Chapter 22%
sat on the chair, gazing at the virtually endless ocean. Mr. Mateo, with that smile never to be forgotten, stood in front of me. He waved his hands in mid–air
“Fetch my phone, sweetie!” he ordered half–shouting.
I was taken aback when Jessica arrived. She was erect this time, with luscious long locks of hair. No wheelchair was beside her anymore, nor any pale complexion on her face. She looked healthy, just as Alex had promised me.
“Here’s your phone, darling, Jessica hugged sweetly Mr. Mateo. He smiled even wider.
*Jessica? So, you’re a part of all this too?” I asked, shocked in my tone.
“Hi, Scarlett! Of course. I’m with my boyfriend who wants to take you out. But first, my boyfriend will make an offer to Vincent, just like we planned.”
Mr. Mateo turned on his phone. Before he could even blink, Vincent’s face appeared on his phone. His eyes widened when he saw me. “Vincent,” Mr. Mateo said casually, snapping a photo of my face using the camera. “I was able to capture her.“.
Then, suddenly, Mr. Mateo grabbed his hand around my neck.
“Mateo! Let her go or you’ll regret it!” Vincent’s voice thundered in the phone.3
But Mateo only laughed.
I was strangling. I struggled, then bit down as hard as I could into his hand. He cried out, then struck me once across the face so hard that my lips split.
“You Slut!” he snarled at me.”
“Bastard! I’ll kill you, Mateo!” Vincent thundered on the screen, his voice echoing over the waves of the ocean.
“You want her to be safe? Then you have to sign the contract and give us one of your islands. Come by yourself, and we’ll play the game.” Mr. Mateo cut off the call abruptly. Then he sent the meeting place for Vincent to come pick me up.X
In the distance, the engine of a speedboat sliced through the calm ocean water.
The speedboat sped ahead. Vincent stood strong and alone on the boat. The boat stopped. The ladder descended. Vincent sprang up onto the deck.
And there I was, standing on the edge of the boat, my body loosely secured, both ankles and wrists wrapped in rope. A large man had a grip on my arm, holding me like one who could be set aside at any moment.
“Vincent!” I yelled, though my voice broke because of my slashed lip.
Vincent’s footsteps came to a halt as several armed guards converged on him.
Drop all your weapons,” one of them ordered.
Vincent carefully unbuttoned his jacket with a quick glance, pulled out a gun from his waist, a small knife from his shoe, and another one from under his vest. He placed all those on the wooden dock of the boat silently.
Mr. Mateo stood before Vincent, applauding slowly.
“Is she that important to you?” he asked, gazing at me.
“True it is then you did it for her. Even after taking my orders. How sweet of you.”
Vincent did not answer. He just glared directly into Mr. Mateo’s eyes with a cold, cold, kill your soul stare.
Mr. Mateo smiled kindly, then grabbed a folder filled with papers and handed it over!
“Here is the contract. Sigh it quick or I’ll throw Scarlett off into the sea. In that condillon, she surely won’t be able to swim, right?”
Vincent tightened his jaw fists clenched, but did not say a word as if thinking. Tension surrounded us.
I slowly shook my head when I gazed Vincent in the eye. Of course, Mr. Mateo had been seeking something valuable that owned Vincent the whole time. I knew that island would bring him much greater profit, so he used me as a pawn.
“Let her go first, and I’ll give you the island you requested.” Vincent said coldly, his jaw working
Mr. Mateo winced, laughing harshly and contemptuously.
“No! I’m playing the game here. Sign first, and you’ll see your darling safely
In a fit of temper, Vincent took the papers out of Mateo’s hand. With shaking hands with fury, he signed them without even glancing. He handed back the papers, his breathing harsh.X
“Now let my woman go, Vincent instructed in a firm tone.
Mr. Mateo laughed loudly in satisfaction. “Wow! You really did that so quickly.. Okay, wait” he walked towards me casually 8
The tall guard stepped aside hastily, looked at Vincent, hope and terror in my eyes.
But Mr. Mateo shoved my body back rather than letting me go.
The water engulfed my body. I sank quickly, the ropes around my as hard as I could, holding my breath, but my body started to weaken
ly wrists and an “Leonall” Vincent shouted, his face pale.!! He was ready to jump in and save me, but.
ankles
making it impossible for
for me to swim, I shut my eyes
“Feel that, Vincent. That’s my revenge!
4:01 PM
Mr. Mateo bellowed, laughing uncontrollably. Jessica approached him, clinging sweetly to the man, laughing uncontrollably with him. Jessica, the woman who filled his heart, had been deceiving him so far.
Vincent went berserk. Seeing the traitors in front of him openly ruining him. A single punch boomed hard on Mateo’s face, sending the man tumbling down. Jessica fled.
But before Vincent could move any further, Mateo’s men attacked from all sides. They beat him mercilessly. Vincent tried to fight back. but there were too many of them.
Blood flowed from his temple, but his eyes never left the sea, from where he last saw the sink.
“Leona, hold on!” he shouted again, before a hard blow landed on the back of his head, making him fall to his knees.”
Gradually, my eyesight declined, my mind on the brink of extinction. I could only acquiesce as my body was tossed about by the water.} Then a strong hand gripped my arm, pulling me up to the surface.
My body was hoisted and placed into a small boat. I shivered, weakened, almost depleted.
The man pounded my chest with both his palms.8
“One, two, come on. Hang on he grumbled.
Water flowed from my lips. I coughed hard, and air returned to my lungs.
Slowly, I opened my eyes. The foggy figure in front of me emerged i
“Alex?” I whispered softly.
He exhaled a sigh of relief.
“Miss, are you okay? Sorry. I was pretty late to help you.”
“Alex. thanks.” I whispered gently. And then I remembered something that made me sit up with terror.!!
“Oh God! Where’s Vincent?‘8
Alex looked in the direction of the large ship in the distance.
“Don’t worry… Mr. Vincent isn’t alone. We’ve scattered within these waters so we won’t get detected. Well surround them later.”
I sat up immediately, despite my body still trembling.
“In that case, I’m coming with you.”
Alex turned abruptly. “No! You stay here. Let me and the others handle it.T
“I can’t stay here while Vincent’s in danger!” I insisted.
“Please, I promise I won’t do anything stupid. I’ll stay behind you.“3
Alex didn’t say anything for a moment. His eyes were thinking. Finally, he nodded slowly.
“All right. Take this for protection. If your life’s at risk, don’t hesitate to use it
Alex handed me the gun, and I nodded, gripping the gun tightly.
