Chapter 1

The kidnappers gave Louis a choice, and he didn't even hesitate to pick his first love.

"Kylie, this is just another act you staged yourself, isn't it?" Louis asked, his voice cold.

After saying that, he turned and walked away without looking back.

The kidnappers tortured me until I was barely recognizable, and then they dumped my body in the middle of nowhere.

When I opened my eyes again, I'd been given a second chance right back to the moment Louis proposed to me.

This time, I turned him down.

Later, he dropped to his knees in front of me. "Kylie, please, just love me," he begged.

*****

When Louis showed up at the spot the kidnappers had picked, carrying the ransom money, I didn't feel any relief.

Because I knew he wasn't here for me.

Jasmine, who had been whipping me herself just moments ago, quickly had the kidnappers pin her to the ground as soon as she saw Louis arrive.

Sure enough, after handing over the ransom, Louis barely gave me a glance before his attention snapped to Jasmine, worry clear in his eyes.

He said, "I've got the ransom. Can you let them go now?"

The kidnapper, sticking to the script they'd rehearsed, replied, "Mr. Dunn, this ransom only covers one person. So, who's it gonna be?"

I was tied to a chair, looking pale but not a scratch on me.

Jasmine, on the other hand, looked way worse.

Watching Jasmine put on her little performance, writhing on the floor, I almost had to bite back a laugh.

Seriously, what was the point? Even if she didn't act so pitiful, Louis would still choose her in a heartbeat.

But deep down, there was still a sliver of hope left in me.

So I opened my mouth and said, "Louis, please, save me."

He acted like he didn't even hear me, just pointed straight at Jasmine. "Let her go," he said.

It was never in doubt.

As he picked Jasmine up and walked past me, Louis glanced at my pale, defeated face and let out a cold snort. "Kylie, this is just another act you staged yourself, isn't it?"

He didn't notice that, cradled protectively in his arms, Jasmine shot me a smug, triumphant smile.

Staring at his cold, resolute back as he walked away, I shut my eyes.

I thought we were in love, but in the end, I was just lying to myself.

In front of Jasmine, I would always be nothing more than a pathetic clown.

"Boss, so this chick's all ours now, right?" one of the kidnappers asked, his voice full of sick anticipation.

"Of course. Ms. Moore said no survivors," the boss replied, his tone cold and ruthless.

I was terrified, and started shaking uncontrollably. "No, please, no..." I begged.

My weak pleas were pointless. And there was no way out.

These guys were ruthless, and the way they tortured people was just insane.

First, they pulled out a stun gun. The jolt of electricity sent a wave of agony through me, and I blacked out instantly.

Then, they doused me with a bucket of saltwater, snapping me awake.

My whole body was torn up, and the burning pain had me rolling around in agony on the floor.

I couldn't help but scream, and that just made them even more excited.

"Hey, Third, you love hearing pretty girls scream, right? Doesn't that sound sweet?" one of them jeered.

"Like you don't enjoy it too! Bet she tastes even better when she's like this," another replied.

The torture finally ended with my death.

My consciousness faded, and it felt like my soul was drifting up, weightless, into the sky.

I saw my own body, almost naked, limbs twisted grotesquely, every inch of skin covered in wounds, with a chunk of flesh bitten right off my face.

That pain was unreal. Even my soul felt like it was burning.

In my haze, I caught sight of a radiant teenager.

He offered me a handkerchief, his brows knitted, eyes brimming with gentle warmth.

He said softly, "Kylie, stick with me from now on. I'll keep you safe."

That was Louis, back when we were in high school.