Ivy’s POV
My entire body trembled uncontrollably as the car sped through the city streets and out toward the suburbs.
Was I being kidnapped for ransom? Was this because of Ryan? Would they hurt ? Kill ?
The bodyguards didn’t touch beyond the restraints, which was my only comfort during the terrifying ride.
Eventually, we pulled up to a private villa tucked away in an exclusive neighborhood. They dragged inside and unceremoniously dumped onto a plush carpet.
I glanced around, heart pounding. Who the hell had brought here?
Then ca the soft chanical whir of an approaching wheelchair—quiet, almost polite, but it sent ice lancing through my veins.
I looked up.
And in that instant, familiar features swam into focus. My breath caught, and the fear in my chest blood, sharp and blinding.
It was him.Kane Blackwood.My nightmare.
He rolled to a stop in front of , the wheelchair gliding to a halt with an ominous hiss. His eyes glittered with sadistic pleasure as he drank in my terror.
Without a word, he reached down and yanked the cloth from my mouth. His lips curved into a cruel, almost lazy smile.
“Well, well,” he murmured. “After all this ti... you don’t recognize ?”
I shook my head frantically, forcing my lips into what I hoped passed for a smile. It felt more like a grimace.
“Kane... how... when did you co back?” My voice was barely a whisper.
He scoffed. And then, without warning, he slapped hard across the face.
The slap echoed through the room like a gunshot.
I didn’t cry out. I knew better.
Years ago, as Kane’s lover, I’d learned the rules: pain excited him. The more you showed, the more he wanted. The only weapon I had was silence—and pretending.
“Kane,” I said, working to steady my voice, “why have your n drag here like this? You could’ve just called .”
I softened my tone, slipping into the coquettish cadence he used to like. A desperate gamble.
“You worthless slut,” he spat. “If I hadn’t brought you here by force, would you have co willingly?”
“Of course I would!” I said quickly, leaning into the lie. “I’ve always wanted to see you. Please—untie . I’m not going to run.”
Despite Kane’s volatile temper, getting back into his good graces could provide with the protection and lifestyle I desperately needed. Better the devil you know, right?
"Kane, please," I whispered, inching closer to his wheelchair. "These ties are hurting ."
"Untie her," he ordered his n.
Relief washed over as they cut the zip ties. I imdiately positioned myself by his wheelchair, looking up at him adoringly.
"I’ve missed you so much. You’ve been gone for so long."
Kane watched my performance with obvious contempt.
"Really? You seed to be doing quite well without . Working at Blackwood’s design studio, career taking off nicely. What happened? Did Ryan get bored after he used you up and threw you away?"
My smile froze on my face. How did he know so much about my situation? Did that an he also knew how desperately I’d tried to seduce Ryan?
Before I could form a response, Kane grabbed my chin with bruising force, squeezing until my face contorted painfully.
"You treacherous bitch. I sent you to seduce Ryan so we could destroy him together. Instead, you fell for him. Tell , how should I make you pay for this betrayal?"
My eyes widened in terror as I frantically shook my head, making muffled sounds of denial against his grip.
"I didn’t... I swear..."
"Do you think I’m an idiot? Useless!" He suddenly released , shoving backward. I tumbled onto the floor, my cheek throbbing with angry red fingerprints.
"Kane, please," I gasped, scrambling to explain. "You know what Ryan’s like—completely impenetrable. I never had a chance to destroy him! He’s still obsessed with my sister."
"Is that so?"
Kane seed to consider this, his expression thoughtful.
"You’re still worthless to ," he finally said. "Tell , how would you like to disappear?"
Terror exploded in my chest. "Kane, no! Please! Give another chance! Don’t do this to !"
I knew exactly what Kane was capable of. When he decided soone needed to "disappear," they vanished without a trace. No witnesses. No body. Nothing.
"Another chance?" he echoed, seeming amused by my desperation.
"Yes, another chance! Please, Kane. We were together once. Don’t do this to ."
Kane laughed coldly, slapping away my pleading hands.
"Together? You were nothing but a warm body in my bed. You think that makes you special? You’re delusional."
I felt hope draining from . Ryan already despised —he wouldn’t swoop in to save now. Nobody would.
Kane seed to feed on my despair, his eyes gleaming with a perverse satisfaction.
"So tell ," he said suddenly, "how do you plan to use this second chance?"
Hope flickered back to life. "Anything! I’ll do anything you want! Just tell what you need!"
My mind raced with possibilities. If I could just get out of here alive, I’d never let Kane catch again. I’d run far away, change my identity if necessary.
Kane’s eyes narrowed, sharp and knowing, as if he were reading every thought racing through my head. A dangerous smile curved across his face.
“Ivy, tell —does Ryan even know you used to be mine? I wonder how he’d react if he found out his precious Sophie’s sister was keeping my bed warm. Think about it—how do you imagine he’d look at you then?”
His voice dropped to a low, taunting murmur. “I can’t wait to find out.”
The blood drained from my face, and I collapsed back onto the floor, hollow and defeated. There was no escape. No matter what I did now, I was already trapped.
Kane didn’t let breathe before delivering the final blow.
“I want the Blackwood Group’s trade secrets. I don’t care how you manage it—this is the last chance you’ll ever get.”
He leaned forward, eyes glinting like a viper ready to strike.
A chill rippled down my spine, sweat slicking my back. There was only one answer I could give.
“...I understand.”
Kane’s lips twisted into a satisfied smile. “Good girl. Three days. I’ll be waiting.”
I tried to keep my voice steady, forcing out a fragile plea. “Couldn’t you give a little more ti?”
“Of course,” Kane said smoothly, turning his wheelchair as if I were no longer worth his gaze. His tone was colder than steel.
“Just make sure you give Ryan a heads-up—so he knows when to pick up your body.”
I couldn’t rember how I was dragged out of the villa. All I knew was that my death sentence had been written. Kane never bluffed—when he spoke, he ant it.
By the ti I ca to, I was dumped at the corner near my apartnt. My legs buckled under , and I had to cling to the wall just to stay upright.
Three days. That was all I had. And every second was already slipping away.
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