Love Hides In the Dust And Smoke

"This will teach you a lesson and temper your personality. You should understand our good intentions."

After hanging up the phone, when the leader learned that the ransom wouldn't arrive on time, he subjected me to even more brutal torture.

In the following days, I was tortured until I wished for death.

On the night they gang-raped me, through the dim window, I saw fireworks being set off at the aid camp.

As "Happy Birthday" exploded across the sky amid laughter and joy, the enraged rebels decided to execute me, using my life as a warning.

They cut out my organs while I was still alive and dumped my naked body on the street, where I died with hatred in my heart.

In this life, looking at Nolan who was still begging me, I simply replied with a calm:

"Okay."

Nolan was stunned, seemingly surprised by how easily I agreed.

As I turned to leave, Nolan inexplicably grabbed me.

I turned back to look at him, and there was hesitation in his eyes.

"Sure you can handle this, Lena? I promise I'll get you out as soon as the rescue team arrives."

I nodded and repeated simply, "Okay."

As I walked away, Nolan stood frozen in place for a long while.

He had prepared a heap of noble-sounding excuses to send me to my death, yet not a single word escaped his lips.

Silently returning to camp, I began packing my gear.

Nolan was right, I had a background as a special agent with exceptional skills.

I had managed to escape from far more perilous situations unscathed.

So he felt fully justified in believing that using me to exchange for Grace was a foolproof plan.

I secretly implanted a tracking device in my body, making thorough preparations. Just then, a call came in from the Montgomery parents.

"Lena, we're begging you. Grace is timid and can't handle this kind of pressure. Please go exchange yourself for her. Whatever you want, we'll give it to you."

Mrs. Montgomery pleaded through sobs, while Mr. Montgomery heaved a heavy sigh.

"It's all our fault, a thousand times over. Grace has nothing to do with this."

I paused, suppressing the lump in my throat, and replied coolly.

"I can go and bring her back."

The two of them instantly became excited.

"Lena, you're really willing to do this? Mom always knew you were a good child. When you come back, we'll make it up to you properly."

"That won't be necessary."

The cold voice continued as I spoke further:

"Prepare the ransom. Just ensure my survival."

"Once you get me out, we're even."

In my previous life, they knew I had been swapped in as a hostage. The $5 million ransom wasn't beyond their means.

Yet they deliberately held back, unwilling to pay up.

All because I refused to switch places with Grace, causing their precious daughter to suffer for two extra days.

They self-righteously declared:

"We owe you nothing. When I gave birth to you, I hemorrhaged and was unconscious for half a month. If we're counting, I gave you this life. What right do you have to hate us?"

"If you've done wrong, you deserve punishment. Learn your lesson, so you won't think of harming others in the future!"

In this new life, I truly have learned my lesson.

This life, I'm giving it back to them.

I only ask to be even, with no future entanglements.

I stood alone before the armed group's camp. Grace, bound hand and foot, had cried until her eyes were swollen.

Behind me, Nolan was nearly heartbroken.

He shouted loudly to the other side:

"Don't be afraid, Grace. You'll be safe soon."

As he finished speaking, he looked at me, slightly guilty.