Chapter 3
I visited the church with the sole intention of requesting the priest to conduct a mass in memory of my deceased child. Although I lack religious belief, I wish for my child to reach heaven.
As I opened the door, I noticed Mandy was with the choir children.
The final chord ended on a jarring wrong note. Almost instinctively, I moved forward and played the correct key.
“This is how it should be played.” Meeting her for the first time, I found myself surprisingly composed.
Mandy’s eyes brightened. “You play the piano? I’ve been practicing for ages but always stumble over this section.”
I gave a cool smile, but she continued to chat with me as if we were old
friends.
When she discovered I was there for my late child, she knelt before the statue of the Virgin Mary and prayed devoutly for my child. “Lord, please bring this innocent soul back to heaven and console the grieving mother.”
I was taken aback. She looked so much like me that it left me feeling a bit
dizzy.
I even felt a hint of sympathy and a strong desire to warn my past self- advising her to stay away from Mateo, as being involved with him would only lead to trouble.
However, I glanced at Mandy’s pregnant belly and decided to remain silent.
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Chapter 3
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If Mandy discovered my relationship with Mateo, she’d surely be devastated and end things with him. In turn, Mateo would likely lose it and seek vengeance against me. My mind was overwhelmed with violent memories from my past.
I came up with a reason to seek confession and slipped into the confessional booth.
I switched on the surveillance feed from my brother’s private care facility. Only when I witnessed him peacefully drawing did I find some peace of mind. Since our parents‘ deaths, he had been my sole family. This time, I swore to keep him out of the chaos between Mateo and me.
Once I had composed myself and stepped out of the confessional, I felt the cold barrel of a gun against my forehead.
Every nerve in my body instantly went on high alert, and I quickly looked over at Mandy. She had already fallen limply to the floor.
I silently cursed my misfortune, and before I knew it, the butt of a gun sent me into unconsciousness.
When I woke up again, I found myself in an abandoned warehouse, bound alongside Mandy.
Mandy’s voice quivered with tears as she said, “We settled the debt ages ago! What more do you want? Mateo warned…”
Her words were abruptly silenced by a sharp slap, and the scar–faced man, Ryan Emott, leading the group, seized her by the hair.
“The debt may be cleared, but he fractured three of our boss’s ribs. In our business, how could we overlook that?
“He adores you so much, so today I plan to make you suffer slowly until you die!”
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11:15
Chapter 3
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So, it was just some minor loan sharks. That explained why they didn’t know who I was.
I inhaled deeply a few times, extended the blade concealed in my ring, and began slicing through the ropes. This wasn’t my first experience with being restrained–I had learned a trick or two over time.
When Ryan noticed I was awake, he rummaged through my Hermès wallet and said, “Ms. Glakin, you’re just out of luck. 500 thousand dollars -tell your family to send it over.”
“Lina, I’m sorry, I got you caught up in this. But don’t be scared. My boyfriend is really capable, and he’ll come to rescue us.” Her eyes shone with admiration, as if she saw Mateo as a hero.
I paused and didn’t reply to her.
All of a sudden, Ryan shouted a curse, waved his phone angrily, and growled, “He doesn’t believe it? Seems like I need to send him a little message.“.
He threw a knife down in front of Mandy and me. “Someone, cut the baby out of her and deliver it to him.”
My eyes widened in shock. If Mandy were to die here today, he would surely unleash his fury on me.
Terrified, Mandy began to cry and retreat.
“Please, don’t do this to me, don’t harm my baby.”
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