Silence hung in the air."We were chatting so happily that we forgot what's most important. I need to send the address to your husband. He must be waiting anxiously."The man took out his phone, and began tapping on the screen.Rosalie closed her eyes wearily, knowing that he wouldn't let her go. Pleading with him was useless.After tapping on the phone for a while, the man put it back in his pocket. He then approached Laila, bound her tightly, and dragged her out."Where are you taking me?""Be quiet!" the man snapped.Laila instinctively struggled, but the man, losing patience, struck her hard on the back of her head. Her vision went black, and she lost consciousness.The man grabbed one of her legs, and dragged her out of the building.Rosalie didn't know where he was taking Laila, and didn't hear any more sounds after that.-The sound of screeching brakes echoed in the empty space. As the tires ground to a halt, it kicked up dust from the ground.The car door opened, a
"Are you correcting what I'm saying?" The man was displeased. "I don't like others correcting me, because I'm always right."Sebastian was about to retort when Theodore turned and said, "Stop it. Rose is still in his hands. Can we please stay calm?""You…" Sebastian was unwilling; upon reflection, if he argued with Theodore here, it would only validate Theodore's point.So, he had to swallow his anger for now.He turned to look at the speaker, which had a microphone on top. Speaking into the microphone, he asked, "Where’s Rose?""Unlock the tablet."Theodore immediately unlocked the tablet. On the screen was a play button. He clicked it, and the tablet showed a video of Rosalie tied to a pole. There was a lot of blood on the ground.Seeing this, both men's emotions instantly unraveled."Damn it! What have you done to her?" Sebastian shouted."What can I do? Just what you see," the man replied slowly and unhurriedly, in stark contrast to Sebastian's fury.Sebastian's eyes turn
Rosalie's chin was grasped by a large hand, lifting her head. The man then took out his phone, and held it up in front of Rosalie. "Do you see? Both of those men came to save you."Rosalie panicked upon seeing the men on the screen. "What do you want to do?""Good question. I want to know which one of them is more important to you.""Neither of them is important," Rosalie said."Oh, is that so?" The man laughed. "Then how about I kill them both? I've set up a mechanism. As soon as I press this button, I can immediately shoot through their heads.""Don't!" Rosalie said urgently. "I'm already in your hands. There's no need for this.""So nervous!" the man said. "Didn't you say they're not important to you? If they're not important, why do you care?""I'm begging you. Please tell me what you really want to do.""I've told you. I want to know who is more important to you. One is your ex-husband whom you loved deeply, and the other is your husband. Do you love him?"Rosalie closed
“What about the injured one? Will you kill him?” Rosalie asked.“He’s already injured. Why should I kill him?” The man picked up his phone. “The left button is Theodore Spencer, and the right button is Sebastian Carter. The bottom-most button is for both of them dead. Which button should I press? Should I injure one of them, or should I just kill them both? Why don’t you tell me?”“No, I can’t make the choice! None of them should get hurt or die. I’m begging you, let them go! I’ll play whatever games you want, just let them go!”The man was losing his patience. “I’ll give you ten seconds to choose one, or both will die.” With that, he started counting down. “Ten, nine…”“How badly injured will the injured one be?” Rosalie asked anxiously.“Eight, seven, six…”“Answer me, or how am I going to choose?”“Five, four…”“I’m begging you, don’t be like this!”“Three, two, one.”“I choose Theodore Spencer!”Rosalie was forced to make a choice in a moment of desperation.The man s
“No! You’re talking nonsense!” Theodore said with every ounce of strength he had left. “She wouldn’t let me get injured, she wouldn’t!”“Really? I’ll let you see it for yourself!”An image was projected on the wall.“I choose Theodore Spencer!”Rosalie could be seen clearly in the projection.The abductor’s voice could be heard in the video, saying, “So, you chose Theodore. Does that mean you want Sebastian to be injured?”The man’s finger shifted to the button on the right as he spoke.“No, no,” Rosalie said in a trembling voice. “I meant that I choose for Theodore…to be injured.”The video ended abruptly and the projection stopped, leaving them staring at a mottled and peeling wall.Theodore slumped to the ground, staring straight ahead at nothing in particular, as if all his energy had been sucked out of him. He looked as if his soul had been yanked out of his body, and didn’t even have the strength to struggle.‘No…’ he thought despondently. ‘How could Rose treat me like
Sebastian drove following the directions the masked man gave him, and found a building.He got out of the car and rushed inside, only to find a person tied to a pillar, crying sadly.Rosalie heard the footsteps, and looked up to see Sebastian rushing toward her.“Rose!” He rushed up to her, and cupped her face in his hands. “Rose, I finally found you! Are you hurt?”He brushed her fringe off her forehead, and found an abrasion on her forehead. The sight broke his heart and filled him with rage.Rosalie looked dazed, and immediately asked while looking behind Sebastian, “Where is Theo? Where is he?”The masked man showed her a video, in which she saw Sebastian and Theodore heading here together.Hearing Rosalie show such concern to Theodore displeased Sebastian greatly. He immediately untied her from the pillar. Rosalie’s legs were sore; she collapsed backward, her body unable to stand it any longer.Sebastian held her at once. “Rose, I’ll take you home. I’ll protect you, and I’
“Where did you come from?” Rosalie asked. “I know you came with Theo. Where is he now?”Sebastian’s brows furrowed as irritation built up inside him. He wasn’t irritated with Rosalie, but with her overwhelming concern for Theodore’s life and death. It made him very uncomfortable.“Rose, it’s not safe here. Let me take you home first, alright? We’ll talk once we get home. Come on.”He grabbed her wrist.“I’m not going!” Rosalie shook his hand off. “If I don’t see Theo today, I won’t go anywhere. If you’re not telling me, I’ll go find him myself!”“What are you going to find him for?” Sebastian finally yelled, unable to hold himself in any longer. “I’m your husband. I came here risking my life to save you, but all you’re concerned with is Theodore Spencer! You know how dangerous this place is and that we might find ourselves in trouble anytime, but all you care about is him! Aren’t you worried that something might happen to me, too?”“I’ve already chosen you, what else do you want?
There was blood on the ground, and the air was eerily quiet.Rosalie stumbled upon the pool of blood, and collapsed on the ground. “Where is he? Where is he?”Sebastian saw the blood on the ground, and his brows furrowed.He had seen with his own eyes how Theodore was pierced through the chest with an arrow. He wasn’t able to call for help in time, either. Where could Theodore be?Under such circumstances, Theodore couldn’t have left by himself. Did someone come to rescue him?Uneasiness crept up Sebastian’s heart. It would be terrible if Theodore were still alive!Rosalie stood up, and ran toward Sebastian. She grabbed his collar and shrieked, “Where’s Theo? Where is he? Where is he?”“I don’t know,” Sebastian said. “He was here when I left to find you.”Rosalie was stunned when she heard Sebastian’s words. She turned around, and stared at the pool of blood at her feet. “You mean, you left him here with such a terrible injury and did nothing for him?!”Sebastian’s heart leape