When I Spilled Champagne, He Called My Name

Chapter 4 The Heartbreaking Choice

I was awakened by the howling sea breeze.

My mouth was sealed with duct tape, and my hands were tied behind my back.

When I looked around, I found myself on the edge of a steep cliff, with the raging sea beneath my feet.

Next to me, also bound, was Amelia.

She looked even more disheveled than me, her hair in a mess, with tear stains on her face, shivering uncontrollably.

Not far away, three masked men stood.

One of them was on the phone. "Mr. Thorne, right? Your niece and your savior are both in our hands now. I've sent you the location. Come alone, and bring five million dollars in cash. Don't play any tricks, or neither of them will make it out alive!"

The sea breeze numbed my whole body, leaving me with no strength to resist.

Turning to look at Amelia, I found her looking at me too. She gave me a sly smile, and uneasiness settled in my stomach.

Time ticked by painfully slowly in the cold and fear.

After what seemed like ages, the sound of a car engine came from afar. A familiar figure staggered up the slope—it was Evander.

He was carrying a suitcase and looked deathly pale.

Hurriedly, he glanced at Amelia and me.

"I've brought the money! Let them go!" Evander yelled, throwing the suitcase on the ground.

One of the kidnappers kicked the suitcase open, and a grin spread across his face. "Mr. Thorne, you're quite generous. But you know what? We've changed our minds. You can only take one of them with you. Choose one, or they'll both die!"

"You bastards!" Evander roared.

"Choose! You've got ten seconds. Ten, nine, eight..."

Evander's eyes darted between Amelia and me. He clenched his fists so tightly that his body started to shake.

Amelia whimpered weakly. "Evander, save me. I'm so scared. There's the sea down there..."

Hearing the word "sea," Evander flinched.

"Seven, six, five..."

His gaze fixed on Amelia's tear-streaked face, then slowly shifted to me.

I stared at him silently without crying out or pleading. I wanted to see his choice.

"Four, three..."

"Amelia!" Evander shouted, his eyes bloodshot. His body shook even more violently. "I choose Amelia! Let her go!"

One of the kidnappers yanked Amelia up and pushed her toward Evander.

He caught the limp Amelia in his arms, then looked at me, his voice stiff as he tried to explain, "Sylvia, don't be afraid. I've arranged for help, and they'll be here soon. I won't give up on you. Hold on!"

Then he held Amelia close and walked away without looking back once.

On the cliff, I was left alone with the smug kidnappers.

The sea wind howled like a thousand knives, but I didn't feel the pain anymore.

Evander had chosen Amelia. In his heart, her life was more important, and I meant nothing to him.

The kidnappers sneered and approached me.

"Poor thing, you've been dumped," one of them said.

"Don't be afraid. We'll keep you company," another said.

Despair washed over me like a tsunami.

All of a sudden, all the pent-up grievances I'd harbored toward Evander over the years surged to the surface, swallowing every trace of the affection I once held.

I struggled to my feet with all my might.

The cliff edge was right beside me; one wrong move and it was over.

The kidnappers frowned, clearly puzzled by my actions.

I just turned my head and took one last look in the direction where Evander had left.

Before they could pounce on me, I took a deep breath and jumped off the cliff into the churning sea below.

The icy water rushed into my mouth and nose, quickly engulfing me.

*****

When I woke up, the doctor told me that kind-hearted fishermen had saved me.

Although I'd survived, my right leg had been impaled by a rock, and I became crippled.

I accepted my fate quietly and started a new life.

Being disabled, I couldn't find a proper job, so I ended up working as a cleaner in a hotel.

Until today, I ran into him again.

The cold wind in the alley made me shiver.

The sandwich in my hand was already cold.

Miranda was crying and gesturing excitedly.

I wiped away my tears and forced a smile at her, then limped home.

Just as I stepped out of the alley, a blinding car light shone directly on me.

Evander jumped out of the car in a hurry. He was only in a shirt, his hair disheveled, looking as if he'd rushed here.

"Sylvia, I know everything!" he said, his eyes red-rimmed and teary as he reached out his hand to me.