Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

"Better not move, or I can't promise I won't slip," the guy holding me warned in a low, menacing voice.

I almost screamed but managed to choke it back.

There were a bunch of people at the hospital entrance, but everyone was in such a rush that no one noticed me. Even if they did, who'd actually step in?

A white van screeched to a stop right in front of me.

"Get in," the guy ordered.

The knife tip pressed against my waist, and I could feel its cold blade even through my clothes.

I stepped into the van but froze when I saw a familiar Maybach nearby. I thought about yelling for Ethan, but I got shoved inside.

The door slammed shut, and the van sped off. I anxiously looked out the window.

The car lights were off, and Ethan hadn't gotten out. He must be waiting for me.

The van sped away, and the familiar car got smaller under the neon lights. With a turn, it disappeared from my sight.

A force yanked me back, and I fell into the van.

My hands were tied behind my back, and as the rope tightened around my wrists, a slow, deliberate voice sounded beside me.

"Don't worry. You'll see him soon enough."

I turned my head; it was the guy who had just held me hostage.

Now that I was tied up, he sat to the side, playing with the knife in his hand.

Forcing myself to stay calm, I looked around.

There were six guys in the van, including the driver. Each had various aggressive tattoos on their hands. The guy playing with the knife was different. Compared to the others, he was much more composed, focusing only on the knife's glint. Even though he was still, he exuded a chilling aura.

I didn't scream or shout, knowing it would be useless and only put me in a worse position.

So I looked at them calmly. "Who are you? And what do you want with me?"

The guy stopped spinning the knife, glanced at me, and a slightly frivolous smile appeared on his lips. "What do you think a man wants with a woman?" The guys in the van laughed.

My heart sank.

Another guy said, "If Ethan likes her, she must be something. But she looks pretty ordinary. Did we get the wrong person?"

"Maybe she's good in bed?" someone else chimed in mischievously.

Another round of laughter.

The guy with the knife smiled coldly. "No mistake."

My heart sank further. It seemed they had planned this.

Business was like war; enemies were inevitable. I didn't want to become Ethan's weakness.

The van drove recklessly, and just as I was about to throw up, it finally stopped.

As I got out, a cold wind made me shiver.

We were on a mountainside, with a luxurious villa not far away.

They dragged me into the villa, and one by one, the lights came on, illuminating the entire place. I was thrown onto a sofa.

They grabbed drinks, smoked, turned on the TV, and played poker as if this was their everyday life.

"Call Ethan and ask if he misses his wife." The composed guy said as he shook out a cigarette from the pack.

Someone picked up the phone and made the call. "Ethan, picking up your wife might cost you some extra gas."

After giving the address, he hung up. I had no idea how Ethan would react.

While waiting, they played poker on the coffee table, completely ignoring me.

I was on edge, hoping Ethan would come but also fearing he'd fall into their trap because of me. After what felt like forever, I heard a car outside.

One of the guys threw down his cards to check the door, then turned back and said, "Faris, he's here."

Faris was the composed guy who had held me hostage.

He threw down his cards, glanced at me, and told someone, "Take her upstairs."

I struggled in vain as they dragged me upstairs and locked me in a room.

I had no idea what was happening downstairs. I couldn't see or hear anything, and I was extremely anxious.

What were their intentions? I didn't want Ethan to give in easily.

Though my hands were tied, my feet were free. I got up and walked to the window, looking down. I saw the Maybach parked in the yard and heard faint voices from the living room. But I couldn't make out the words. Suddenly, a sharp sound of something breaking echoed.

I panicked!

Would there be a fight? Ethan must have come alone. How could he take on so many of them?

In my panic, I struggled hard, and the rope cut into my wrists painfully. Finally, I freed my hands from the rope.

I rushed to the door, pressed my ear against it to listen, and, hearing no one outside, gently turned the doorknob.

The hallway was empty. I tiptoed out of the room and stopped at the top of the stairs. "Ethan, so even you can be brought to your knees for a beautiful lady," Faris's voice echoed. Soon, Ethan's calm voice responded from downstairs.

"Of course, I cherish my girl. If you have any issues, come at me. She's timid; don't scare her."

I slowly peeked out from the staircase, and the scene in the living room came into view.

Ethan and Faris each sat in a single armchair with a coffee table between them.

Faris had the numbers, but Ethan was alone, yet he didn't seem the least bit nervous.

He wore a white shirt and a black suit, with his legs crossed, a cigarette in hand, leaning back on the sofa, as if he didn't care about the situation at all.

Faris let out a cold laugh. "Don't worry. I also cherish beauty. If you want to see your woman sooner, you shouldn't take too long to consider my earlier question, right?"

I didn't know what terms Faris was negotiating with Ethan, but given the effort they put into this, I figured it must be difficult for Ethan.

No, I couldn't let Ethan compromise easily.

"Ethan, don't agree!" I couldn't hold back and rushed downstairs.

But as soon as I stepped off the last stair, two of Faris's men grabbed me.

I exchanged a look with Ethan, shaking my head slightly. But his eyes were gentle as if comforting me.

Faris turned to look at me, a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"See, if I didn't cherish beauty, how could she escape so easily?"

Ethan took a drag of his cigarette and said calmly, "The law of the land isn't just for show. It's not up to me."

Hearing this, Faris suddenly burst into laughter.

To me, he had always seemed a composed person. But now he was laughing almost maniacally.

"The law of the land isn't just for show? That's the funniest joke I've ever heard, bar none."

As Faris laughed, the others joined in.

Faris finally stopped laughing, slowly twisted his neck, and looked at Ethan. "Whether the law is just for show or not, I believe you will find a way, right?"

His words were loaded with meaning, implying that Ethan had no choice but to agree.

I didn't fully understand their conversation, but I guessed it involved legal issues.

Before I could figure it out, I heard Ethan say, "Alright."

Then he picked up a pen from the coffee table and quickly scribbled on a piece of paper.

I guessed it was some sort of agreement. I wanted to tell him not to sign, but it was too late.

As Ethan put down the pen, the half-burned cigarette in his other hand fell to the floor. "Sorry, I burned your expensive floor."

Faris seemed pleased with the outcome, his smile widening. "It's an honor."

With the matter settled, the two men holding me let go.

The moment I was free, I rushed to the coffee table, but before I could pick up the agreement, Ethan's hand pressed it down.

As he stood up, he pulled me up too, his voice calm yet commanding.

"Honey, let's go home!"

We walked out of the villa, and no one stopped us.

Once in the car, Ethan quickly drove us away from that place.

He focused on the road, not saying a word, one hand on the steering wheel, the other tightly holding mine.

He must have felt the sweat in my palm.

I couldn't help but ask after a while, "What did you agree to?"

The car was silent.

After a long pause, Ethan's voice finally broke the silence.

"His name is Faris Melville. He has a brother named Yanis Melville, who went to prison with Richard. He heard about our plan to overturn Richard's case and wants me to get Yanis out too." But Faris's actions today didn't seem like someone asking for a favor.

Was this how these people operate?

Even if he used me as leverage, Ethan had no choice, but Faris's attitude was far from humble. He even forced Ethan to sign, as if Ethan owed him.

I felt there was more to this, but I had no clue what it was.

What exactly was written on the paper Ethan signed? I didn't know.

Helping with this matter was a favor, not an obligation. Did they have some follow-up plan?

When I was with Mark and the others, it seemed difficult enough to get Richard out. Now they wanted to get another person out. Prison wasn't their backyard; it was not that easy. No wonder Ethan said the law wasn't just for show, and Faris laughed at it.

I asked, "Is it possible? To overturn the case for two people at once?" Ethan's response shocked me.