Chapter 4

Then Avery sat beside me, making it look to outsiders like we were very close sisters.

Only I knew what Avery whispered in my ear.

"So what? Dad, Mom, Darren, and Jayden will all be mine from now on."

"And Jayden said I look much better in this dress than you ever did."

After saying this, Avery smiled and left my side, cheerfully saying, "Sister, could you please get me a bottle of water? I’m a bit thirsty."

Not wanting to see Avery any longer, I nodded with a strained expression.

"Alright."

To my surprise, as I was on my way back, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my head and collapsed to the ground.

"Move."

Two masked men immediately lifted me and shoved me into a burlap sack.

"Stay still."

I felt someone kick me hard inside the sack and curled up in pain.

I don’t know how long it was before I was finally released.

I gasped for fresh air.

"Damn, we’ve got the wrong person. This isn’t Avery."

One of the men spat after seeing me.

"I’m not Avery; I’m Elena."

I want nothing to do with Avery. I hope they'll let me go, considering they’ve kidnapped the wrong person.

Unfortunately, I was wrong.

The other man grabbed my chin and forced me to look up at him.

"Hey, isn't there a rumor that Elena, the little princess, has been abandoned by The Wilkinsons?"

"I heard her man even ran off with Avery."

As he spoke, the man grinned and leered at me with a sleazy gaze.

The other man kicked him, saying, "Get lost. Even if she’s been abandoned, she can still be useful to us to get money from the Wilkinsons."

He then crouched down and started rummaging through my belongings.

The man pulled out my phone and tossed it in front of me.

"Call your family. Ask for five million."

Seeing the knife in his hand, I dared not resist. I picked up the phone and dialed my mother.

"Mom, can you give me five million? I—I’ve been kidnapped."

The call was quickly answered. I spoke with a trembling voice, tinged with desperation.

To my shock, she said, "Five million, Elena, what did you do to need so much? Can’t you stop making me worry?"

Her sharp and harsh tone was a stark contrast to the caring image I had of her.

"Claiming to be kidnapped? You’re just full of lies. You’re nothing compared to Avie. I regret that it wasn’t you who went missing."

Without waiting for my response, she hung up.

"Useless," the leader snarled, snatching my phone and throwing it away. "Can’t even get money. You’re worthless."

Then, eyeing my torn clothes from struggling, he let a sinister glint show in his gaze.

"Since we can’t get money, then serve me instead."

The man said this as he grabbed my legs.

"Don’t!" I began to protest, but before I could say more, he swiftly shoved a rag into my mouth.