Chapter 60
Justin glanced at me, no longer bothering to pretend. He directly scooped up Lilian in his arms and left the ward.
A few days later, I had just walked out of the hospital when I heard hurried footsteps behind me. Before I could turn around, a burlap sack was yanked over my head, plunging me into darkness.}
“Ugh!” I cried out, struggling, but a heavy punch landed squarely in my stomach, doubling me over in pain.}}
When I came to, my hands were tied behind my back. My face was pressed against cold cement and pain shot through every inch of my body like my bones were cracking apart.
“Start,” a rough voice growled nearby.
Then came a harsh slap across my face.
Thwack!
The force of the blow sent me sprawling sideways, my cheek burning with pain.}
“Do you hear me, you bitch? You’ve only got yourself to blame for this bad luck!“}
“What are you going to do?”
I gritted my teeth, but no one answered. Immediately after, several whip–like lashes from a leather belt rained down on me.
I heard one of the kidnappers make a call.§
“Hey? We’ve got your wife. The smart move would be to wire over a million!“}
There was silence on the other end. Justin hung up directly.
couldn’t tell if he thought it was a scam or if he simply wasn’t willing to spend a million to ransom me.}
My blood ran cold.
“Hey? Hey? Damn it, he really hung up!” The man kicked me viciously.
“Your man won’t cough up the cash. What’s the point of you even being alive?“}]
He slapped me twice across the face. My whole face swelled up instantly and the corner of my mouth split open, bleeding. Black spots danced before my eyes.
Unfortunately, their violence didn’t end there. They surrounded me, raining punches and kicks as if to vent their fury at not getting the
ransom.
When I opened my eyes again, it was dark.
I heard people talking nearby, their voices low.
“Let’s get out of here. If the cops catch up, we’ll be in big trouble.”
“You gotta say, that guy’s ruthless. To teach his wife a lesson, he personally arranged this whole thing, making a fake kidnapping look so real.”
“Tsk, such a beautiful woman. How could she be unlucky to end up with a man like that?”
Their voices faded into the distance.
I didn’t have the strength to open my eyes, but tears streamed down my y cheeks.
Coldness, disappointment, humiliation and pain all crashed on me simultaneously. Justin.
Justin Sutherland!
To retaliate for the slap I gave Lilian, he orchestrated this entire kidnapping charade, openly making me pay him back!}
I forced myself to sit up, struggling to loosen the ropes that had bruised my wrists a deep purple. Sturnbling step by step, I made my way down the mountain.
My shoes were long gone. The soles of my feet were covered in cuts and the path was littered with sharp rocks. Every step felt like treading on knife edges.
Still, I had no other choice.
I had to go back.
I couldn’t die here.
Maybe it was instinct that compelled me to survive. I walked like that for over ten kilometres until the familiar walls of the villa came into view.
I stood at the gate, my vision blurred, nearly losing my balance.}
I heard movement from inside the courtyard.}
Following the sound, I saw Justin sitting under the flower trellis. One hand held a tube of ointment and the other gently cradled Lilian’s face as he softly asked if she was in pain.
“It hurts.” Lilian tilted her head coquettishly.}
He chuckled softly, applying the ointment with extreme tenderness, using his fingertip to wipe away any excess from the corner of her mouth.
Two maids stood by the kitchen window, whispering to each other.
“Do you think the lady of the house is about to change?”
“Wouldn’t surprise me. When has Mr. Sutherland ever been so attentive to the madam? How he looks at Miss Jameson now, it’s like she’s the most precious thing in the world.”
I stood outside the gate, my fingers gripping the edge, my nails digging into my skin.
I managed a weak smile.
Right, the lady of this house would soon no longer be me.
Tears welled up in my eyes uncontrollably. I quickly retreated to my room and locked the door.”
Stop crying, Francesca. You’re pathetic.}
It’s just a man. What’s there to cry about?
A few days later, after the swelling on my face had subsided somewhat, I met with the lawyer Elizabeth had arranged.”
“The divorce has been finalized,” the lawyer said, pushing a stack of documents towards me. “Mrs. Sutherland said that once you sign, I will handle the rest, including cancelling your household registration and arranging your new identity.”
My voice was hoarse. “Okay.”
It was almost over.
1 got up to leave but bumped into Lilian at the door.
She was dressed exquisitely in a fitted dress, her makeup flawless, a delicate smile gracing her lips.
It seemed she was on a blind date. Three or four well–known young men from prominent families sat opposite her.”
