The storm lashed the cliffside warehouse, saltwater spray crashing against rusted windows as I tugged at the ropes binding my wrists. Outside, Calvin Thornton stood on the moonlit beach, his arm slung around that blonde bitch's waist while they watched the tide swallow driftwood-just like he was swallowing her tongue. His voice crackled through the walkie-talkie, casual as if ordering takeout:

"Keep her tied down. Let the saltwater air teach her a lesson-maybe she'll finally realize I'm not her goddamn life preserver."

My nails dug into the damp concrete. Three days without food, my silk dress now stinking of fish guts from the abandoned cannery. When the burly kidnapper named "Bones" leered at my trembling knees, I remembered Calvin's last words: "You're too clingy, Elara. Maybe a near-death experience will make you interesting."

Thunder split the sky as I shimmied out of the torn dress, the fabric catching on a splintered beam. Bones' cigar smoke choked me as I wrapped my bare arms around his leather-clad waist, forehead pressed to his gun holster. "I'll be good," my teeth chattered against his belt buckle, "I'll do anything-just don't let the tide take me like. like driftwood." My nipples hardened from cold, but his palm on my spine felt like a branding iron.

Two days later, when Calvin's polished loafers echoed through the warehouse, I was slumped against Bones' chest, his coat draped over my nakedness. The kidnapper chuckled, brushing a strand of vomit-stained hair from my face. "Your girl's been real cooperative," he said, pinching my bruised hip. "But she's fucked-can't even stand after begging for water all night."

......

The sound of crashing waves echoed through the rundown warehouse via the loudspeaker.

Calvin Thornton's voice was careless, carrying a tipsy laziness from drinking:

"Josephine Waverly, you really have all kinds of tricks to cling to me now."

"Yesterday, you pushed my mom to pressure me into marriage and failed."

"Today, it's this kidnapping act?"

"If you want to die, then go ahead. Don't delay me watching the seatide with my baby."

"Calvin Thornton!"

Tears of fear streamed down my cheeks, dripping onto the rope binding my hands and feet.

I shook my head and desperately explained:

"I'm not acting, I didn't plan this!"

"I don't even know why Auntie suddenly called the media and announced our engagement!"

"I'm begging you, please believe me just once-please come save me!"

"Heh, save you? Sure."

Calvin Thornton sneered coldly and said flatly, "Ninety million, right? I'll pay."

The kidnapper immediately responded:

"Five hours from now, East River Bay-money first, then-"

"Forget the girl."

"You can keep her tied up. No rush to rescue."

Calvin Thornton's voice was filled with clear contempt and mockery:

"Let her learn to behave. Don't come bothering me again-this is good."

"Consider the money your reward for training her on my behalf."

"You're serious?"

The three kidnappers exchanged glances, doubtful.

Calvin Thornton laughed coldly, the smile laced with a strange, cruel undertone:

"As long as you dare touch her, I'll dare to pay."

Tears burst forth. I closed my eyes in utter despair.

Calvin Thornton, so this is how much you loathe me.

"Calvin Thornton," I cried as I begged him one last time, unwilling to give up,

"I really was kidnapped."

"I don't need to be trained-just save me, and I'll never bother-"

"Mr. Thornton, the seatide!"

A sweet, cheerful laugh suddenly rang out through the phone.

The girl on the other end said joyfully:

"It's so beautiful! Mmm-mm."

The sound of lips pressing and tongues entangling-

even on this end of the phone, it was loud and clear.

It wasn't hard to imagine how deep and passionate that kiss was.

Despair engulfed my heart. I gave up struggling completely.

Sitting on the ground, I stared blankly at the only ring Calvin Thornton had ever given me,

worn on my index finger, and laughed.

Calvin Thornton, who swore to marry me and protect me forever-

how did he change so much along the way?

"I'm sorry, Calvin Thornton. I was wrong."

"Clinging to you all these years on my own-I'm sorry."

"I won't do it anymore."

The receiver crackled into dead air, the silence stretching like a frayed wire until-click.

The three kidnappers exchanged looks.

Three figures tensed against the gloom. The youngest kidnapper, his baseball cap askew, clawed at his scalp so hard his nails scraped skin. "Rowan-" His voice cracked like ice on concrete. "That Thornton guy-he gonna send the cavalry or what?"

"That line-'as long as you dare touch her'-sounded more like a threat to us, didn't it?"

The one called Rowan gritted his teeth viciously:

"Who cares what he meant!"

"We're in it for the money anyway!"

"This woman is the Thornton family's officially acknowledged fiancée, announced in the news just yesterday."

"As long as we record a video of her-"

"There's no way Calvin Thornton won't pay up!"

As he spoke, Rowan pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket.

Without giving me any chance to resist, he held my head down and pressed it over my nose.

A strange scent instantly flooded my nostrils, making my head spin.

With a sharp tearing sound, my shirt was ripped open.

Above me, Rowan's voice was full of gritted fury:

"Stop wasting time. Let's play with her!"

"But Rowan," the young one hesitated,

"we originally planned to just keep her two days."

"Now Calvin Thornton's not even in a rush to rescue her."

"I'm worried. if this drags out, and the young master finds out-"

Rowan spat out his cigarette and cursed:

"So what if he finds out?"

"You really believe he's going to help us turn over a new leaf and go clean?"

"He's just putting on a show because he's newly in charge!"

"The Lancaster family's been in the underworld for years. If we go legit, what's he gonna eat and drink? Use your head!"

"If it really comes to it, we'll just offer her to him."

"He's way better at breaking people than we are!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

The warehouse door was suddenly flung open.

A tall man in a black coat stepped inside slowly,followed by several burly bodyguards.

His pale eyes swept over them. His voice was a soft scoff:

"How about I let you try my way of breaking someone, right now?"

The three kidnappers trembled all over.

In perfect sync, they dropped to their knees before him.

"Y-Young Master."

Rowan, face pale, quickly pointed at me.

"We found you a woman, sir. She's a firecracker! L-Look!"

"We already drugged her. She's ready to use."

The man frowned.

His gaze flicked to me.

A dark shadow passed through his eyes.

That devastatingly handsome face somehow made every hair on my body stand on end.

Even though the drug's heat was beginning to stir within me,

I still couldn't help but shiver and curl up in fear.

The man raised an eyebrow slightly.Then he walked over and crouched in front of me.

He pulled a folding knife from his pocket.

His cold voice-to me, it was even chillier than the blade's gleam:

"This'll hurt. Hold still."

"I'll send you off now."

Send. send me off?

"No! Don't kill me!"

The string in my mind finally snapped.

My will to live ignited a burst of courage.

With bound hands, I gripped him tightly.

Tears filled my eyes as I looked up at him, begging:

"Please, don't kill me."

"I'll find a way to get you the money."

"I really don't want to die in the next two years. Please."

The man lowered his eyes, gaze landing on my hands clinging to his.

He paused, eyebrows raised in curiosity, voice deep:

"What's wrong with dying in the next two years?"

I choked.

Was that the point?!

But I didn't dare not answer.

"B-Because," I lowered my head and muttered,

"The government's encouraging families to have three kids now."

"But young people generally don't want children."

"So if I die now, there's a high chance I'll reincarnate into an old-school family trying to have a third baby."

"I died young and didn't get to enjoy much in this life. Dying now just doesn't feel right."

He clearly froze.

His thin lips pressed into a line,

and the corners seemed to twitch with the hint of a smile.

I didn't notice.

Because by now the heat in my body was surging violently.

Trapped between the fear of death and of being violated by multiple men,

I quickly assessed the few cards I had left to survive.

Then, with all the courage I could muster,

I leaned forward and lightly kissed his lips:

"I'll be obedient. I won't resist."

"Whatever you want to do to me. it's fine."

The entire warehouse fell into dead silence.

The man's eyes darkened suddenly.

His Adam's apple moved slightly.

He said nothing.

I bit my lip,vaguely sensing a sliver of hope.

Bound hands lifted and fell again, wrapping around his neck.

Then I kissed him once more.

But the man gently gripped my neck and pushed me back,

putting distance between us.

He stared into my eyes, his gaze deep and unreadable:

"I wasn't planning to kill you."

"There's still time to back out. I'll find you another man."

"But once you follow me, there's no turning back."

The heat surged higher. My eyes were already glazed.

I pressed myself into his chest and shook my head:

"I'll follow you."

"No regrets."

If I'm destined to lose everything-at least let me choose someone handsome.

The next second,my lips were seized.

The man clutched the back of my head.

In the hotel bathroom, the shower roared down.

Heavy breathing and moans of passion made the air grow hotter and hotter.

My hands were pulled up above my head, my body pressed against the wall as the man took me fiercely.

Yet his fingers still had the mind to play with the ring on my hand, his lips curling in amusement:

"A flower already taken, and still daring to seduce me?"

"You really think I'm some kind of good guy?"

"Mm."

Warm water blurred my vision. My whole body was limp, barely able to stand, my mind drifting into a haze.

"No one. the ring. don't. don't want it anymore."

"Heh, no wonder it's your first time?"

The man chuckled hoarsely against my lips and removed the ring:

"You don't want it? Then give it back to him."

He let go of my arms. I slid downward helplessly, quickly wrapping myself around his muscular back.

My moans came out broken and disordered.

"Jasper Lancaster. That's my name," he whispered beside my ear, voice low and seductive. "Say it."

"Ah!" I screamed as my nails raked down his back. "Jasper Lancaster."