Chapter 296 A Heart Given to Another
With a sense of finality, Sunny zipped up her suitcase, ready to bid farewell to her temporary residence and return to the familiarity of Houston. Her request for a car echoed through the grand lobby of the hotel, the front desk clerk promptly arranging her transportation.
As the sleek vehicle pulled up to the hotel's entrance, Sunny descended the staircase, her suitcase trailing behind her. The driver, a silent figure, assisted her in stowing her luggage in the trunk before they embarked on their journey, leaving the grandeur of the hotel behind.
Throughout the drive, Sunny found herself engrossed in the virtual world of her smartphone, oblivious to the changing scenery outside her window. After what seemed like an eternity, she pulled her gaze away from the screen, glancing outside to gauge her location.
The sight of the desolate stretch of road jolted her, causing her to sit up straight in her seat. "This isn't the right way, is it? Aren't we headed to the airport?" she questioned, her voice laced with uncertainty.
The driver's silence was deafening, the car's acceleration only amplifying her growing fear.
A wave of dread washed over Sunny, her face paling as she realized the gravity of her situation. "Stop the car! Who are you, and where are you taking me? Stop the car now, or I'm calling the police!" she cried out, her fingers trembling as she attempted to dial for help.
Her plea was met with a sudden jolt as the driver abruptly accelerated, causing her to lurch forward and her phone to clatter to the floor.
"Better not try anything funny, or I'll kill you," the driver threatened, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. Swallowing hard, Sunny leaned over to retrieve her fallen phone.
The car came to an abrupt halt in front of an abandoned warehouse, the final destination. Clutching her phone tightly, she cast a panicked glance at the driver as he swung open the car door. "Who exactly are you? And where is this place?" she demanded, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Get out and you'll find out," the driver replied, his face expressionless. Sunny sat frozen in her seat, her face as white as a sheet. Losing patience, the driver yanked her out of the car, dragging her into the desolate warehouse.
"Let go of me! Who are you? What do you want? Is it money? Just let me make a call, and you can have whatever amount you ask for," Sunny pleaded, trying to maintain her composure as she attempted to reason with her captor. But her words fell on deaf ears as he pushed open the warehouse door, forcing her inside.
The warehouse was occupied by several men, all of whom seemed to be awaiting her arrival. "Jakov, she's here," the driver announced to a young man engrossed in his phone.
With a grunt of acknowledgment, the young man pocketed his phone and approached Sunny, who was now restrained by his men.
Swallowing nervously, Sunny turned to the young man. "Who are you, and what do you want?" she asked, her voice trembling.
The man stroked his chin, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. "Did you see the news this morning? You and Aaron spent a rather cozy night together. Seems like you're his latest fling, huh?"
At the mention of Aaron's name, Sunny mustered up a semblance of confidence. "Yeah! And I'm sure you've all heard of Aaron. Since you know I'm his new love interest, I'd suggest you release me quickly. If anything happens to me, he definitely won't let you off the hook."
The man laughed derisively, rolling up his shirt sleeves to reveal a blue dragon tattoo. "Oh, so now you're threatening me? Do you even know who we are?" His gaze was icy as he continued, "We're all desperados, living on the edge and making our living by taking money to solve other people's problems. Do you think threats work on us?"
Sunny, looking into the ruthlessness of his eyes, caught on. "So, you kidnapped me because someone paid you!"
The man nodded. "Yeah, the boss said Aaron crossed him and needed to be taught a lesson. He couldn't touch Aaron, so he targeted someone close to him. You're Aaron's new flame, messing with you would be a good scare tactic."
Sunny's eyes stretched wide in terror, her heart constricting painfully in her chest.
Could it be Aaron's adversary who had orchestrated her capture? Were they intending to use her as a pawn to intimidate Aaron? Yet, she was an innocent bystander in this twisted game, not the new object of Aaron's affections as they assumed.
"Don't be mistaken, I'm not..." she began, her voice shaking with fear.
"You're a pretty thing," the man interrupted her, his gaze assessing her with a chilling deliberation. "I wonder if I should mar your beauty or resort to something more severe before your demise."
Before Sunny could articulate her plea, the man snatched a knife from one of his underlings, pressing the icy blade against her soft cheek. Sunny's complexion drained of color, a scream ripping from her throat uncontrollably.
"Stop! Please, listen to me..."
Her desperate plea was abruptly cut off as another man activated a camera.
"Jakov, it would be a waste to kill her so swiftly," he suggested, a cruel grin twisting his features. "Let's have our fun first. Then we can disfigure her, amputate her limbs, rip out her tongue, turn her into a grotesque statue, and ship her overseas as an exhibit."
The others chimed in, their voices filled with anticipation. "Yeah, Jakov, let's not waste time. The boys are eager!"
"Jakov, since she's Aaron's woman, why don't you step back and I'll record the whole ordeal?"
The men circled her like vultures, their faces twisted into grotesque parodies of delight. With each word they uttered, Sunny's face turned a shade paler. As Jakov reached to tear at her clothing, she let out another terrified scream.
"Listen to me, you've got the wrong person! I am not Aaron's new love! Aaron doesn't even care for me; he has someone else in his heart!"
At her words, Jakov paused, his expression one of suspicion. "Is that so? Don't try to deceive me. The news yesterday claimed you and Aaron spent the night together at a hotel. Are you saying that news was fabriEvellad?"
In her haste, Sunny replied, "The news is true, but it wasn't as it was portrayed."
He narrowed his eyes, "What do you mean?"
"It's a misunderstanding. I'm not Aaron's new flame. I was merely using his fame to boost my own popularity. Nothing transpired between us last night," Sunny explained hurriedly.
The man raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Oh really? Just the two of you alone in a room, and you expect me to believe nothing happened? Are you suggesting he's impotent?"
His cronies erupted into laughter at his crude jest.
"No, that's not it," Sunny rushed to clarify. "He was simply inebriated. How could anything have happened between us?"
The man studied her for a moment before turning away, his hand brushing against the earpiece he wore. He then settled into a chair, crossing his legs with a casual air.
"Is everything you're saying true? You're really not Aaron's new flame? Then how did you just happen to cross paths with him in City N?"
Upon hearing this, Sunny's eyes flickered, and she responded vaguely, "It was merely a coincidence."
She decided to keep her words to a minimum. The last thing she wanted was to involve Suzy in this nightmare.
The man shifted in his seat, squinting at Sunny. "Oh, is that so? I don't believe it for a second. I still think you're Aaron's new flame."
Sunny's anxiety spiked, "I'm not, I'm really not Aaron's new love interest! The woman he's fond of is a doctor named Nora. If you want to frighten Aaron, you should be targeting her, not me!"
She couldn't believe her rotten luck, getting entangled in this mess. If she ended up being murdered by these men, it would be a gross miscarriage of justice!
"You sure know how to deflect blame! I've always despised liars and those who shirk responsibility," the man scoffed. He then produced a bottle from his pocket, extracted a pill, and handed it to one of his henchmen.
"Go on, make her swallow it."
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