Chapter 3

"Urk, urk..." Belen was choked. She had to gasp for air. She seemed to suffocate at any moment. "I don't know..."

"Tell me!" Lanny released her neck and yanked her hair. "I underestimated you. You dared to kidnap Jayde."

"I didn't!" Belen's eyes locked onto his defiantly. "Ah-"

She was suddenly lifted off the bed as Lanny hoisted her onto his shoulder and marched out.

The door slammed shut with a loud bang.

Belen was tossed into the back seat of Lanny's car.

She didn't know where the car was going. She sensed that they were speeding up.

Gradually, she heard the sound of crashing waves.

The vast, dark sea loomed ahead, with a massive cruise ship standing out starkly against the night.

Lanny got out of the driver's seat, roughly pulled Belen from the trunk, and dragged her towards the beach.

"Mom..." Belen couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Ellen there. Her hands and feet were tied on the deck. Belen's face turned pale instantly.

"Mmmph!" Ellen's mouth was taped shut, and she looked at Belen helplessly.

"You might refuse to tell me where Jayde is, but your mother will suffer the consequences." With that, Lanny signaled to his men on the deck.

"Mmmph!"

Belen watched in horror as Ellen was stuffed into a burlap sack. Its top was tied with a rope, and then it was tossed into the sea.

Splash! Huge waves were stirred up.

The sack bobbed up and down with the motion of the waves, occasionally surfacing before being swallowed by the water again.

"Lanny, you're insane!" Belen clutched his collar, and her voice was breaking. "Jayde's disappearance has nothing to do with me. My mother had lung surgery. You're killing her..."

Her voice trailed off, and she choked with sobs.

"Really?" Lanny sneered. "The two people who kidnapped her used to rehearse with you for the school celebration. Jayde's phone was left at the convenience store, and there were your threatening messages on it."

With that, he took out Jayde's phone and revealed the conversation between "Belen" and Jayde.

"He just had a crush on you. You'd better stay away before things get ugly."

"You are just a poor woman. Don't dream of rising above your station by seducing him."

"If you don't break up with Lanny, I'll make sure you disappear forever."

"I didn't send her those messages," Belen said through gritted teeth. "Why are you so sure I kidnapped her? Lanny, I'm pleading with you. Let my mother go!"

Lanny narrowed his eyes. "Because I know how you feel about me."

Belen's heart skipped a beat. She didn't know what to say.

"I've known for a while that you have feelings for me. Now that I have loved another woman, you view her as your enemy." Lanny said with anger. "Belen, I didn't expect you to be so malicious. Even if I didn't fall for Jayde, I'd never love you. Stop pestering me. Tell me where she is now!"

"I don't know!" Belen cried out. She was collapsing.

She tried to run towards the sea, but Lanny caught her.

"Do you still refuse to tell me the truth, huh? Fine. Then your mother will be drowned at sea today." With that, Lanny said to his men, "Cut the rope on the sack."

"No-" Belen's eyes widened in terror, and her mind went blank.

She wanted to stop them, but she was controlled and couldn't move.

The rope connecting the sack to the deck was cut, and it was quickly swallowed by the sea.

"Mom, mom-" Tears streamed down Belen's face as she bit into Lanny's wrist abruptly.

She tasted blood in her mouth instantly.

At that moment, one of Lanny's subordinates rushed over. "Mr. Lewis, we've found Miss Gilbert!"

Lanny's eyes lit up. "Where is she? Take me to her."

In an instant, everyone followed Lanny away.

Belen dashed towards the sea and plunged into the water.

The water was freezing at night. It stole her breath, but she swam on with all her might.

She didn't know how long she swam before finally seeing the sack.

She was exhausted, and her legs were numb. Finally, she managed to drag it onto the shore.

"Mom, please. You must be fine..." With trembling hands, Belen untied the rope and saw Ellen's pale face. She was unconscious.

She dared not waste any time and called for an ambulance.

They rushed to the hospital. Belen watched in a daze as Ellen was wheeled into the emergency room.