Rachel regained consciousness soon afterward. When she came to her senses, she found herself surrounded by complete darkness as her head was still covered with a piece of black cloth. Meanwhile, her hands and feet were tied as she was thrown into the back seat of a van.
The van sped along the expressway for a long, long time before finally reaching its destination. “Get her out of the van and into the house.”
Rachel tensed up all over. Right after that, she was carried out of the van by two men. The black cloth covering her head was pulled off with a swoosh, and a bright pendant lamp overhead shone on her eyes. The light was so blinding that she lowered her head and kept averting her eyes, unable to adjust to it for a while.
“Don’t untie the ropes for her lest she doesn’t stay still.”
“Yes, sir.”
Rachel didn’t even have enough time to see who her abductors were. When she finally adjusted to the light in the room, those people had left, leaving her alone in the spacious living room. As her hands and feet were tied, she sank into the sofa. It was with great difficulty that she turned over and sat up. When she looked around her surroundings, she found this place somewhat familiar. However, before she could remember which place this was, the roar of a car engine sounded outside the villa.
The door opened with a beep. “She’s inside, President Burton.”
Rachel looked up from the sofa, and her heart shuddered violently when she saw the person who entered.
Dressed in a well-pressed pitch-black suit, Justin stood at the door and saw Rachel with her hands and feet tied. At the sight of this, his black eyes were instantly ablaze with anger. He turned around and gave the man at the door a loud slap that resounded around the door. “Who did this?”
The man was slapped so hard that the corner of his mouth bled. As he covered his face with his hand, he shook like a leaf and responded, “President Burton,”
“President Burton, the ones he brought with him are newcomers. They didn’t realize it was actually Mrs. Burton,” Frankie quickly said in the man’s defense. Then, he glared at the group of men. “Can’t you guys do a good job of such a petty thing? Will you bear the responsibility if Mrs. Burton gets hurt?”
Justin entered the house and locked eyes with the woman sitting on the sofa. The atmosphere was tense for a few seconds as they were locked in a standoff. Then, he untied the ropes on her hands and feet, revealing bruises on her fair skin.
Frankie hurried to get the first-aid kit.
“Give it to me.”
“Yes, President Burton.”
At the sound of the door being closed, silence befell the room. Soon enough, Rachel and Justin were the only ones left.
Justin took out the salve and reached for Rachel’s hand, but she retracted her hand and averted her eyes. He said with a frown, “Amber has information about the Hudson Family’s offshore bank account. Just set your mind at rest and give birth to the baby. Don’t think about anything else. Once the matter is over, you’ll still be Mrs. Burton.”
However, Rachel remained unmoved.
As he grew impatient, Justin grabbed her wrist and forcibly applied the salve to her bruises.
Suddenly, Rachel struggled and pushed him away with all her strength. She tried to run to the door, but unfortunately, she was dragged back and flung onto the sofa before she could even take a step.
Justin gripped her cheek. “Where are you going?”
Rachel’s eyes were red as she stared hard at Justin. She wanted to look for Nancy. He had her abducted from the expressway, but Nancy was still there. Nancy couldn’t drive alone, nor did she know her way around the place, so Rachel didn’t dare to imagine what would happen to her.
However, Justin thought Rachel wanted to flee from him. “Don’t make me lose patience with you! Do you think you can simply run away with your grandmother? Don’t you care about the old name named Irwin anymore?”
What did you do to Grandpa Irwin?
Justin’s cold eyes darkened. “Guess what will happen to him if anything happens to our baby.”
Rachel’s face turned deathly pale. Why? Why must those around me be put under threat like this one after another? I have never thought of hurting anyone, but why is fate never on my side? Why must be tortured in such a way, so much so that even my friends and relatives have to suffer as well?
Tears streamed quietly down Rachel’s face before it splashed onto the back of Justin’s hand. His tightly knitted eyebrows twitched, and he unconsciously relaxed his grip on her. After a moment, he let go of the woman. “You will stay here from today onward until you give birth to the baby.”
Rachel lay prone on the sofa and coughed with her hand clutching her throat. Will you let me go after I give birth to the baby? She no longer wanted to get involved in the conflict between the Burton Family and the Hudson Family, nor did she want to continue being a part of the divorce-and-remarriage drama. Right now, she just wanted to leave Riverdale and stay out of trouble with her grandmother. Since Justin wanted the baby, she would give him the baby. In fact, she didn’t want the baby anymore.
Justin’s face darkened at once. She’s still bent on leaving! he thought to himself.
Just then, a commotion was heard from the outside. “What’s the matter?” Justin yelled impatiently toward the door.
Frankie hurriedly pushed the door open and entered. “President Burton, they caught someone sneaking around outside.”
“Who is it? Bring him in.”
Several bodyguards came in while twisting a young man’s arms. “Let go of me! I can walk by myself!” The blond-haired young man’s black T-shirt was stained with mud, and his ripped jeans had been washed multiple times; one could no longer tell its original color. Even though anyone could tell at a glance that this slovenly young man was unlearned and incapable, he looked unruly and rebellious with a fearless expression while being held down by the bodyguards.
Rachel’s expression changed at the sight of him.
“Are you all right, Rachel?”
“Shut up and behave yourself!” A bodyguard kicked the young man in the back of his knee.
The young man fell to his knees with a muffled moan. Rachel quickly went over to him anxiously, but she was stopped by Justin.
“What are you doing? Let go of Rachel!” The young man still looked ferocious as he kneeled on the ground.
“Do you know each other?” Justin shot a glance at Rachel.
He is innocent! Rachel responded. Then, she quickly gestured to the young man. What are you doing here?
However, Victor couldn’t understand sign language, and he thought Rachel was asking him for help. “Don’t worry, Rachel. I’ll get you out of this place. What an isshole! When I get out of here, I will sue him until he
spends the rest of his life in prison for imprisoning you illegally!”
Just then, Frankie hurriedly trotted to Justin’s side and whispered something to him.
Justin shot a cold glance at the young man. “Are you Victor Wade?”
Victor frowned. “Do you know me?”
“Since you’re already here, just stay here and keep Rachel company.”
“Why should I stay just because you’re telling me to?”
“I heard that your only family member is your senile grandmother, right?”
“What do you want to do?!” Victor’s expression changed. He began to struggle, only to be pinned fiercely to the ground by the bodyguards. With his cheek pressed against the floor, he glared furiously at Justin. “Whatever you want to do, direct it at me. If you dare to touch my Grandma, I’ll kill you and your entire family!”
Rachel’s face instantly turned as white as a sheet, and she staggered to Victor’s side to cover his mouth.
“Mmmm! Rachel, let go… Mmm…”
Justin responded, “Why don’t you ask Rachel if I have the guts to touch your grandmother? Just behave yourself and stay here. Don’t play any tricks. Otherwise, it’s easy to make a person vanish in Riverdale.” After finishing his sentence, he shot a glance at Rachel and strode off.
Justin’s voice continued to reverberate throughout the room. Rachel’s hands and feet were as cold as ice, and her arms were trembling as she helped Victor up. She thought to herself, His words are directed at both Victor and myself.
