At this time, I found that my hands were tied to the sides of the head of the bed, and I grabbed the rope with my hands to slowly sit up.Daley looked at me like he was looking at prey in a cage trying to escape.He knew I had nowhere to run, but he still wanted to see what I would come up with. The prey that gives up resistance will only make him lose interest before slaughtering.“I'm not your prey!” I glared at him. “Don't look at me like that.”“You lose your mind when you get angry,” he said as he walked over to me and sat on the edge of the bed, “I taught you, didn't I?”Yes, he was my teacher. He taught me how to hunt in the dark. He taught me how to be a good hunter. But he never told me what I would do if I became prey one day.“If you knew I read your text message, why didn't you catch me in the first place?”I was so stupid! I should have known that his eyes could see through my tricks.“I'm just observing,” he said, looking straight at me. “I want to know what you're going
“Rita?” I looked in amazement at the woman in front of me. She was wearing a large flowery dress, and the morning light shone on her face like a layer of silvery gauze.Rita went over to the bed with her plate and said respectfully, “Good Morning, Eva. It's time for your breakfast.”“Where's Daley?” I asked.“I don't know,” Rita said, shaking her head as she put her breakfast on the table.“Daley told me to take good care of you,” she said, picking up a bowl of oatmeal. “Try this oatmeal first. I made it myself.”She spooned some oatmeal into my mouth, and I turned away. She reluctantly put the bowl back on the table, and then she tried to get me some milk.“Eva, miss... You need to replenish your energy.”“I'm not hungry,” I said stubbornly. “I need to see Daley.”“Daley says he'll come to see you when he is free,” Rita said gently. “If Daley knows you're not eating, he'll be angry.”“I don't have any appetite.” I glanced at the food on my plate. Although it looked delicious, I didn'
“No.” I struggled, and the rope made the skin of my wrists bleed. Daley wouldn't let go no matter how hard I tried.He grabbed the waitress by the hair and held her head back, the woman's pale neck protruding forward. With his other hand, a knife is held to the front of the woman's neck. He stood behind her and looked at me.“She's innocent. Don't hurt her,” I shouted at him.“All men are sinners,” he said, with a solemn air characteristic of a bishop, “But God forgives penitents.”“This woman will die because of you.” The sharp blade only lightly touched the woman's neck, and a tiny bead of blood immediately oozed from her skin.This poor woman was still in a coma. Daley moved the knife away from her, leaving a shallow, thread-like cut across her fair neck.He's not trying to kill this woman, just testing me. He wanted me to give in, to beg, to bow down to him.He is well aware of my weakness.“No, please,” I begged.“Are you afraid?” He sneered as the dagger in his hand approached t
“No.” I unconsciously stepped back and leaned against the door. “That's impossible.”“That's what Daley told me.” Rita looked at me worriedly. “Eva, are you all right?”“I need to be quiet.” I picked up the phone from the floor with difficulty. My feet were powerless, as if they were walking on the sponge.I dialled Frade's phone, but there was a shutdown tone at the other end of the phone. I didn't give up and continued to call his number, but every time I got the same response.'The number you have dialled is powered off.'I left the hotel in a trance, the hot sunlight on my face made my eyes tingle. I struggled to walk the streets with grief in my heart. I don't know where to go.I can't believe it's true.At this time, a shadow appeared in front of me, and I stopped moving forward. I saw Daley's face in the sun. I looked up, and his lips curled up into a cold smile.“Where are you going?”“I'm going to find him.” I stared at him angrily. “Tell me, is he dead?”“Eva, you disappoint
“I won't agree to divorce you,” he said firmly.“I can't live with you as a wife anymore.” I stared at him. “You scare me.”“From now on, I won't restrict your freedom, you can do whatever you want,” he said in a negotiating tone, “I won't force you to do anything and I won't interfere in your personal affairs. But you have to come home every night so I can see you. You're still Mrs. Logan, and our relationship will last until the day we die. This is my final compromise to you.”He paused for a few seconds, his golden eyes gleaming with cold coldness.“I don't mind locking you up again. Don't test my patience.”“So I should thank you for your generosity?” I looked at him coldly.“Yes, you should say thank you to me,” he said. “After all, it is my kindness that has been given to you. And you are ungrateful.”It sounded so familiar, like something Mikeal once said to me.“Thank you for your kindness, Daley,” I said against my will.This time, the suicide was like a farce. I reflected on
“Mark, it's you.” I froze.“Hey,” Mark whispered as his face appeared in front of me.“Frade needs your help.”“Frade? He's not dead, is he?” I tried to control my voice. “Where is he?”“We saved him after he fell into the sea,” Mark said. “Now he's in a safe place and we need your help.”“What should I do?”“Not only did Mia get Frade's money, but she also stole all of his client's information. Daley took control of Vickie, and he took control of the family. He left Frade with nothing. The only way to take Daley down now is to report him for making drugs. We need to get evidence and his client.” Mark lowered his voice, “Eva, only you can help Frade now.”“But how do I get this evidence?” I had never been in Daley's business, and he had never let me know anything about it.“Do something fast,” Mark said. “Call me as soon as you have proof.”“How can I get in touch with you?” I asked. “Your phones are disconnected. Where's Liv?”“Don't worry, she's safe,” Mark said urgently. “We can't
“I'm in the Manor.” My voice trembled.“I'll meet you at the back of the manor in 15 minutes.”“But are you sure you want to come?” I clutched my phone and looked around nervously. “If the guards see you...”“In 15 minutes, we will meet at the back door of the manor, but I won't stay long,” Frade said firmly. “I'll see you in 15 minutes.”The call ended, and I looked at the time on my phone screen. Fifteen minutes later, at exactly 3 a.m., it was time for the guard's shift. If I was fast enough, I could slip out the back door without being seen. Was it worth the risk just to see him?It would be bad if he was found by the guards. But he said he would come, and he would. Well, what's the big deal about me taking a risk just to see him? I would be content to see him alive, even if only for a moment.The 15-minute waiting time is like a century of torment for me. I hid in the dark and waited for the guard to leave the post when I saw him disappear into the darkness. At once, I ran as fas
“Liv, whatever Mia says to you, please don't believe her,” I explained hastily. “She's a liar. She's doing this to destroy our friendship.”“Eva.” Liv raised a hand to stop me. “It's not Jeff I'm mad at, it's you.”“I don't know what you mean.” I felt helpless that Jeff's crush on me came from Mia's mouth after I had met her. To be honest, when Mia first told me, I didn't believe her. But how do I explain to Liv that Jeff kept Mia?“Mia sent me a video,” Liv said, sitting across from me. “I saw Jeff calling your name when he was f.ucking Mia. Mia said she told you, but why didn't you tell me?”“I didn't tell you because...” I paused for two seconds, “Because I was afraid you would hate me if you knew the truth.”“Hate you?” Liv shook her head. “Why would I hate you? Because my ex-husband had fantasized about my best friend, and he was even willing to keep a woman just like her? Isn't Jeff the one I should hate?”I was stunned. I thought Liv would be angry, or at least she would scold
A week later, the trip to Mexico didn't go well. Mexicans were angry at Mickle's claims that the wall had been expanded. The Mexican president and Mickle met in secret for three hours. I don't know what they talked about.After the meeting, he got on a plane and left Mexico. But he left me behind, and I knew exactly what he was doing.I was not surprised to see Daley in front of me as the representative of Mexico. Instead, I had the urge to punch him, but I held back.During my stay in Mexico, Daley was responsible for receiving me as the Mexican representative. The night we met, he took me to a fancy restaurant in Mexico City.“I had no idea that the famous Daley was already a member of council.”I looked across at Daley. The last time we parted, he looked pale. But now, beneath his mask of calm lies a kind of ineffable pride.“Do you have to talk to me like that?” Daley smiled at me, “It's been a long time since we were alone together and I miss you so much. I think we should celebr
“Why do you always have to decide before you tell me?” Frade asked, smoking hard on the couch. “Didn't I tell you to consult me before you made any decisions?”“Because this time there is no room for negotiation.” I stood in front of him, looking at him like that. My heart felt extremely painful. But I had to tell him about my decision. We have to face the truth eventually.“Mia was dead.”Frade's face froze for a few seconds. “She's dead?”“She escaped from the sanatorium, frantically searching for her father and questioning him as to why he had abandoned her. Mickle's bodyguard shot her for endangering the president. It happened right in front of me.”I have mixed feelings about Mia's death. Even though she was detestable, her death was like a razor blade slicing through my unsuspecting skin. It was instant, clear pain.Frade continued to smoke heavily. He didn't show much emotion about Mia's death. But I guess he felt the same way.He was in love with Mia. Her love was fake, but hi
I didn't expect Mickle to agree to meet with me as soon as I contacted him. But I had to go jogging with him, so I changed into a white sweatshirt and drove to his estate.We jogged side by side on a path near the estate, with two bodyguards following us. I can't remember the last time I ran in the morning. I was a little out of it at first, but after a while, I got my breath back.“Do you need a few minutes?” Mickle, who was wearing a black, short-sleeved tracksuit, turned to me. “Looks like you haven't exercised in a while.”“I'm fine,” I said.“I'll wait for you at the lake ahead,” he said as he continued to run.By the time I got to the lake, he was resting. A burly bodyguard offered him water, but Mickle gave it to me.“You need water,” he says.“Thank you.” I opened the bottle cap and took a sip. The bodyguard somehow took out another bottle of water and handed it to him.“It's a rare day for you to call me,” Mickle said, his face flushed but his tone calm. Judging from his stro
According to Vickie's will, her body will be transported back to Italy for burial. So Frade decided to hold a simple farewell ceremony for Vickie in the manor. After the ceremony, he would be in charge of sending Vickie's body back home with Mark.Vickie was right that no Sicilian would refuse the dying wish to return home. This time, they offered to open their arms to the Logan family to show their deepest sorrow.The place of the farewell ceremony was chosen in the hall of the manor, and all the participants were dressed in black as a sign of mourning. Black-and-white photographs of Vickie's life were placed in the centre of the hall. As her body was temporarily placed in the hospital morgue, guests had to mourn over her picture in silence.Each of the guests held a white chrysanthemum in their hands and placed it in front of the tablet. In the photo, she looked at everyone with a smile on her face, her eyes looking at everything indifferently.Frade greets guests who have come to p
In the room, Vickie is lying on her bed, a private nurse holding a clear plastic tube attached to a ventilator up her nose. Since a trip to Italy, Vickie has grown weaker. Mark told me that she was taken home in an ambulance from a private hospital after she landed.“Why don't you take her to the hospital?” I asked in a low voice.“She's determined to go home,” Mark said. “No one can change her mind, and you know it.”“The patient needs to rest. Please leave the room,” the middle-aged brown-haired nurse said politely.Mark and I left the room just as Frade and Vickie's doctor came out of the other room. That was the room where they had been discussing Vickie's condition, and Frade's sullen face didn't look good.It's terrible.“Mark, please help me get Dr. Hans out of here.” Frade's voice was hoarse and tired, and the stubble on his face seemed to have grown overnight, making him look even gloomier.“Are you all right, darling?” I stroked his cheek and looked at the man in front of me
A middle-aged woman in a plain grey T-shirt and light blue jeans sat on the living room sofa, her hands on her closed knees, her eyes downcast. The coffee in front of her was steaming, and it was obvious that she hadn't touched it.“Hey!” I whispered. “I'm Eva.”“Hi!” The woman stood up at once. She looked at me a little stiffly. “My name is Joe. I'm a friend of Joan's. We're all in the same union.”“How did you find me?” I motioned for her to sit down.“Joan gave me your number,” said Joe, “And we found your place. I'm sorry to bother you so late. Joan needs your help.”“You didn't come alone?” I asked curiously.“I have another colleague with me,” Joe said truthfully. “He's waiting for me outside.”“Is he here to ensure your safety?” I looked at her. “Since your friend is worried about your safety, why are you looking for me? So, what's the matter?”“We just...” Joe looked down sheepishly. “Just in case. But Joan says you're a trustworthy person. You're not like your father.”“I hel
During my stay in the hospital, I received many greeting cards and gifts from strangers. They piled gifts for the baby in front of the hospital or at the nurses' station, and a few fanatical fans even pretended to be nurses sneaking into the ward to see the baby. Fortunately, the fanatics were spotted by the doctor on duty and called the police, who quickly took them away.To prevent this from happening, Frade picked me and my baby up from the hospital in the middle of the night and took us back to the manor. Frade also put guards around the manor to keep out outsiders, leaving Mark in charge of all security, and Liv came to accompany me.Frade was on the move for us to leave the United States. This time he didn't entrust anyone but himself. He didn't tell me that he had met with those people. But from his tired face after each return, I can guess that our departure would become a distant dream.When Vickie learned of Frade's plan, she decided to go to Italy herself, because most of t
“What does a newborn baby get him?” I stared at Ian. “He's already president.”“The president just wants to show his concern for you,” Ian explained patiently. “This baby is his granddaughter. You're family.”“What an official statement,” I said. “Just this once. I need at least three months off for the rest of the year. During that time, neither I nor my baby could be seen in any media.”“Deal,” Ian readily agreed.“I'll give you some time to get ready,” Ian said. “I'll let you know when the president is arriving at the hospital.”After Ian leaves, Frade gently places the baby in her own crib, where she falls fast asleep without crying or fussing. Frade walks to the bedside, his eyes brimming with anger. I knew he was unhappy with my decision, and as I prepared for his wrath, he just lowered his voice and said, “Why did you agree to his request?”“Because I can't say no.” I looked at him. “Ian's right. Mickle is the baby's grandfather. I have no reason to say no to him visiting his g
“Do you have to go to the inauguration?” Frade asked as he peeled the apple. “The doctor told me your due date is coming up.”The skin he cut off with a knife was attached to the flesh of the apple, and less than two-thirds of the whole apple was left in his hand. I stared at the silver knife in his hand and asked, “Do you have a problem with apples?”“I hope this knife didn't cut apples, but...”“Stop,” I reminded him. “Watch your mouth.”“I don't want you to go to a crowded place,” Frade said, handing me a peeled apple. “In that case, all eyes are on the new president. If you're not feeling well or...”“Ian will have a nurse with me,” I said. “Besides, I only promised to be at the inauguration, and as soon as it's over, I'll be home.”“I'm going with you,” Frade said, “Or I won't trust you.”“Sure,” I readily agreed. “I'll tell Ian and get him to set you up.”“All I have to do is stand next to you.” Frade walked to the bed and brushed my cheek, then put a hand on my belly.“She's mo