Chapter 6
The day before Josephine left the country, Edward sent someone to pick up both daughters from the hospital.
Josephine and Dorothy got into the same car.
But halfway there, the driver suddenly changed direction and turned onto a small road.
By the time Josephine realized something was wrong, the car had already stopped in front of an abandoned factory.
The driver opened the door, and two fierce–looking kidnappers rushed up and dragged her and Dorothy out.
Dorothy was terrified and screamed at the top of her lungs, “Help, let me go!”
Josephine was stunned, too.
The driver was clearly arranged by their father. How could he have been bought off by kidnappers?
While she was still thinking, the two of them were thrown into a dilapidated room.
One kidnapper said coldly, “One of you is Nathaniel’s fiancée, and the other is his future sister–in–law. Asking him for a ransom of 15 million dollars isn’t too much, is it?”
Dorothy’s eyes went wide, and before she could speak, the kidnapper had already dialed Nathaniel’s number and put it on speaker.
“Hello?” The man’s deep voice came through the phone.
15.26
Chapter 6
The kidnapper gave Dorothy a look. She immediately started sobbing. “Nathan, it’s me, it’s Dorothy!
“I–I was kidnapped, and they want a ransom of 15 million dollars…”
280 Vouchers
Nathaniel’s voice instantly turned cold. “Don’t touch Dorothy! Send me the account number, I’ll transfer the money right away.”
Hearing this, the kidnapper then held the phone to Josephine’s mouth. “You say something too. As long as Nathaniel adds another 800 thousand dollars, we’ll let you go as well.”
Josephine clenched her fists.
Nathaniel hated her so much. Why would he spend money to save her?
Just as she was thinking how to respond, another kidnapper whispered to his partner, “Bro, didn’t Ms. Josephine say the ransom was 15 million dollars? Why…”
The kidnapper’s voice wasn’t loud, but Nathaniel, on the other end, heard everything clearly.
Nathaniel’s fingers gripped the phone tight, his face so dark it could drip ink.
So Josephine was working with the kidnappers!
No wonder the driver was bought off, and the kidnappers dared to demand such a sky–high ransom.
With that thought, Nathaniel said coldly, “Whether Josephine lives or dies has nothing to do with me. Do whatever you want with her.”
Since Josephine wanted money so badly, he’d give it to her to end their relationship.
Hearing this, Josephine felt her heart sink into the abyss.
15.26
Chapter 6
So Nathaniel truly wanted her dead…
He never loved her.
Only endless, deep–rooted hatred.
***
Not long after, the sound of screeching brakes came from outside the warehouse.
Nathaniel rushed in and held Dorothy tightly in his arms.
Then he cast a glance at Josephine in the corner, like she was trash, and said to the kidnappers, “The money has been sent. As for Josephine, do whatever you like with her. Sell her to some remote mountain village or finish her off. Your choice.”
Josephine watched helplessly as Nathaniel carried Dorothy away without a backward glance.
Once they left, the kidnappers stopped pretending and sneered openly.
“We heard you slept with Nathaniel before. Thought he might care about you a little. But turns out he wouldn’t even spend 800 thousand dollars for you. Guess in his eyes, you’re worth nothing.”
Josephine looked at the kidnappers coldly. “You already got the money. Can I leave now?”
“Leave?” The kidnappers laughed like they’d heard the funniest joke. “We got the money, but the fun isn’t over yet. You just wait and enjoy it!”
The two of them lunged at Josephine, tearing at her clothes.
The next second, a burning cigarette butt was ground into her skin!
Josephine let out a shrill scream, cold sweat and tears covering her face.
15.26
Chapter 6
Seeing her so miserable only made the kidnappers more excited.
“Heard you were bullied at school like this. Today, we’ll help you relive it properly.”
“Should we burn a word into her?”
“Sure, what should we burn?”
“How about ‘slut‘? Suits her! Hahaha…”
The cigarette butt pressed inch by inch into her legs, her waist, her back. Josephine was drenched in sweat from the pain, nearly losing
consciousness.
She didn’t know how long it lasted before the two finally stopped, laughing wildly as they swaggered out.
Josephine curled up in the wreckage, her body twitching now and then.
As the sky darkened and the stabbing pain slowly eased, she finally forced herself up, braced against the wall, and staggered forward step by
step.
15.26

Lateefa Khanam is a spirited writer who finds freedom in horse riding. She cherishes her mare and the newborn foal, calling them her little happy family.