The Love I Hid from You

The day before she would leave abroad, Hector sent someone to pick up his two daughters from the hospital.

Joy and Charmaine got into the same car. Unexpectedly, halfway through the ride, the driver suddenly changed directions onto a small road.

By the time Joy sensed something was off, the car had already stopped in front of an abandoned factory. The driver opened the car door, and two fierce-looking abductors rushed up and dragged her and Charmaine out.

Terrified, Charmaine shouted at the top of her lungs, "Help! Let me go!"

Joy was also stunned.

Their father had arranged the driver. How could he have been bribed by the abductors?

While she was deep in thought, the two were thrown into a shoddy room.

The abductor said icily, "One of you is Leon's fiancée and the other is Leon's future sister-in-law. It's not too much for me to ask him for a ransom of 100 million dollars."

Charmaine widened her eyes. Before she could speak, the abductors had already dialed Leon's phone number and put it on speaker.

"Hello?" Leon's deep voice came through the receiver.

The abductor gave Charmaine a look, and Charmaine immediately sobbed, "Leon, it's me. I'm Charmaine! I... I've been abducted. They're demanding a ransom of 100 million dollars..."

Leon's tone instantly turned cold. "Don't touch Charmaine! Send the account number over and the money will be transferred immediately."

Hearing this, the abductor held the phone to Joy's mouth again. "Say a few words too. If Leon adds another five million dollars, we can release you too."

Joy clenched her fists.

Leon hated her. He would not be willing to spend money to save her.

Just as she was thinking about what to say, another abductor came up to his accomplice and whispered, "Boss, didn't Ms. Joy say 100 million dollars? Why..."

Although the abductor's voice was not loud, Leon, on the other end of the phone, heard it.

Leon's fingers grasped the phone tightly. His face was so gloomy.

He thought, 'It turns out that Joy and the abductors were in cahoots! It’s no wonder the driver was bribed and the abductors asked me for 100 million dollars.'

Leon answered coldly, "Whether Joy lives or dies has nothing to do with me. Do whatever you want!"

Since Joy wanted money so much, he would give it to her to end their ill-fated relationship.

Hearing this, Joy's heart sank to her stomach.

It turned out that Leon really wanted her dead... He never loved her and only felt endless hatred toward her.

...

Not long after, there was the sound of emergency brakes outside the warehouse.

Leon rushed into the warehouse and hugged Charmaine in his arms.

Then, he glanced at Joy in the corner as if he was looking at trash and said to the abductors, "The money has been transferred. You can do whatever you want with Joy. Whether to sell her to a remote area or kill her is up to you."

Joy watched Leon walk away with Charmaine in his arms.

After the two left, the abductors stopped pretending and displayed a mocking expression. "I heard that you slept with Leon before. I thought he would have some feelings for you. Who knew he would be reluctant to pay a mere five million dollars? It shows that your status is worse than a pet to him!"

Joy looked at the abductors indifferently. "You got the money. Can I leave now?"

The abductors seemed to have heard a joke. "Leave? We've got the money, but our job isn't done. Just wait and enjoy yourself!"

The two men rushed toward Joy with a sly smile and tore off her clothes.

The next second, a hot cigarette butt burned her skin!

Joy screamed miserably, and cold sweat and tears streamed down her face.

Seeing her in such a disheveled state, the abductor became even more excited. "I heard that this is how you were bullied in school. Today, we'll help you relive that experience."

"Boss, why don't we brand her?"

"Sure, what word shall we use?"

"Slut. It's perfect for her! Hahaha..."

The cigarette butt pressed against her legs, her waist, and her back. Joy was sweating profusely from the pain and almost lost consciousness.

After some time, the two finally stopped and walked away, laughing maniacally.

Joy curled up, her body twitching from time to time.

It was not until the sky darkened and the piercing pain gradually faded that she struggled to get up. Holding herself against the wall, she staggered forward.