Chapter 1
Prologue 1
How does it feel when the person you love leaves you alone with kidnappers?
I loved Matthew Harrington for seven long years. As the heir of the Harrington Group, he was wealthy and powerful. Yet, he didn’t want to pay any ransom when I was kidnapped.
Even his attractive secretary suggested that it could be a chance for me to learn my lesson.
He agreed with her.
And just as he wanted, after I managed to escape from hell, I finally learned my lesson and became obedient enough to never dare to love him again.
But out of the blue, he started crying and begging me to treat him like before…
***
The day I walked into the city barefoot, it made headlines.
I’m Skylar Brown, the adopted daughter of the Harrington
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family, and I got kidnapped a few months back. I was a mess, wearing torn clothes, covered in dirt and stink, with my feet all scarred up. I ran back in shame.
The reporters were all up in my face, snapping pics like there’s no tomorrow. I stayed cool though, not letting them rattle me.
Skylar Brown was gone, just like that. That glamorous, simple–minded, and proud girl was gone. Those kidnappers and Matthew Harrington destroyed her.
Soon, a group of bodyguards in black suits led me through the packed crowd. The captain was named Noah Smith. I knew him. During the seven years when I pestered Matthew, he often showed me to the doors of Matthew’s office and apartment.
To be exact, he dragged me out those places because I kept pestering and annoying Matthew.
“Miss Brown, Mr. Harrington’s waiting for you in the car. Please come with me,” Noah said.
When Noah saw me, he was shocked. He never expected to see me looking so messed up.
I nodded and lifted my messed up foot, leaving bloody footprints on the road. Pain? Nah, didn’t feel a thing. This little journey was a cake walk
I to my escape route.
Noah trailed behind me and couldn’t help blurting out, “Miss Brown…”
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I didn’t even bother responding. Did he feel sorry for me? He must be grateful ‘cause I learned my lesson. No more pestering Matthew or causing him any trouble.
As I hopped into the car, I caught sight of Matthew rest in the seat, eyes shut tight. Hair all neat and sharp features on point, dude looked like a model.
When I vanished, he must’ve been feeling all peaceful and zen, like never before. He was in tip–top shape.
Hearing the commotion, Matthew slowly popped open his eyes. He near didn’t recognize me. “Skylar?”
I nodded, all obedient–like. I learned to play nice. I used to think I was the Harrington family’s golden girl, acting all proud and bossy as if I was their real flesh and blood. But after that kidnapping ordeal, I realized my life was in their hands. If Matthew didn’t cough up the ransom, I could’ve been dead any second.
Matthew frowned with displeasure. “Why did you make yourself like this?”
Like this? Like what? A lunatic? Or a beggar? I ran for miles, stayed awake day and night, and had to be on guard not just against kidnappers, but also against wild animals in the suburban mountains. When I was thirsty, I drank rainwater. And when I was hungry, I scavenged food from highway trash bins. It’s enough to drive anyone insane.
I knew Matthew blamed me for causing trouble for his family’s
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company, specifically because I appeared in front of the media. in this state.
“Sorry for that…” For grossing out you, bastard.
Matthew was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. “She was right. You’ve learned some manners.”
I didn’t understand what Matthew meant. The door closed and the car started. Suddenly, Matthew reached out his hand towards me. I instinctively recoiled into the corner. He stopped. abruptly and said with disdain, “Skylar, you smell.”
Maybe it was because the car had no fresh air. Matthew finally noticed the awful odor coming from my body. It was a mix of blood, sweat, and garbage.
Hearing his words, I subconsciously moved away from the seat, but the car was unstable, so I ended up kneeling down.
“S…Sorry… I won’t dirty the seat. I’ll just…” Kneel here.
My knees were in pain from the bloody wounds inflicted by the kidnappers‘ thin steel needles. They blamed me. I wasn’t important enough to Matthew, so he didn’t pay the ransom. They thought it was a waste of time, so they took their anger out
on me.
I couldn’t stand up, so I knelt in that cramped space.
Matthew was furious. “What are you doing? Go back to your seat!”
