Choosing Love Over Kinship

After the call ended, the police shook their heads grimly. Even though the abductor had directly contacted me, it was still impossible to trace their location.

I turned around and saw Jimmy passing by. He had overheard everything and now looked as pale as a ghost.

"Nat, have Shane's parents really been kidnapped? But Shane told me they were just acting to help you…"

I didn't have the energy to argue with him, so I told him to call Shane and tell him the truth.

I anxiously glanced at the time. With Craig's resources, transferring five million dollars shouldn't take this long. After waiting for a while, I called him.

"Uncle Craig?"

I had barely begun when he sighed heavily. "Nat, lying is wrong, you know," he said tiredly. "Look, no one in Shane's family has treated you kindly except for his parents.

"I pitied you and tried to help you. But now, I see things clearly. Those who play the victim only end up looking pathetic. If you weren't such a compulsive liar, a fine man like Shane wouldn't have come to resent you."

My heart sank into my stomach. I knew now that there was no chance of scraping together the remaining five million dollars.

"Uncle Craig, did Shane tell you I was faking this?" My voice trembled with urgency. "You may not believe me, but the police are standing right next to me. They can vouch for everything I'm saying—"

Craig interrupted with another deep sigh. "You don't need to hire fake police officers to trick me. Even if you manage to fool me today, you can't deceive yourself forever.

"Nat, I know you're unwilling to let Shane go because you love him, but he has someone he cares about. And now she's back. Why not just divorce him if this is too painful for you?"

I hung up midway through his rambling, my expression dark and stormy.

Shane's parents' lives were hanging by a thread, yet their own family took this crisis as an opportunity to attack me.

Meanwhile, Jimmy finally got through to Shane's phone.

"Shane, listen to me! This is serious—your parents have really been abducted. The police—"

Before he could finish, Hailey's lazy voice came through. "Jimmy, are you playing along with Natalie's act now too? Tell me, how much is she paying you? I'll double it."

Jimmy grew emotional. "I'm not lying!"

Hailey, uninterested, handed the phone to Shane. "Shane, Jimmy's been bought off by that wretched woman too."

Shane's cold voice sounded next. "Jimmy, stop it."

Jimmy's voice cracked. He was on the verge of tears. "Shane, your parents are in real danger! You need to transfer five million dollars to Nat's account now!"

Shane scoffed. "So it's about money, after all. Tell Natalie to stop this pathetic act. She's lost her mind. And what did Hailey ever do to her?"

The call abruptly ended. He'd hung up.

Left with no other options, I forced a bitter smile and turned to the police. "Let's go. Even if I don't have the full amount, I have to go. I'll lure the abductor myself."

"That's too dangerous," the police officer protested.

I lowered my gaze. "What if the abductor knows me? They might get suspicious if you take my place."

…

I reached Central Bridge as quickly as I could. The abductor called just as I arrived.

"Where's the money?"

My voice trembled uncontrollably against the howling wind. "I left the money under the bridge. Release them now! Where are they?"

The abductor sounded indifferent. "They're in the run-down apartment across from the bridge. Room 301."

I sprinted to Room 301. The stench of blood hit me like a wave as soon as I reached the door.

My heart pounded wildly. I had a sense of foreboding.

Following the trail of blood to the door that was slightly ajar, I pushed it open and nearly collapsed at the sight inside.

Shane's parents—Donald McClure and Jane Fletcher—lay on the floor, their abdomens punctured. Blood gushing out from those gaping wounds.

Sobbing, I tried to press against their wounds with my clothes, but Jane weakly pushed my hand away.

"It's too late, Nat."

Tears blurred my vision as I clutched her hand tightly. "I've called 911! The police are on their way too! Please don't die… I'm sorry, it's my fault. I didn't get the money in time—I wasted too much time…"

Jane smiled faintly, as if even that required all the strength she had left.

"This isn't your fault. The abductor never planned to release us. You've suffered so much over the years. Shane owes you far too much. Divorce him. Everything we own will go to you. Go live your life, Nat…"

A thought struck me, and my hands trembled as I fumbled for my phone to call Shane. "Hang on, please. Just hold on a little longer. I'll make Shane come and see you—"

But every call went unanswered. Shane had blocked me.

I sent him a message, telling him his parents were critically injured and begging him to come immediately, but he didn't respond.

The light in my in-laws' eyes gradually faded until it was gone.

They had stopped breathing.

I cried so hard it felt like my heart was shattered. My vision blurred to the point where I couldn't see.

"Ms. Swanson, are you alright?"

The police had arrived. They stared at the two lifeless bodies on the floor in stunned silence.

I felt myself swaying. The world was spinning around me.

A police officer came up to support me with a conflicted expression. "Ms. Swanson, we've arrested the abductor. We also recovered the ransom money."

His eyes flickered as he whispered apologetically, "I'm sorry. We're late to the rescue. Please accept our condolences."