Chapter 5
Jenny’s hand tensed. She hesitated, unsure how to explain. But Ryan clapped his hands and shouted excitedly, “Riley! Jenny’s marrying Riley!”
Samuel’s furrowed brows eased a little. He chuckled, “Dad, Riley is Jenny’s best friend. She’s a woman. Two women can’t get married…‘
He clearly thought Ryan was just spouting nonsense and didn’t press further.
Jenny stayed in the hospital for ten days. On the day of her discharge, she got a call–unexpectedly–from a manager at the orchestra.
“Ms. Yvart, during the violin competition, your warm–up left a strong impression on our current concertmaster. But you never got to perform in the actual event.
you to
“Since the winner of that competition didn’t meet our orchestra’s recruitment criteria, we’ve decided to make an exception and invite come in for a solo audition. If you pass, you’ll join us on our upcoming world tour.”
“For real?!”
Her heart thudded wildly. After getting confirmation, she drove straight into planning her audition piece, giddy with joy, she thought she’d lost forever.
As she immersed herself, her phone rang again.
Thinking it was the orchestra manager with more details, she answered without checking. But it was Samuel.
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Chapter 5
“Jenny, your dad’s gone missing!”
“What?!”
His voice was tight with urgency. “On the way back to the nursing home, he insisted on stopping to use the restroom, and now he’s gone!”
A wave of panic surged through her.
With his mental state and declining health, a disappearance could be incredibly dangerous.
Samuel sent a location pin. “I found one of his shoes here. Hurry–I need help searching. He must be hiding nearby!”
Jenny’s heart was in her throat. She slammed on the gas.
When Jenny arrived at the abandoned warehouse Samuel had sent her to, all she saw was Nadya tied to a chair.
“Hang in there, Jenny.”
Samuel’s voice came from behind, right as he slipped a rope around her wrists. “Nadya’s family got into trouble with loan sharks. They kidnapped her for ransom…
“My assistant’s getting the money, but it’ll take at least two hours. Nadya’s fragile. I’m afraid being tied up too long will traumatize her.”
“So
you lured me here just to take her place?!” Jenny stared at him, disbelief twisting her face. “Samuel, you’re… unbelievable…”
She could barely breathe, the weight of betrayal crushing her chest.
There was a flicker of guilt in his eyes. But all he said was, “Nadya has claustrophobia. If she has an episode, it could be serious.”
Chapter 5
Every word was soaked in concern for Nadya..
But his hands showed no such tenderness. The coarse rope bit into Jenny’s fair wrists, leaving angry red marks.
He shoved her toward the waiting thugs.
Nadya was released. She stumbled free, then threw herself sobbing into Samuel’s arms.
“Sammy, I–I can’t breathe. My claustrophobia’s getting worse. Take me put, please…”
“Okay, I’ll take you to the hospital right now.”
Samuel scooped her up without hesitation.
“Samuel!”
Jenny’s scream rang through the warehouse. Was he really going to leave her here–alone–with criminals?!
He stopped in his tracks. Looked back
But Nadya clutched his chest, her breathing suddenly shallow and fast. Samuel hesitated for half a second, then turned away and walked out without another word.
As his silhouette disappeared, the last bit of light in Jenny’s eyes went out.
The second Samuel left, one of the thugs reached for her.
His rough hand grabbed her wrist, lifting her arms into the dim light like a trophy.
“I heard you’re a violinist. No wonder Ms. Loretta
ruined. Pretty little things.”
wants these hands
520%
Jenny’s eyes widened in terror. “Nadya planned this kidnapping!” she thought.
Her goal wasn’t ransom. It was to destroy her hands. To make sure Jenny would never play violin again.
“Wait!” she screamed. “How much is Nadya paying you?! I’ll double it! I’ll give you an extra 15 million! Just–please–don’t touch my hands!”
She was so close to her dream. To become the world’s top violinist.
She couldn’t let it end like this!
“Fifteen million?”
The thug paused.
Jenny thought she had a chance. But then he raised a heavy iron hammer.
He grinned, eyes wild. “I’m her dirty little secret–her foster brother. She promised, once this is done, she’ll come back to me. You could offer me 150 million, and it still wouldn’t match her smile.”
And with that, he brought the hammer down!
Jenny’s right hand burst into blood–crimson and chaos.
“Ahhh-!”
Her scream tore through the night like a dying animal’s cry.
But the thug didn’t stop. He raised the hammer again–this time for her left hand.
Pain and horror crashed over her in waves. She was drowning.
And just then, the warehouse door slammed open….
