tension thickened. One of the men stormed out, leaving only one inside the room. Lexi swallowed hard. She picked up another stone and tossed it to the opposite side. CLACK. “Who’s there?” the man barked, pulling out his gun as he stepped out cautiously. She moved swiftly, striking the back of his head with all her strength. He collapsed instantly. Breathing heavily, she rushed to the man tied to the chair, her fingers working quickly to untie him. He was weak, too weak. She tried to lift him, but his weight dragged them both down. They hit the ground hard. “Hey—hey… look I didn't come here to die so please try getting up”, she grunts in pain from the weight of the guy. “Who… are you?” he asked, his voice low and strained. “That’s not important right now. We need to leave. Right now I need you to gather all the strength you have. I’m sure you want to see your sister again.” Before he could respond— “Hey! What are you trying to do? Escape?” Lexi’s head snapped toward the door. A man stood there, his gun pointed at them. “Pull me up… and stand behind me,” the man beside her muttered. With effort, Lexi helped him up. What happened next was a blur. He fought despite his weakened state, his movements were precise, deadly. But the sound of a gunshot shattered the air, drawing more men four this time. The tension escalated instantly. Even as he took hits, he fought back, managing to take them down. “Run!” he barked. They sprinted out of the building, breaths ragged, adrenaline surging. He grabbed car keys from one of the bodies, pulling her along toward a van. They were almost there when Lexi saw the armed man, with his gun aimed at him. “watch out—!” she tried to warn. But the gunshot rang out, pain exploded through her. Her body jerked as the bullet hit her instead.