04. Please Save Me!

As Evelyn was about to flee, her hand was suddenly grabbed, and she was now restrained by the man who had been chasing her earlier.

"You can't go anywhere, Miss," the man whispered with a frightening smile that made Evelyn scream. She was truly trapped; her life would really end at Grace's hands.

"Let go! Release me, damn it! What do you really want, Grace? You've already taken my family's house, so let me be free, let me live normally!" Evelyn shouted, her tears now unstoppable. She was angry, hurt, and exhausted. She didn't want to live like this.

Instead of feeling pity, Grace laughed as if Evelyn's tears were entertainment for her. She walked closer to Evelyn, changing her facial expression and pretending to be sad.

"My poor daughter, you must really want to be free from me," Grace said, seemingly mocking Evelyn. She reached out and stroked Evelyn's cheek, wet with tears.

"But Evelyn, I am your mother. Your father always asked me to take care of you. That's why I have the right to control your life. Look at your appearance now! It's so pitiful, your clothes are shabby like a beggar's." Evelyn's crying stopped, and she now changed her gaze to a very sharp one.

Suddenly, Evelyn spat in Grace's face, then smiled smugly. "My mother? Don't dream, Grace. I refuse to have a mother who sells her own daughter. You consider me your daughter because you want to sell me, you wretch."

"How dare you!" Grace shouted, wiping her own face and staring at Evelyn with bulging eyes.

"I've been kind to you, but you're ungrateful!" Without mercy, Grace raised her hand and slapped Evelyn's cheek hard, causing Evelyn to feel her cheek stinging and burning. She was sure her cheek was now swollen from Grace's hard slap.

Once again, Evelyn couldn't hold back her tears; she was in great pain. She wanted to run away immediately, or at least kill herself rather than having to live like this.

"Let go! Release me, damn it! I'd rather die than be with you!" Evelyn growled, struggling, but no matter how much strength she had, she would still be overpowered by a man's strength.

"Listen, Evelyn." Grace roughly gripped Evelyn's cheek. "Even death is too good for you," she continued with a devilish smile.

Evelyn cried out, trying to free herself. But her efforts kept failing.

"Let me go! Please, release me!" Evelyn pleaded again. Now she was lowering her ego a bit. "I just want to leave, Grace. I beg you."

"Too bad, I can't let you go, darling. Mr. Marco is waiting for you, he really wants to meet you and repeat your wedding ceremony." Evelyn shook her head; she didn't want to marry Marco! She didn't want to spend the rest of her life in hell with that old man and Grace.

"Hugo, let's put her in the car," Grace ordered. The man holding Evelyn nodded in understanding, then tried to pull Evelyn into the car, but because his hands were sweaty and slightly slippery, Evelyn felt she could easily free her hand.

"I think I can escape, no, I should wait for Grace to get in the car," Evelyn thought, planning her escape. She watched Grace for a moment, and after Grace got into the car, Evelyn felt this was her chance.

"Hugo, what are you waiting for? Quickly put her in!" Grace shouted from inside the car. Hugo was about to pull Evelyn, but Evelyn quickly ran away.

"Evelyn! Where do you think you're going?" Grace shouted, immediately getting out of her car again when she saw Evelyn successfully escaping.

"Damn it, are you stupid?" Grace snarled at Hugo. "Quickly chase her!"

"Yes, Ma'am!" Hugo tried to chase Evelyn, and Evelyn was already running fast. She ran with all her might, as if she was on the brink of death. Therefore, she had to try to escape from Grace.

Fortunately, the man seemed to be quite far behind. Evelyn took advantage of this opportunity to turn into one of the alleys, then looked for a way to escape quickly. If she kept running, Hugo would likely be able to catch her.

Racking her brain, Evelyn saw a large trash bin at the corner of the street. Quickly, she got into the trash bin and hid there.

She covered her own mouth, trying to prevent any sound from coming out as she continued to cry. Her body was already shaking, but Evelyn had to try a little more. This was for her life.

Footsteps were heard approaching, and Evelyn could guess it was Hugo.

"Where did that damn girl go? Damn, I lost her! Madam Grace will be very angry," he complained.

But fortunately, soon the sound of footsteps was heard moving away. Evelyn removed her hand from her mouth, and her crying broke out.

Why did her life have to be like this? Why did she have to be born with such a terrible fate?

Half an hour later, Evelyn came out. She had to find a new hiding place before Grace searched for her again around here. She was sure that her stepmother knew she was now hiding.

Gathering her strength again, Evelyn was about to run. Until suddenly, in an alley not far from her, there was Hugo. Apparently, the man hadn't left. Evelyn's eyes widened, then she was about to go to another alley, but it seemed Grace had already sent someone else to look for her.

"That's Miss Evelyn!" Hugo shouted.

"Quickly catch her!" With no other way, Evelyn ran towards the main road. She was now being chased by two men, and her misfortune didn't end there. Just as she came out of the alley, Grace was already standing beside her car.

"Evelyn, just give up. You'll be caught!" Grace shouted.

Evelyn seemed to really have to surrender; she had no other way to escape anymore. Her body was already weak; she didn't know what to do. She had no more energy to run, and it seemed that running would also be futile.

"Now you know that I will still find you even if you hide like a rat? You foolish girl," Grace said again with a laugh that made Evelyn sick.

Suddenly, a car appeared to be driving closer. Its lights shone directly at Evelyn, who was standing in the middle of the road.

Everyone there was puzzled, wondering who was coming.

Unlike Grace who was bewildered, Evelyn took advantage of this opportunity. She banged on the car's window.

"Please save me!" Evelyn shouted. Seeing this, Hugo ran closer to Evelyn and pulled her away.

"Please, I beg you to help me! I'll do anything for you, just don't let me go with that witch!" Evelyn shouted again while crying; she was being dragged to get into the car.

"How stupid, you're begging a stranger," Grace scoffed. She turned to the car and waved her hand.

"Go away, sir. This is none of your business!" Even though Grace had said that, the man in the car stepped out.

"Stop, don't take her," the man said, surprising Evelyn, who immediately turned to look.

"What do you mean? Mind your own business, don't interfere with us," Grace replied, displeased. 

The man walked closer, and now Evelyn could see who he was. Adam, Benedict's secretary. Why had he come? Did that man also want to take her because he knew Evelyn had heard bad news about his boss?