Redeemed in Blood

Amelia Manson married the mafia boss Cristian Patel for three years and got kidnapped by his enemies 99 times.

To save her, Cristian broke fingers and ribs and spent hundreds of millions just to keep Amelia safe.

After the 100th rescue, Amelia rushed to the hospital.

But outside the ward, she overheard Cristian, who had just woken from a coma, confess to his female subordinate that he regretted everything.

Cristian said to her, "Amelia, I'll send you abroad. This place really isn't right for you."

Amelia sensibly pulled out the divorce papers. "Divorce will make things safer."

Cristian thought this was their usual fake divorce agreement.

But he didn't know the papers were real and that she was truly exhausted.

This time, he would never find her again.

...

To protect Amelia, Cristian fought his enemies in a brutal clash and lay in a coma for seven days and seven nights before finally waking up.

Amelia hurried to the hospital the moment she heard the news, but Cristian's men blocked her at the door.

"The doctor said Mr. Patel just woke up and needs proper rest."

"Yeah, Amelia, you can't do much here anyway. Mr. Patel risked his life to bring you back without a scratch. If you accidentally bump into something here, all his injuries would be for nothing."

Though she was the boss's woman, Amelia never felt any respect from these people.

When she first met Cristian, she was still a college student. Every time his enemies kidnapped her, she had no way to save herself. Cristian kept giving away huge chunks of his territory and money to rescue her. In many clashes, his men suffered heavy casualties.

They had long resented her deeply and wished she would die in one of the kidnappings.

Amelia knew their bitterness and didn't mind. She only wanted to hurry inside to check on Cristian's wounds.

After all, Cristian had told her he didn't fear getting hurt. He only feared that the first person he saw upon waking wouldn't be her.

Amelia was about to speak and persuade them again to let her in when she suddenly heard Cristian's voice from inside the room. "I regret it. Natalie, I finally understand what you meant all those years ago."

"It's not too late to regret now. Boss, I'm still here."

Hearing their conversation, Amelia felt the world spin.

Amelia also remembered those words from years ago that Cristian mentioned.

It happened at their wedding. Natalie Fowler, drunk and relying on Cristian's trust in her, ignored everyone present and Amelia's dignity. She spoke directly to Cristian. "Cristian, Amelia is never going to be the one who understands you. She will only become the sharpest knife in the hands of those who want you dead, cutting your tendons inch by inch and peeling your skin piece by piece. But if one day you regret it, look back at me."

Amelia remembered how Cristian's face darkened terrifyingly that day. If his men hadn't held him back, Natalie would have died right there.

Yet only three years later, Cristian said he regretted it.

In truth, over these years, Amelia had thought more than once that the two of them never should have been together.

That way, she wouldn't face repeated kidnappings and threats because of him. She couldn't even go out normally.

He wouldn't keep getting injured trying to save her.

Amelia left the hospital in a daze. As she reached the parking lot, someone covered her mouth and nose from behind. Everything went black, and she passed out.

When she woke again, Amelia found her eyes blindfolded and her body tied to a chair. In her ears rang the kidnappers' threats to Cristian, demanding he bring a hundred million in ransom to the docks quickly.

Moments later, the kidnappers smashed the phone. "What does his silence mean? Is he agreeing or not?"

"We should just beat his woman up to scare him."

The next second, Amelia and the chair were kicked over. Countless feet stomped on her body and head.

Amelia bit her lower lip hard and made no sound.

Only when the group grew tired did someone gasp. "Is this woman dead? She didn't make a peep after all that beating."

Someone checked her breathing, found she was still alive, and sighed in relief.

In the past, Amelia would cry and scream.

But she discovered that the more fear and terror she showed, the more excited they became about recording it and sending it to Cristian. She knew it tore him apart.

So she learned to endure.

In those endless inhuman torments, she bit her lip tightly to avoid making any sound.

What kept her going was Cristian's voice echoing in her mind.

"Amelia, I will protect you and get you out."

"If you die, I'll kill them all and make them pay with their lives."

Each time, after passing out two or three times, she would see Cristian.

But this time, she fainted fully seven times before Cristian finally arrived.

He drove a large truck straight through the warehouse doors. Hundreds of his men leaped from the vehicle in an instant.

The kidnappers panicked and tried to hold a knife to Amelia's throat, but someone smashed their head suddenly.

As the kidnapper fell, Amelia landed protected in Cristian's arms. Yet looking at the barely breathing woman in his hold, Cristian only let out a faint sigh. "Amelia, let's go home."

Amelia lay like a dead one in the back seat and said nothing.

She thought about how in the past, no matter how dangerous the situation, Cristian always came alone.

Those enemies who hated him to the bone made him kneel and crawl under their legs, and he did it.

They beat him without letting him fight back, and he complied.

In the end, half-dead from the beating, he still smiled to comfort Amelia. He said he kept his word and came to take her home.

Amelia cried until her heart broke and asked why he didn't bring more men and why he came alone to such a dangerous place.

Cristian only shrugged it off. "I didn't dare disobey them. Amelia, I feared angering them. I feared they would really hurt you. When it comes to you, I won't take even the slightest risk."

Amelia instinctively touched the back of her neck. The slippery feel was familiar.

She knew the thugs had just cut her with a knife.

She pressed hard on the wound, but the bloody smell soon filled the car.

Cristian glanced back at Amelia instinctively and spoke. "Amelia, I'll send you abroad. This place really isn't right for you."

Amelia's hand froze for a moment but soon relaxed. "Okay."

They should part ways.

As soon as they reached the villa, Cristian did not even get out of the car. He turned around and drove away immediately.

Amelia's mother, Ellen Manson, hurried forward in heartache to support her daughter. She spoke with a choked voice. "Just this month alone, you got kidnapped three times. This isn't a life anyone should live. Amelia, I beg you, divorce Cristian. I don't want to bury my own child."

Back when Amelia married Cristian, Ellen had strongly opposed it.

But Amelia had been enveloped in Cristian's intense and profound love. She refused to believe the day would come when everything fell apart.

Recalling the past and comparing it to the present, Amelia felt the irony cut deep into her bones. "Okay, Mom, let's go."

Ellen froze for a moment. Then she cried and laughed at the same time.

She laughed because her daughter had finally seen reason. Once she left, she would never suffer like this again.

But she also ached for her daughter who had endured so much pain.

As the mother and daughter discussed how to leave, the door suddenly got kicked open.

"Amelia, why don't you just die already?" Natalie rushed in and grabbed Amelia by the throat. "Cristian just got injured and hasn't recovered yet, but he had to go rescue you after another kidnapping. What are you good for besides dragging him down?"

Ellen lunged forward to save her daughter, but Natalie kicked her hard against the wall.

Amelia saw her mother injured and threw herself at Natalie to push her away. Natalie yanked her up by the hair. "Amelia, you still think you're his wife. He doesn't want you anymore. He's sending you away. You no longer have the right to act superior in front of me."

Amelia looked at her unconscious mother on the floor. Panic burned inside her. "Natalie, let me go. Aren't you afraid Cristian will kill you if he sees this?"

Natalie curled her lips into a smile. "Then I'll let you see exactly how much you still matter to him now."

With those words, Natalie picked up a nearby vase and smashed it against her own head. She turned quickly. Blood streamed down her face as she met the eyes of Cristian who had just arrived.

Cristian narrowed his eyes. His cold gaze passed over her to Amelia. "Amelia, I want to hear your explanation."

Before Amelia could speak, Natalie shook her head casually. "It's nothing. I won't die."

Cristian's face darkened. He walked slowly toward Amelia, step by step, and stood between her and Natalie. "Do you know how much effort Natalie put in to save you? Do you know that soon she'll have to go out and bow in apology for the losses you caused the company? She'll drink and make amends? Amelia, you've always been so willful. I'm really tired."

He took a deep breath and stepped aside so the two women faced each other. "Apologize."

Amelia stared at him in disbelief. She saw only stern authority and deep disappointment on his face.

Pain stabbed through her chest. She lost all strength to explain. "Cristian, when will you send me away?"

Cristian's expression grew even grimmer. "Amelia, you hit someone and can't even apologize? Or have I spoiled you all these years so much that you no longer respect my people?"

Tears welled at the corners of Amelia's eyes. Once upon a time, this man could notice if she lost even a few strands of hair.

Now he ignored the strangulation marks on her neck.

She let out a bitter laugh. "In that case, hurry and send me abroad. Before I get kidnapped again and waste your time and energy rescuing me."

"Amelia, you..." The phone ring interrupted Cristian. After taking the call, he frowned and hurried away with Natalie.

Amelia collapsed to the floor as if all her strength vanished. Only bitterness remained inside her. "Mom, help me find a lawyer to draft the papers. Before I leave, I'll find a way to divorce Cristian."

Amelia woke from sleep when someone called her name.

Cristian had taken over a new venue that day and threw a masquerade party. He sent someone specially to wake Amelia and bring her to join the fun.

Amelia followed the person to the underground club. Her eyes landed immediately on the man in the center of the room. He wore a lion mask and sank deep into the sofa while swirling a glass of whiskey.

His powerful presence fixed on the woman dancing provocatively in front of him.

The woman wore a leopard mask, but Amelia recognized her instantly as Natalie.

A massive lion tattoo covered her back. The lion was Cristian's favorite symbol.

The woman turned suddenly. When their eyes met through the masks, a triumphant smile curved her lips.

Amelia realized then that Cristian had not sent for her. Natalie had.

She turned to leave, but several men in wolf masks blocked her path. They spoke crude words. Some reached out and groped her waist and arms.

Goosebumps rose all over her skin. She raised her hands to remove her mask, only to find her wrists tied.

The next second, someone forced her to face the stage.

Amelia's eyes widened.

Natalie straddled Cristian's lap. She snatched the glass from his hand, tilted her head back, and drained the whiskey. Then she fed it to him mouth to mouth.

Cristian's large hands gripped Natalie's waist hard. The two pressed tightly together in an instant.

Even though her heart had turned cold and she had decided to leave, tears still welled in Amelia's eyes.

She lifted her hand instinctively to wipe her face. To her surprise, the rope around her wrists had loosened at some point. The masked men had vanished.

She knew Natalie wanted her to witness this scene.

Amelia turned to go. Before leaving, she glanced back at Cristian one last time.

He caressed Natalie's face with one hand. A satisfied smile played on his lips. His eyes held deep contentment and relaxation.

Amelia knew that expression all too well. Every time he woke from a coma, he looked at her the same way.

"Amelia, I only feel at peace when I see you beside me."

She pulled her gaze away. A mocking smile touched her lips. She closed the club door and shut out the noise behind her completely.

Her phone rang. It was Ellen. "Amelia, I have good news. Come home quick."

A smile returned to Amelia's face. She stepped toward the opposite side of the street. Halfway across, blinding headlights flashed toward her.

In the brief moment she squinted, a runaway truck slammed into her and sent her flying.

When she woke again, Cristian's cold, hard face stared down at her.

Their eyes met. She saw the deep weariness in his gaze. She opened her mouth instinctively to ask if he was okay, but his icy voice cut her off. "Amelia, why couldn't you just stay home? Why do you keep creating trouble for me?"

Amelia tried to speak. Her throat burned with pain. No sound emerged.

Cristian frowned when she stayed silent. "I've arranged a private flight three days from now. It'll take you and Ellen to an island for a vacation first. Then to Floran. I bought a manor there."

He stepped forward and pulled Amelia into his arms. His voice softened. "Amelia, these years I've held back a lot for you. To give you the stable life you wanted, I've yielded again and again to those people outside. But they think I'm weak now. They keep provoking me. Amelia, for our future, go abroad and stay safe for a while. Once I deal with them, I'll come get you. Okay?"

His chin rubbed gently against the top of her head. Moments later, he sighed. "Amelia, I really can't bear to let you go."

Amelia said nothing.

Years ago, when Cristian confessed his love, he swore personally that he would gradually leave that world. He promised to work hard so they could live a normal life.

The proud man who ruled everything bent himself to ordinary life for her.

It touched Amelia deeply.

That was why she agreed.

But now she saw that world was his true battlefield.

Amelia listened to his strong heartbeat. She pulled a divorce agreement from her bag. "Cristian, sign it."