Chapter 4: A deal with the kidnapper

Emerald's Point of View

The rain was pouring hard. I expected the rain to alleviate my pain, but it only intensified it. I couldn't drive away from his office. My husband's words kept echoing in my mind. He's always harsh. His words cut too deep inside my heart.

The conflicting emotions within me drove me to accelerate aggressively. The speed of my car increased until I noticed another car traveling at the same speed but in a different direction. My eyes widened; I tried to step on the brake, yet it wasn't working.

“What the…”

The road was slippery, raising the possibility of accidents.A car unexpectedly swerved towards me, causing chaos in the middle of the road. My car moved independently after I tightly gripped the steering wheel.

Fear builds up inside me. My car was hacked! I tried to reach out for my phone and contacted my parents. However, I couldn't find it in my bag, which added to the tension I'm feeling.

Since I am now the only car that's driving recklessly, some cars are now going against me. I thought I'd be in an accident, but I'm thankful that I was able to avoid a huge van that was almost going to kill me.

I bit my lower lip when my car stopped at the road where there was no one else aside from me. I tried to turn off my car and get out, but my door remained locked. The power was turning on and off, and it even started on its own despite being shut down.

“Help! Help! Anyone there?" I screamed out of my lungs, wishfully thinking someone out there could hear me.

However, a man, dressed in a black raincoat and carrying an umbrella, suddenly appeared near my door. Only his eyes were visible through a full face mask covering his face.

Despite the danger, my heart skipped a beat when he opened the door and automatically locked it. I attempted to escape one more time, but in an instant, a knife nearly pierced my neck. If the knife had penetrated my neck a little deeper, it would have resulted in my death!

The kidnapper inserted a piece of cloth into my mouth and secured it with tape. I tried to move to the driver's seat, yet he was strong enough to push me down.

“Squeal once more, and you'll die. Believe me,” he affirmed. However, something unusual in his voice shocked me. He's using a modulated voice behind those masks!

My whole body trembled in fear. I couldn't look behind. Tears streamed down my face. “I am the future president’s daughter-in-law, aren't you afraid of my family? R-Release me before they press charges against you!”

The kidnapper chuckled, disregarding my best efforts to warn him.

“Oh, c'mon. We both know you're not the real wife but a mere stand-in!” He admitted, making me cease.

My eyes widened in shock. Only our families know about it, how come someone like him will gain knowledge about it?

“Who are you?”

His heterochromia eyes suddenly landed at the rear mirror. Seeing his two cold pair of eyes made my skin shiver.

He smirked. “Marrying off Emerald Campbell— ah, Emerald Dawson, instead of the one who has the true Campbell blood to a well-known scion? Why?” He stopped. “Your step sister ran away, leaving you no choice.”

The kidnapper knows my greatest secret— and it is my family name Dawson. My biological father's surname.

“Look, Miss Campbell. I am giving you a fair warning. I know all your family's secrets. I know your father, who's currently in a nursing hospital. I can kill him anytime I like.” He affirmed. “Your mother is secretly spending her husband’s fortune to buy stuff, and even went gambling. Proofs?” He chuckled.

He took out something in his jacket’s pocket and pictures of my mom scattered around, buying luxurious things at the market. A picture of her were even captured looking around, carefully getting inside a brand new Mercedes-Benz.

“Your ill father can’t buy these for your mom so she find someone new. So clever, huh?”

He’s telling the truth. My mom is literally the one who’s in the picture! Her tattoo on her right chest justifies everything. But how could he know these things? I don't recall having a relative who has heterochromia!

He took out his phone. Just like his mask, he was also using an unusual phone. It wasn't an ordinary one. My eyes saw it had no signal bar on it, yet he was able to call a number that even I was familiar with.

Jude's name was displayed as the person he was calling. After a few more calls, Jude answered.

“Hello?” Jude’s cold baritone voice affirmed.

Tears trickled down my face when I heard the kidnapper chuckle.

“Hello? If you don't have anything to say, I'll put the phone down and block your number.”

Jude was about to end the call when the kidnapper confirmed his intentions. “Do it and your wife will die.”

The knife continues to penetrate deeper into my neck. It made a small scratch on it until I was able to drive accordingly as per his instructions. He stayed behind, threatening me with a knife in his hand as I stepped on the accelerator.

“Two billion dollars in e-exchange for your wife,” he affirmed in a stern yet cold voice.

His voice was quaking. His agitation was evident in his actions and his eyes. Although his voice was modulated, he remained stuttering.

A few minutes had passed, and yet Jude didn't speak. “You don't even know my wife. She's now at home.”

At home? Was he thinking of me or his real wife, Phoebe? This monster has nothing but hatred! He never cared nor thought about me!

Is he still a human? I would even faint if someone called me he's in danger but my reaction was his contrary. Despite my best efforts to remain still, my body began to shiver in anxiety.

“I'm hanging up. I have a lot of things on my plate right now, and I have no time for a phishing call.” My cold, ballistic husband sternly said.

“Look, Mr. Lannister. I am telling you the truth. Regrettably, she is with me and carries a knife around her neck.” After the kidnapper spoke, Jude nonchalantly retorted back.

Jude scoffed. “Just call me when there's a corpse.”

The kidnapper's evil laugh echoed inside the car. He craned his neck until he took off the black full mask he was wearing. He showed half of his face, yet his nose and lips remained covered. The sight of a substantial scratch on a portion of his eye caused my body to tremble. He craned his neck, revealing his true voice.

My husband clearly said he doesn't really give a damn if I get killed right now.

The kidnapper's eyes went on me. "He shows no concern for your well-being, Emerald. I assume you have to fill the void your sister left behind. But don't worry,” he paused. “I will cut your bad luck short and kill you.”

Soon enough, I just saw a gun pointing on my head. I closed my eyes with tears streaming down my face, accepting my supposed death.