My Ex-boyfriend Stole My Money and Ran Away

I hadn't told anyone about this except for my mom.

For the first time in months, I ate a full meal, replaced my hole-ridden shoes, bought a clean set of clothes, and even went to the bathhouse for a luxurious soak.

That evening, as I was burping my way back to school after dinner, a flashy car suddenly swerved in front of me, its headlights nearly blinding me.

A handsome man in a suit stepped out of the car and walked straight towards me.

Thankfully, luxury cars are a common sight at our school, or I'd be the talk of the campus by tomorrow.

"Is this you, Everly Marrow?"

The man asked impatiently, shoving his phone in my face with a stern and irritated expression.

The photo on his phone showed me crouching in front of a wealthy woman, picking up money.

Unfazed, I burped before replying, "Yes, that's me. What's up?"

The man rolled his eyes at me as if I were an idiot, then dialed a number.

"I've found her. I'm bringing her back now."

Then, out of nowhere, two burly men in suits grabbed me and shoved me into a luxury car. They even snatched my phone away.

Was it kidnapping? Was it human trafficking?

Terrified, I huddled in the corner of the backseat. While the man opposite me wasn't looking, I reached out to touch the rose gold door handle.

"I wouldn't bother if I were you," a voice said. "The doors are locked. Don't even think about running."

I glanced at the man. He was staring intently at me.

"No, no, it's just that your door handle looks expensive. I was just touching it..."

I said with a nervous laugh. The man continued to stare.

"Seriously, dude, I have no money and I'm not good-looking. Why would you kidnap me? My mother would be worried sick if I disappeared."

I played the emotional card, but it didn't work. The man scoffed.

"Cut the crap. You already admitted to being Rylan Frost's lover."

He then added a sarcastic remark, "A college student with such low morals. You have hands and feet, why not work instead of being someone's mistress?"

"Who's a mistress? I'm not..."

Seeing the menacing looks on the faces of the burly men, I caved.

"Oh... so his name is Rylan!"

I regretted it as soon as I said it. The man glared at me with a menacing look in his eyes.

I was genuinely scared and didn't care about the money anymore, so I quickly came clean, "It's all a misunderstanding..."

But it was too late.

"Every mistress says that."

I was speechless, and an awkward silence filled the car.

"Let me tell you, kidnapping a college student is illegal!"

"Kidnapping? You're not tied up and you're sitting here perfectly fine. How is this kidnapping?"

"Well... I guess it isn't, huh?"

The car stopped, and the man turned around and extended a hand towards me, wearing a snow-white glove.

He wasn't wearing it before! There was no need to be so obviously disgusted! How rude!

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Gideon Frost, Rylan's son. I guess I should call you... stepmom?"

He said the word "stepmom" with a meaningful tone.

I awkwardly reached out and shook his fingertips.

"Haha, hello, hello..."

"We invited you here today because we need your help with something."

"What kind of help?"

Before I could react, the two burly men escorted me into a luxurious mansion.

As soon as I entered, I was dazzled by the opulent furniture and decorations. They dragged me into a room filled with people of all ages, both men and women, all gathered around a small, old-fashioned safe.

When they saw me, they all looked up at me as if they had seen a ghost.