Chapter 5 Let Her Go!

Christopher's brow furrowed in confusion. Was that really Yolanda? What reason could she possibly have for showing up here?

Earlier that morning, he'd dealt with her temper after a long night at work. In a fit of annoyance, she had announced she was heading back to her father's home.

He had just left her at her father's front gate. Barely fifteen minutes had passed, yet somehow she appeared here, on this bustling street.

Troubled by the strange coincidence, Christopher leaned forward. "Pull over right now!"

Fred Sanderson, his assistant, glanced in the rearview mirror, nervous about the traffic. "Sir, it's jammed up ahead. I'll circle and try to find a spot."

Although Rosanna's face was hidden behind a curtain of hair and her gaze stayed low, Christopher's heart insisted it was his wife standing there.

With urgency, he rolled down the window and called out, "Yoli!"

The sound was swallowed by honking horns and morning commotion. Rosanna didn't hear him. She slipped through the crowd, disappearing into a small cafe on the corner.

......

Inside the cafe, Rosanna found the event organizer waiting for her at a quiet table.

She offered a polite greeting. "It's wonderful to finally meet you, Mr. Marsh."

Stefan Marsh stood and smiled warmly. "Stefan, please. No need for formality. Sit down and make yourself comfortable."

He had a gentle face and a friendly manner, his simple suit and unhurried tone putting Rosanna at ease.

He slid a document across the table toward her, his tone friendly but businesslike. "This is the official contract for the competition. Please look it over. If you don't have any concerns, just sign where it says 'Participant'. Everything is set to go, and we're excited to have you on board."

Rosanna took her time reading through every line. Finding nothing out of order, she picked up the pen and signed her name with steady determination.

Rising from his seat, Stefan reached out for a handshake, his enthusiasm clear. "We're really looking forward to seeing your entry. If you make it into the top three, there's a study-abroad placement up for grabs. Honestly, I think this could open a lot of doors for you."

Her voice was quiet but genuine. "Thank you for giving me this chance."

He grinned and gave a reassuring nod. "You deserve it. People with your talent are rare. We're lucky to have you in the competition. Best of luck, and have a wonderful day!"

Rosanna managed a small smile as they parted. "Thank you. Bye."

When Stefan was gone, she gazed down at the contract, a calmness settling inside her that she hadn't felt in a long time.

She wasn't Christopher's wife anymore, and the life she'd lived as Yolanda's substitute was finally behind her. All she had left to do was help her mom recover and give her full attention to the competition. Winning was her ticket to studying abroad and starting a new life.

Stepping out of the cafe, she barely had a chance to savor the fresh air when something heavy dropped over her head, shrouding her in darkness. Strong arms lifted her clean off the ground.

Panic surged. She kicked and struggled, but the grip on her never loosened. She was shoved roughly into the backseat of a car, the door slamming behind her.

A man's urgent voice rang out, exclaiming, "Drive! Now!"

As soon as they were moving, the grip on her loosened. Rosanna yanked the jacket off her head and squinted through the dim interior.

That was when the man grabbed her hand-half-crouched between the seats, desperation etched on his face. "Please, Yolanda, I messed up. I shouldn't have touched your money. I know I was wrong, I swear! I lost it all at the casino, and now I owe millions. They'll come after me if you don't help. You have to save me!"

Recognition dawned on Rosanna. The man clutching her wasn't a stranger. It was Samuel, the very man Yolanda had clung to as her reason for not marrying Christopher.

He was exactly as Yolanda had described-a man who had conned her out of both money and love, leaving only a mess behind.

Rosanna yanked her hand away from his grasp, voice firm. "You've got the wrong person. Let me go!"

But Samuel, blinded by desperation and rage, took her resistance as rejection. In a sudden burst of violence, he lunged for her throat, his grip tightening. "If you won't help me, I'm finished anyway! Maybe we should both go down together!"

His hands closed around her neck, cutting off her air. Rosanna thrashed and gasped, her words strangled. "You're making a mistake... I'm not who you think I am... Please-let go..."

Rosanna caught the sharp sting of alcohol on his breath as they struggled.

He was drunk. There was no use talking sense into someone like that. So she fought back, clawing at his grip while driving her knee into him.

The chaos in the backseat sent the driver into a panic. He jerked the car to the curb and slammed on the brakes.

With one last burst of energy, Rosanna kicked Samuel off her and lunged for the door, spilling out onto the pavement.

Samuel wasn't done. He chased her down in seconds, fingers digging into her wrist with crushing force. "Yolanda, you're giving me the money, or neither of us is walking away from this!"

Pain shot through her arm, so intense that she nearly dropped to her knees.

Just then, a commanding shout cut through the struggle. "Let her go!"

In the next instant, someone barreled into Samuel with a swift, brutal kick.

Christopher appeared, pulling Rosanna behind him, his eyes burning with fury as he glared at Samuel sprawled on the ground.

His security team moved in without hesitation, restraining Samuel while Fred grabbed his phone and dialed the police.

After catching a glimpse of Rosanna outside the cafe, Christopher wasted no time. He told Fred to turn the car around, urgency thick in his voice.

He barely made it to the scene before she was dragged into a car, vanishing from sight before he could even call her name.

Samuel had moved fast, but Christopher was faster. He'd trailed them, keeping their car in his sights until Rosanna managed to break free-only for Samuel to catch her again.

The tension on Christopher's face was unmistakable as he rushed to her side, searching her over with anxious eyes. "Are you hurt? Tell me where it hurts."

"Chris..." Relief and fear mingled in Rosanna's chest. The moment she saw Christopher, all her bottled-up terror crumbled away, and her vision swam before she slumped in his arms.

"Yoli!" Panic cracked through Christopher's usually calm tone as he caught her, holding her tight.

Fred watched the scene, shaken-he had never seen Christopher lose his composure like this before.

When Rosanna finally woke up, muffled voices floated around her. "She's just unconscious for now-nothing life-threatening. She's got a scratch on her arm, but as long as she applies this ointment, she'll heal up in a few days. Don't worry."

As her eyes fluttered open, she realized Christopher's personal doctor was the one speaking.

She was lying in a familiar bedroom, and the memories clicked back into place.

Christopher gently smoothed ointment over the dark marks on her wrist, his touch uncharacteristically careful.

The sight of him tending to her so patiently made her eyes sting, sorrow rising up and threatening to spill over.

When Christopher glanced up and caught her gaze, his usual calm fell away, replaced by open worry. "Yoli, please-don't cry. I can't stand to see you like this."