Chapter 14

• I woke up in an unfamiliar place, my eyes felt heavy, and it took some effort to open them due to the bright light coming from a small window. As I finally managed to open my eyes and adjust to my surroundings, I realized there wasn't much in this space. There was a simple table with a plate of food and what looked like a cup of coffee. The bed I was on was small, and the room itself was compact. When I glanced through the small window, I saw an ocean view, which made me realize I was on a yacht, and fear gripped me.
• I attempted to get up but quickly realized I wasn't alone. There was a man beside me who hushed me and asked me to sit and stay calm. He connected a communication device and informed someone, "She's awake." At that moment, a flood of thoughts raced through my mind, from wondering if I had been kidnapped to being afraid for my life or even the possibility of organ trafficking.
• I tried to muster some courage and threatened the man, "Listen, if you do anything to me, Evan will come after you." But he didn't seem to pay much attention to my threats. Instead, he just smiled and replied, "Boss will be here soon, and maybe you can negotiate the terms with him."
• As I stared at the door, I was certain that Sophia was behind all of this. At this point, I mentally prepared myself to consider her offer and perhaps leave for Africa. What was the use of staying if Evan didn't want me here either?
• I was still stammering, desperately pleading, "Listen... tell her I accept her offer, just let me go, please." My fear was palpable as the door finally opened, and a voice I knew very well sounded, "I can't believe you would give up on us just like that." He rushed toward me, attempting to touch me, but I pushed him away. He signaled for his guards to leave, and they complied. I couldn't help but glance at the door, waiting for her to come in.
• "You expecting someone?" He asked, noting my anxious gaze at the door. "Where is she?" I inquired, my voice trembling. "Do you think you two can just kidnap me and get away with everything? Sky will make sure you two rot in jail," I warned, trying to sound brave but feeling scared.
• He took notice of my hesitation and changed the subject, saying, "I see you didn't have your breakfast yet. How are you feeling? I didn't know you had a heart condition." He took a tray of food, but I refused to eat it, saying, "I'm not eating your food."
• "Maybe when you get hungry," he responded. I demanded to know why I was there, but he seemed uncomfortable. He finally replied, "Because you're not safe out there." I retorted, "Neither am I safe here. I want to go home."
• I tried to stand, but he stopped me, and I used it as an opportunity to claim I needed to use the restroom. He agreed, telling me to wait and not move. He left the room, searching for his phone, I assumed. I saw this as my chance to escape. I grabbed a cup of coffee, threw it on the floor to create a commotion, and a man rushed in with a gun, expecting to find me. I had taken a vase from the table, smashed it against his head, and sprinted out as fast as I could.
• Once outside, I realized we were in the middle of the ocean, with little space to escape. Evan and two of his men were closing in on me. Evan told me, "We're in the middle of the ocean." I looked around for a way out, my back against the end of the yacht. He pleaded with me, "Please come have your breakfast and medicine; I'll explain everything."
• I couldn't trust him. This was the same man who professed his love for me and then allowed another woman to perform intimate acts in front of me, confessing his addiction to her body. For that, I couldn't trust him, knowing he was a liar. As he came closer, I did the only thing that came to my mind at that moment—I jumped into the ocean, hoping for an end, even though I couldn't swim. I struggled in the water, regretting my impulsive decision. Strong arms soon wrapped around my frail body, pulling me to the surface. It didn't take long for me to find myself back on the yacht. As I gasped for breath, Evan locked his lips on mine, not in a kiss but to give me oxygen. Coughing out the water, Evan picked me up and carried me to a tiny room, his guards following behind. At this point, I was utterly confused as to why he had saved me, but I also had a lingering fear that it might be related to his dark rituals. Nonetheless, I closed my eyes in his arms, feeling strangely safe in this moment of uncertainty.
• He laid me down gently on the bed, and I followed his instructions. Evan brought the tray of food and positioned himself on the bed, feeding me quietly. He didn't press me with questions, and once I had finished eating, he handed me a pill, which I assumed was a painkiller, along with a glass of water. I took the pill, and he reassured me, "The doctor said these will help."
• I couldn't shake off my concern, and I asked once again, "Why am I here?" I continued, "You know Sky might be worried about me." His response surprised me, as he casually mentioned, "Don't worry, she's sorted." His use of the word "sorted" left me puzzled, but he quickly clarified, "I mean we informed her of your whereabouts already." I nodded in understanding.
• "But before you leave, I believe you need closure," he suggested. I agreed, not wanting to create any issues that might change his mind about letting me go. I decided to listen to whatever he had to say. While contemplating the situation, I glanced down and realized that the clothes I had removed earlier, thinking they were mine, were actually Evan's pants and sweater.
• Before I could question this, a man entered with my suitcase. Evan thanked the man, took the suitcase, and placed it on the small bed. I quickly searched through it, looking for my phone, while Evan unzipped the suitcase.
• "Sophia called and threatened me, that's why I did what I did," he began explaining, and I put my phone away to listen to his side of the story. Evan detailed how Sophia had coerced him into following her instructions, emphasizing the danger my life would be in if he made any wrong moves. He also disclosed how Sophia's men had targeted Sky and if that didn't work, they would kidnap her.
• After he finished explaining, I couldn't help but feel somewhat relieved. "Thank you," I said, and he nodded. He confessed, "I don't know, but the love I feel for you is just unbelievable." He took my hands and kissed them, continuing, "I want to give my love a try." Placing his hand over his racing heart, he declared, "Evan, but the contract."
• "F*** the contract... I love you, Amy, I really do," he said, and I gazed into his eyes, realizing that he genuinely meant it. However, I knew I couldn't trust him completely. He asked, "Don't you feel anything for me?" and looked directly into my eyes.
• "Evan...I..." I hesitated, and he urged me to tell the truth, promising to accept it. I confessed, "Evan, I like you. But I'm not sure about love. You're..." He interrupted, saying, "Shh... that's all I needed to hear. I promise to make you fall in love with me." He continued to hold my hands, kissing them, and then opened up about the night when he had rejected my kiss.
• "That night when you wanted to kiss me, I got so high that I couldn't help it... that's when I phoned Riley, she's a hooker. I am sorry, I was just lost in my feelings," he admitted. I nodded and was about to respond when he surprised me by saying, "I think you should move in with me."