Unease crept into Jeremy’s heart at the sight of Ryan’s malicious smile through his phone screen.He could tell that whatever Ryan wanted to tell him through the video call was definitely related to Madeline. “What did you do to Linnie, Ryan?” Jeremy found it hard to keep his calm. He questioned fiercely only for the man to reply with a chuckle. Ryan then turned the camera to the floor. “Talk, Ryan!” Jeremy grew frustrated. Ryan watched Jeremy’s reaction in satisfaction. The more distressed Jeremy was, the better he felt. Ryan ignored Jeremy and walked toward the room Madeline stayed in. Then, he pointed the camera at the bloodied mattress. Jeremy felt his heart being torn into pieces at the sight of the large pool of blood-red. The color of his irises seemed to be dyed the same color now.“Do you see this, Jeremy Whitman? Don’t you think the bright red on this mattress looks absolutely stunning?” Ryan provoked Jeremy. “It’s all blood from your beloved woman.” He watche
Jeremy returned to the study table and continued to scan through the surveillance footage, but he found himself unable to focus.His mind kept feeding him images of Madeline being forced to a corner and fighting back against Ryan with all that she had. She would always end up with wounds and be drenched with blood before Ryan would let her go.“Linnie.”Jeremy paced before the French windows with unease as he wore the ground below him down with his maddening frustration.He left the house and stopped his car where the surveillance footage showed Ryan’s last known location.Jeremy was about to survey the area when he suddenly received an anonymous text with a simple sentence: [Rest assured, she’s alright for now.]There was no doubt that the ‘she’ in the text referred to Madeline.Jeremy’s frantic heartbeat slowly settled. Still, he was confused as to who had sent the text. Was it the same person who did emergency aid on him and sent him to the hospital from the warehouse?…
Hearing the voice she had been dreaming about for every moment of every day, Madeline looked up to stare at the phone in Ryan’s hand. Her eyes widened in shock as she tried to look for the source of Jeremy’s voice. However, Ryan had turned the phone and Madeline was met with the back of the phone. ‘Is it you, Jeremy? ‘Is this your voice?’Madeline got up to her feet and walked over to check, but Ryan grabbed her by the wrist before she could make it any further. He pulled her toward him.He turned Madeline around so that her back was against his chest. Then, he grabbed her jaw to force her to stare into the phone screen.Madeline struggled frightfully to escape Ryan’s grasp, but Jeremy’s features suddenly entered her line of vision.“Jeremy…” “Linnie!” Jeremy’s voice echoed clearly into Madeline’s ears. Madeline stared at the frantic and unsettled man. She felt the corners of her eyes beginning to grow hot. She knew why Jeremy seemed moments away from going mad. She tri
Madeline summed up all her strength to avoid it, but she still could not as she had not eaten anything for an entire day. Furthermore, she sustained all sorts of torture from Ryan. “F*ck off!”Madeline roared, but Ryan was gripping the back of her head to prevent her from running away. Ryan got away with planting his lips on Madeline’s cheek in the end.The act pierced a thousand arrows through Jeremy’s heart as it broke.Strands of Madeline’s short hair ended up covering her face amidst her struggle, yet it did not stop Jeremy from seeing that his beloved was crying.“It hurts, doesn’t it, Jeremy? If you don’t want Eveline to suffer anymore, then transfer all of Whitman Corporation’s stocks to my name and publicly announce that Whitman Corporation has gone bankrupt.”Ryan’s eyes were filled with aggressiveness as he demanded.Madeline’s wet and tear-stricken face snapped up, her gaze looking firm. “Don’t listen to him, Jeremy! He won’t let me go even if you fulfill all of his
Jeremy felt his body grow cold at Madeline’s words.He watched through the swaying camera as Madeline harshly pressed the sharp end of the clip against her wrist.The clip was hardly a lethal weapon, but Madeline was using all her strength.A red line quickly marred her left wrist as bright red began to trickle out of the wound frightfully.“Linnie!” Jeremy yelled heart-wrenchingly as the pain of having his skin peeled alive spread to every inch of his body. He knew that Madeline must have been tortured to the point of hopelessness or she would never do such a thing. Ryan was taken aback by Madeline’s actions. He stared dazedly at Madeline as the woman faltered. His heart ached, but at the same time, anger bled into his eyes. “Why? Am I so incomparable to Jeremy?” Like a ragdoll, Madeline looked pitiful with her messy hair and clothes. However, her eyes were still clear and untainted. “You’ll never compare to him.” A light smile graced Madeline’s lips as she spoke weakl
Jeremy watched Adam ready the syringe and inject the substance into Madeline’s bloodstream. The next few seconds felt like an entire century to him. Madeline remained unconscious the entire time. Unable to do anything but watch, Jeremy’s consciousness began to fade. He felt the unforgettable stab of pain spreading through his senses once again. “Will she be in life-threatening danger?” Ryan asked plainly. Jeremy was waiting for such a reply as well. He watched Adam who was squatting by the floor. He started to keep his medical kit before he started to speak, “Her major arteries are fine. Or I wouldn’t be able to do anything at all otherwise.” Ryan then turned the camera to himself. “You heard him, didn’t you, Jeremy? Follow my demands earlier or you’ll never get to see Eveline again.” Ryan then hung up the call. Seeing the screen change, Jeremy’s mind immediately replayed the piece of information he had just hurriedly glimpsed of just now.He turned around franticall
Ryan’s expression shifted, and a ripple of emotions flashed through Madeline’s eyes at the mention of Jeremy’s name. “How could Jeremy have found his way here?” Ryan questioned and instructed the two maids, “Watch over Madam and stay inside.” They nodded as Ryan rushed to leave. She walked toward the bed to watch over Madeline. Adam spared Madeline’s sluggish expression an intrigued glance before he turned to leave. Ryan returned to the study and clicked on a software on the computer which showed him multiple cars driving toward the villa. He enlarged the footage and was met with a clear visual of Jeremy’s appearance. Jeremy’s features were too defined to be of a doppelganger. “How would he know where we are?” Adam seemed confused and frustrated. “What do we do now?” “The fact that he has found us means that he has come fully prepared. Bring Eveline and her parents away. I’ll deal with this.” Ryan decided, showing absolutely no fear of facing Jeremy head-on. “Will you
Madeline's expression changed as if she had just thought of something."Mom, Dad..."She lightly blinked her lovely, soulful eyes, then knitted her finely-shaped velvety brows.Solemnly, she urged Ryan, "Please help me inform Jeremy that I’ll be back after seeing my parents. If he comes looking for me, do let him know..""..." Upon hearing Madeline's words, Ryan and Adam were both simultaneously dumbfounded.Madeline sat up straight in a very self-possessed manner, and said to the driver, "Please start the car now. If we leave early, we can return early. I still need to come back here and wait for Jeremy. He said he’ll pick me up."Ryan finally knew what was off about Madeline.He looked at her flawlessly beautiful profile in disbelief, his long brows furrowing. "Take care of her and don't let anything happen to her,” Ryan ordered.Adam nodded to express his understanding, then slowly rolled up the car window.Ryan stood in place for a while, watching the car that was getting g