Chapter: 1

"Look at that face and body, tsk! Send her down to the red-light district, and she'll rake in a hundred grand a day, easy!"

Kaitlin Hewitt found herself restrained in a decrepit building, her forehead bleeding.

The men had been rough, her clothing torn and disheveled, revealing bruised shoulders and much of her chest-a testament to her futile resistance.

Two days prior, a mysterious call had pulled her into this nightmare.

The caller claimed intimate knowledge of her biological parents and even mentioned specific details about her body that only she should know.

Lured to the city's fringes, she ended up in the clutches of these thugs.

“Let's not do anything hasty. I can pay you," Kaitlin asserted, her voice steady despite the blood trickling from her mouth's corner.

“I'm Alan Hewitt's wife. Whatever ransom you're after, he can pay it."

"Alan Hewitt?!"

The revelation struck the men like a bolt, prompting bewildered looks among them. “Alan Hewitt is married? Never heard about it."

Alan was a powerhouse in Osewood, a man whose mere disapproval could send shockwaves through the city. If they indeed held his wife, Alan's wrath could obliterate them effortlessly.

Noticing the uncertainty on the men's expressions, Kaitlin steadied herself, and said, “I won't claim you kidnapped me. Just let me go, and I assure you, you'll receive your money safely!"

The group leader studied her, his eyes lingering on her expensive designer dress and striking features, appearing slightly influenced.

Clearly, her attire was costly, and she was attractive. Someone of Alan's stature taking her as his wife would certainly make sense.

After a brief, meaningful glance at his accomplices, he spoke in an icy tone. "Give me his phone number, and no tricks. If you try to deceive me, I'll sell you to a brothel around. You won't be able to walk away from the endless line of clients!"

Kaitlin, blood staining her mouth, weakly uttered a phone number.

The leader attempted the number, but the call was abruptly disconnected.

Frustrated, he shouted, “Damn it! Are you playing games with me? The call won't go through!"

His expression darkened, and he delivered a harsh kick to Kaitlin's lower back.

The blow drained the color from her face, her voice growing fainter.

"He won't take a stranger's calls. Please... let me use my phone to call him."

“Typical rich people and their eccentricities!" the leader muttered.

After a moment's hesitation, he handed her the phone, growling, "Tell him to send two hundred million! Or you'll be fucked until you break!"

Kaitlin's fingers quivered as she dialed, her heart racing.