09
I was reluctant to leave Mom’s side, but Seth was insistent. “You need to rest, Astrid,” he said, his tone not
allowing any argument
The truth was, I felt awful, my head ache, my body felt feverish, and my breathing was ragged. Still, the guilt of
leaving Mom tugged at me
Tll only be gone for a while.” I murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her hand. Seth promised to stay by her sind didn’t want to leave her side, I knew he was right. I couldn’t help Mom if I collapsed.
The cool night air hit me as I stepped outside the hospital. The fever made it harder to focus, and I didn’t notice
shadows moving until it was too late
was halfway to the car when three of them appeared. I recognized one immediately, the sneering face from
before his expression twisted with anger
Did you think it was over he growled, his voice low and menacing.
Panic surged through me, but before I could scream or run, one of them grabbed me, yanking me backward
“No” i struggled, kicking and flailing, but they were stronger this time, more coordinated.
was wen The Love of HaLife
“You thought you had escaped?” the leader spat, his grip tightening painfully on my arm, “Did you think it’d be over just by letting the cops take us?”
“What do you want from me? Ash doesn’t give a fuck about me!” I yelled, desperation thick in my voice.
But they didn’t care.
Another man stepped forward, a cruel smile playing on his lips “We know that Ash doesn’t care about you we’re here to make an example of you. After all, you fucking humiliated us.”
but
My heart pounded as they dragged me toward a van parked in the shadows. This couldn’t be happening again. Not now. Not while Mom was in the hospital, clinging to her life.
I fought harder, ignoring the pain in my body, the fever making my movements sluggish. “Let me go!” I screamed, my voice echoing into the empty night
But no one came.
The door of the van slammed shut behind me, dread settled like a stone in my chest. Whatever they had planned,
I knew it would be worse than before.
The van was suffocating, the air thick inside was stuffy. My head was spinning from the fever and the overwhelming feeling of being taken again. But when my eyes adjusted to the dim light inside, my heart skipped a
beat.
Kate.
She was huddled in the corner, tears streaming down her face, her hands trembling as she begged them to let
her go. Her voice cracked, raw with fear.
“Please,” she whimpered, her words choking. “I have a child. Please don’t hurt me.”
I didn’t say a word. I just stared, my mind numb with a strange detachment. Of course, Kate was here. Of course, life found another way to bring us together. But I wasn’t begging. Not this time.
A firm hand clasped gripped my arm. The blindfold came swiftly, cutting off my sight, and before I could resist. After blindfolding they left me to fall to the ground, My limbs grew heavy, my thoughts sluggish, I didn’t even know
when I slept off.
When I woke up, my wrists ached from the tight ropes binding me to a chair, and a dim bulb swayed above, casting eerie shadows. Beside me, Kate was sobbing, her pleas sounded in the otherwise silent room.
I turned my head slowly, my body stiff and weak. The kidnappers were watching me, their faces hard with cruelty
“Call him,” one of them barked, shoving a phone toward me.
I didn’t need to ask who. Of course, it was Ash.
A bitter laugh escaped me, low and humorless. “You think he cares?”
“Call him,” the man turned to Kate, his voice sharp with impatience.
With trembling fingers, Kate dialed his number. It barely rang once before he picked up, his voice urgent
I blinked, and laughed at myself inwardly. It wasn’t even five seconds since it rang
One thing I learned quickly about him was that he hated the most while being bothered during his work hours.
He made it very clear from the beginning. Even if it’s just once I did, he’d make sure to show it by throwing
tantrums, like not eating his food, or ignoring me, or by not coming home.
But, of course, this rule didn’t apply to the one whom he loved – Kate
“Ash, please… Please come here. I’m kidnapped, please save me…” Kate pleaded, sobbing
The kidnappers snatched the phone and barked instructions. “We have both your wife, and your mistress. Come
alone Thirty minutes No cops, or both of them will die.”
Ach didn’t hesitate this time His voice was trembling with Tear and anger as he sait
The phone clicked of and
stared at the floor ow predictade
for me
it hadn’t ever been thin minutes when the door burst open for walker in eed scanning the moon but not
“Kate” ne breathed rushing toward ne
For a moment I thought he hadn’t even noticed me But then his eyes ander
“Astrid?” he asked as though seeing me was the last thing te expected
I couldn’t help the bimer laugh that buboved up. Surprise sad
proping with sarcom
Ash’s face shifted confusion clouding his features opened his mouth to say something our out nun of witT a smile that didn’treach my eyes
“Don’t worry Ash” I said softly know why you’re here its for ner
He didn’t deny it Not a word of protest no
“I
HE JUST STOPG there speechess
*You were so stupid Astrid I said to myself it was my faut to chosen the wrong man
I let out a low bimer laugh shaking my head as the realization sane in
“You really outdid yourself this time, Astrid‘ murmured under my breath. “You couldn t have proved a worse
man if you tried”
He didn’t believe a word I said when I was kidnapped sparing me no mention, and it resulted in our uncom child
to be dead But for Kate, no questions were needed he really loved Kate
