He had no doubts about the bodyguard’s skills. But with Chi Chi still in Vivian Belle’s hands, no matter how much he wanted to storm in and break someone’s bones, he could only grit his teeth and restrain himself for now.
The bodyguard pressed a hand to the earpiece clipped to his ear, murmured a few words, then turned to Xavier Foster and gave a nod. “Boss, a woman just went in—it looks like Vivian Belle. Madam and Vivian Belle are alone in the warehouse. We’ll approach from that side; Third is waiting outside the warehouse.”
Wild grass towered on both sides of the narrow road. The two men ducked into the thicket, letting the overgrowth hide them as they crept toward the warehouse.
Inside the warehouse, Vivian Belle dawdled for ages. Outside, the gang members had just finished off several buckets of instant noodles. Growing impatient, one of them tossed aside his empty container and finally strode in.
“Are you done yet? What’s with all the stalling? Is this woman worth enough to cash in or not?”
Brother Zheng scowled, clearly irritated—women always dragged things out, in his opinion.
They were village thugs, and Vivian Belle was a familiar face from the same place. Years back, they’d had dealings with Vivian Belle’s father; after the the Belle family grew rich, these guys had helped smooth over all kinds of unsavory troubles for them in secret.
This time, it was Vivian Belle who came to them, claiming that this woman was valuable—the kind of ransom money they’d never see in a lifetime of petty crime.
They’d coordinated in secret. Just last night, they’d paid good money to set Vivian Belle up with a call girl and lure her out. Now all Zheng’s men wanted was to cash in on this woman, and fast.
Vivian Belle, her back to Brother Zheng, let out a cold chuckle. Slowly, she straightened, then turned to face him.
“Relax, Brother Zheng. This Cecilia Ye is the little sister of the Chase family’s young master from Newbridge—of course we’ll get our money. I just have a personal score to settle with her first.”
Brother Zheng frowned, growing impatient. “What personal vendetta? Just rough her up and be done with it—don’t mess up my business.”
Inside, Vivian Belle sneered. Useless thugs. If she didn’t need to use them to get herself out, she wouldn’t bother humoring this bunch of lowlifes. She’d always looked down on them.
But her pleasant, flattering smile never faltered on her face. “Brother Zheng, think about it—if we ransom her to the Chase family, the risk for us is huge. The Chens have money and power in Newbridge. What if they get their hands on us before we even see a cent?”
Brother Zheng’s face darkened further. Was Vivian Belle trying to trick him now? He grabbed her by the throat, the bony fingers surprisingly strong, squeezing tight.
“You little bitch! You dare play me?!”
“Cough—no, no, listen… Cough! Let me explain… I have money…” Vivian Belle’s face was turning purple. Her long red nails scratched desperately at his iron grip as she struggled for air.
Cecilia Ye watched the scene, eyes fixed on the warehouse’s wide open doors, ready to make a run for it the moment a chance appeared.
When Brother Zheng heard the word ‘money,’ he finally sneered and let go.
Vivian Belle wiped spit from her lips, gasping for breath before grinning wildly. “Not everyone in the Chase family wants this stranger walking through their doors. There are plenty who’d pay good money for her to disappear.”
“Half that money is already in my account. As long as we make sure she never returns to the Chen household, the rest will be transferred soon enough. When it comes, it’s all yours.”
At that, Brother Zheng’s demeanor changed on the spot. With cash already in hand, no one wanted to risk tangling with the Chase family.
He stepped closer, slipping an arm around Vivian Belle’s waist. “Is that so, little sister Bai? My mistake—I shouldn’t have doubted you. Don’t take it to heart, eh? What’s the plan?”
Vivian Belle arched a brow at him but didn’t object to his hand at her waist. She still needed this man. “Don’t worry, Brother Zheng. The money is yours—and so am I, if you just follow my lead for now…”
The two started whispering intimately, growing touchy-feely. The circle of thugs around them tactfully drifted away, their eyes wandering, avoiding the scene.
Cecilia Ye noticed Vivian Belle had her back turned, probably trusting these men—or maybe she thought a girl like Cecilia wouldn’t have a prayer of running. For a moment, nobody was watching her at all.
She finally understood Vivian Belle’s words. This wasn’t just ransom; they wanted her to vanish—to kill her outright. She couldn’t just sit and wait for the end.
Her brother was overseas, and someone from the Chase family had paid these people to make her disappear. Even the Chase family’s driver wouldn’t know to look here if she went missing.
Tears welled in Cecilia’s eyes. No, she couldn’t let anything happen to her baby.
And her mother—she remembered the heart-shaped gesture she’d made with her hands by her mother’s hospital bed that morning, words still unsaid. If she died now, how much would her mom grieve?
For a fleeting moment, despair whispered that maybe it’d be better if her mother never found her body at all.
No. She had to escape. She’d seen a village on the way in—maybe someone there could save her, if only she could get out.
Jaw clenched, Cecilia braced her elbow against the burlap sacks behind her and slowly, carefully, forced herself upright.
Her heart thundered in her chest, ready to leap out of her throat. Her hands were bound, but thankfully they hadn’t thought to tie her feet.
Gently, she laid her hands over her belly. "Don’t be scared, baby. Mommy will get you out of here. I’ll protect you, I promise."
In a single desperate burst, Cecilia bolted for the wide-open warehouse doors, shoving Vivian Belle hard as she passed.
Vivian Belle, teetering on high heels, immediately twisted her ankle and crashed sideways, screaming in pain.
“She’s running!” A chorus of shouts rang out as the men spotted Cecilia Ye’s escape. They surged forward.
Brother Zheng caught the stumbling Vivian Belle and spat a vicious curse. “Run? She wants to run?”
What chance did a young girl have against a gang of grown men? He didn’t hurry, letting his henchmen give chase as they wished.
Vivian Belle steadied herself, left foot throbbing with a sharp stabbing pain. A flicker of malice crossed her face as she shrieked, “Don’t just stand there! Kill her!”
Cecilia Ye had never known she could run so fast. The warehouse doors were right there, if she could just make it a little farther… She kept her small hands clutched over her belly, teeth clenched, urging herself onward.
But the men chasing her were fast—adults, far quicker than her.
She burst out of the warehouse and fled along the pitted dirt track. Recent rains had left muddy puddles everywhere, and her dress was soon caked in grime.
Her tied wrists made it almost impossible to keep her balance. Her chest felt like it might explode, every breath ragged, her stomach beginning to hurt.
Tears streamed down her face. “Someone… please, someone save me…”
She didn’t see what she stepped on—her balance slipped, and she pitched forward, heart stopping in terror.
No—it couldn’t end like this. If she fell now, she’d never get away. What would happen to the baby?
In that split-second—just a split-second—a strong arm caught her and hauled her upright.
Cecilia Ye’s eyes widened in shock, her breath forgotten. Then, suddenly, she was swept into a warm, protective embrace.