Love Trick

On a pitch-dark night, the rain was pouring, the lightning was flashing, the thunder was rumbling, and a thin woman was running.

Big raindrops splattered on her face, blurring her vision. Despite that, she ran for her life.

Screech...

A rapid sound of braking came over, and a black luxury car came into view.

Out of fear, Donna Cole kept stepping back until her body fell backward into the mud.

Just then, a man showed up.

In a well-ironed suit, he boasted a refined temperament and blended into the darkness.

Under a big black umbrella, his expensive leather shoes stepped on the rainwater with sloshes. Step by step, he approached Donna.

"Who are you? What... what is this place?" She kept cowering and shivering.

She had no idea how she ended up here and only knew this man had been following her like a shadow. The fear was suffocating her.

In the dark, she couldn't see his face clearly but knew this man was as horrible as Satan from hell.

"Hello, Miss Cole!" The corner of his mouth curved up devilishly.

"What did you call me?" Donna was surprised.

It had been ten years since someone called her Miss Cole last time.

"So many years have passed. It looks like you're not doing quite well." His voice was attractive but deadly.

"Who are you exactly? Do you know me?" She struggled to get up, huddled herself, and shivered in her soaking clothes.

The man didn't answer but kept walking closer.

His figure was tall, lean, and well-built, but he looked like a demon to her eyes.

"No... don't come close." Donna was appalled. In such a terrible environment, such a man was a lethal threat.

Under the big black umbrella, the man kept approaching.

Mixed with the rain, his unique scent assailed her nostrils.

"Who are you... exactly?" Donna found him both familiar and... strange.

Cornered, she stepped back toward a reservoir.

She looked back, immediately halted her steps in fear, and shouted, "Don't you come any closer!"

The man ignored her warning.

"Who the hell are you? Speak!" Donna shouted hysterically. As the big rain kept scouring her face, her voice grew faint.

From the blurry vision, she seemingly saw him smiling. His smile was horrible.

"Noble and beautiful Miss Cole, remember this moment, welcome to the hell I made for you!" Standing in front of her, the man suddenly reached out and pushed her into the deep water!

With a plop, the black water splashed!

Donna struggled in the water!

Driven by the desire to survive, she tried her best to resurface, but her head was getting dizzy...

Tired, so tired...

Who was he exactly?

The lofty figure stood at the bank and watched the woman sink to the bottom. A flicker of gloom flashed across his eyes, "Donna, I won't let you die so easily. There is ample time ahead."

...

"Help... help... ah!!!" Donna screamed and opened her eyes abruptly.

"Donna, fear not." Hamilton Adams grabbed her hand.

Donna opened her eyes before the familiar room and Hamilton came into view.

In fear, she immediately threw herself into his arms, "Hamilton."

"Donna, fear not, it's just a dream." Hamilton gently patted her back to soothe her.

Was it really just... a dream?

She gasped, still suffering from the aftershock. The nightmare was too real.

Even her soul was trembling and choking.

Who was that man... exactly?

"Hamilton, wasn't it really just a dream? But it felt so real." She couldn't believe it. If it was just a nightmare, where did that feeling come from?

"Donna, you forgot? It was raining the other night heavily, and you fell into deepwater. A passerby saved you, and your fever lasted several days and nights. I was so scared, thank god, you're fine." Hamilton was finally relieved to see her revival.

At his words, Donna got emotional, "Hamilton, what did you say? Rain? Deepwater? I fell into the water?"

It was real?

"Donna, what's wrong? It was all my fault. I attended a banquet that night, and you worked late. It was raining heavily, and you slipped into the water. It was my negligence. Luckily, you're fine. Otherwise, I couldn't forgive myself for the rest of my life." Hamilton held her, his heart still fluttering with fear.

... Donna got a headache.

Was it really as Hamilton told? Why couldn't she remember anything?

Only those horrible scenes and that mysterious, dangerous man flashed across her mind.

"Donna, our wedding ceremony is coming soon. When you recover, I'll take you to choose the wedding dress." Hamilton said gently.

"Mm, okay." She nodded her head.

It was her dream to marry Hamilton. Not sure if it was love, she only knew that Hamilton treated her the best in this world.

But why did she feel so ill at ease?

Was that man really just an image of a nightmare?

...

One month later.

The wedding of her dream kicked off in a romantic hall.

Her dream was coming true today.

That nightmare had been haunting her in the past month, but she would forget about it today.

"Mr. Adams, do you take Miss Cole to be your wife. Do you promise to be faithful to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and to honor her all the days of your life?" Asked the priest.

"I do." Hamilton looked affectionately at his woman and nodded his head.

In the cold winter, his words warmed up her heart.

The priest then asked Donna the same question.

With her pretty eyes, she looked emotionally at her man and nodded without thinking, "I d..."

Before she could finish, several police officers suddenly broke into the wedding site.

"Mr. Adams, Idaho City Major Crime and Tax Bureau, you're suspected of smuggling, illegal fundraising, and tax evasion, please come with us."

The beautiful moment shattered instantly, and the pieces didn't fit anymore.

24 hours later.

Almost all the big LED screens on commercial buildings were broadcasting the same breaking news.

"Hamilton Adams, a famous young entrepreneur, was arrested by the procuratorate today at the wedding site for suspected smuggling, tax evasion, and illegal fundraising..."

On the big screen, the dashing young groom was taken away in handcuffs by the police. Tears smearing her makeup, the bride rushed up but was stopped.

People halted their steps and saw a star falling.

Soon, it was published by all major newspapers.

With Hamilton arrested, Adams Group was reshuffled and acquired by HNE Group. It became a subsidiary of the international conglomerate.

Karl Kent, President of HNE Group, returned, took office, expanded the business across the Asia-Pacific region, and swept through the stock market!

Investors purchased their stocks frantically...

Donna, Hamilton's fiancée, disappeared after his arrest. No one knew her whereabouts.

...

The resplendent villa was located in a quiet brownstone area. The scenery was pleasant all around, but the atmosphere was desolate.

Cold... so cold...

What was this place?

Her eyes closed, Donna knitted her brows and shuddered. Coldness filled up her every pore, and she curled up on a bed.

"So cold..." Exhaling hot breaths, she reached out to grab.

In her drowsiness, she seemingly grabbed a heat source. It was the hot arm of a man.

Feeling the warmth, she immediately held onto it like a thirsty wanderer in the desert. She was longing for more warmth to resist the cold.

The hot air going into her nostrils was mixed with a tempting scent.

What... was she holding? It felt like a person...

She had a splitting headache and gradually opened her eyes.

The glamourous face of a man was just inches away.

"Ah!!!" Donna screamed in fright, immediately let go, cowered abruptly, and accidentally fell off the bed.

Following a thud was her painful cry!

"Ouch..." Gritting her teeth, she got up, only to find herself naked.

Where were her clothes?

Donna raised her head and looked at the man on the bed. At that moment, he was gazing at her scornfully.

Appalled, she huddled herself and curled up on the floor.

"Who are you?" She trembled violently and looked at the man in alarm.

Half-naked, the man leaned against the head of the bed and stared at her frost-bitten skin nonchalantly. His eyes glittered fervently.

"Long time no see." The corner of his lips curved up slightly in an evil smile.

"I don't know you. What is this place? Where are my clothes?" In a hurry, she grabbed the drooping bedsheet to cover her body.

Where was she exactly? Who was this man?

She tried to recall what happened.

She was at the wedding ceremony with Hamilton. Then people from the procuratorate arrested him. In dejection, she stayed in the church...

Later... it seemed she passed out...

Did this man kidnap her?

"How does it feel to lose everything, Miss Cole?" The man watched her fluster with ease.

"Who the hell are you? What did you do to me?" She panted heavily.

She was shocked to hear him calling her 'Miss Cole.'

After the downfall of her family, she struggled to make ends meet. It had been ten years since someone called her like this last time.