I Married My Ex's Billionaire Father
Chapter 56: Kidnapped

Chapter 56: Kidnapped

Lyse’s eyelids fluttered open, a wave of disorientation washing over her. The room was pitch black, the only source of light a sliver seeping through a crack in the wall. As her vision adjusted, she realized she was tied to a chair, her wrists and ankles bound tightly with rough rope. Panic surged through her, a chilling echo of a past trauma.

This wasn’t the first time she had been in a situation like this. Years ago, she had narrowly escaped a human trafficking ring, a terrifying ordeal that had left deep scars on her soul. The memories of that time flooded back, each detail as vivid as if it had only happened yesterday.

She struggled against the ropes, her heart pounding in her chest. The rough texture of the rope chafed against her skin, but she persevered, determined to break free.

Just as she was about to give up, the door creaked open, and a figure emerged from the darkness. When the dim light revealed the face of Max, Janine’s abusive husband, a wave of nausea washed over her.

She remembered the stories her friend had shared, the beatings, the threats, the constant fear. She knew that the man standing before he was not going to be merciful. She had taken away his punching bag and humiliated him by calling the police, he was going to want his pound of flesh.

"Where is she?" Max demanded, his voice echoing in the confined space. "Where is Janine?"

Lyse’s heart sank. She had expected that he would want to know where she had taken his wife to but she could not tell him that, who knew what he would do when he got that information.

"I... I don’t know," she managed to whisper, her voice barely audible.

Max’s face contorted with rage. "Don’t lie to me, you stupid nosy bitch. I know that you took her and hid her somewhere. Tell me, or I will make you suffer."

He moved closer, his figure looming over her. Lyse closed her eyes, bracing herself for the inevitable. She had faced pain before, but this was different. This was a deliberate act of cruelty, a calculated attempt to inflict suffering by a brute.

He grabbed her hair, yanking her head back. "Answer me!" he roared.

Lyse’s head throbbed, but she refused to give in. She would not be broken. She would not be silenced. The women in the shelter were depending on her silence and she would not betray them.

"I swear, I don’t know anything," she insisted, her voice steady.

Max released her hair, his grip tightening around her wrist. "Fine," he growled. "We will play it your way."

He stared at her then Lyse felt his hand caress her cheeks and her skin crawled in disgust. She tried to jerk away but it was useless.

His voice softened as he said, "On second thought, maybe i don’t need Janine. Why run after an ugly, worn out bitch when I now have a pretty thing like you to play with."

Lyse looked up at him fearfully, she did not want to think of what he could do to her and the only thing on her mind was escape.

He smiled ghoulishly then turned and walked towards the door, leaving Lyse alone in the darkness.

As the door creaked shut, a sense of relief washed over her. She had survived, at least for now. But she knew that the danger was far from over. Max was a dangerous man, capable of anything.

Lyse focused her attention on the ropes binding her wrists. She tugged and pulled, but the knots held firm. She needed to find a way to loosen them, to free herself. She glanced around the room, searching for anything that could be used as a tool. Her eyes fell on a rusty nail protruding from the wall.

With renewed determination, she dragged herself to the wall and reached for the nail. She managed to grasp it between her teeth and carefully maneuvered it towards the rope. It was a slow and painful process, but she was patient. She knew that every second counted.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she managed to loosen the knot. With a surge of adrenaline, she pulled her wrist free. The rope fell to the floor, and she wasted no time in freeing her other wrist and her ankles.

As soon as she was free, she scrambled to her feet and rushed towards the door. She cautiously opened it, peering into the dimly lit corridor. The coast seemed clear. She slipped out of the room and into the hallway, her heart pounding with fear and adrenaline.

She knew she had to be careful. Max could be anywhere. She moved silently down the corridor, her eyes scanning the darkness. She reached the end of the hall and found a staircase. She descended slowly, each step bringing her closer to freedom.

’I am going to make it!’

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she heard a noise. Her heart skipped a beat. She turned around, her eyes wide with fear. Max was standing in the shadows, a menacing smile on his face.

*

Damien watched as Levi stormed out of the room, his face a mask of fury and pain. He turned his attention back to Bret, who was still nursing his wounds.

A smirk crept across Bret’s face. He had never seen Levi so vulnerable, so raw. It was a revelation, another weakness that he could exploit.

"You know, Damien," Bret began, his voice low and deliberate, "I think i may have underestimated my brother."

Damien’s eyes narrowed. "What do you mean Boss?"

"I mean," Bret continued, "that Levi seems to care for Lyse more than i thought. He was ready to fight me, for her. He could have sent his men to investigate but he came himself to fight me."

Bret had always seen Levi as a cold, calculating man, incapable of genuine emotion for anyone except his family. But now, he was forced to reconsider.

"So, what do we do now?" Damien asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.

Bret smiled. "We adapt. We use this to our advantage. We make Lyse the bait, the prize. I hope she survives whatever this is because she is going to be my Ace."

Damien’s eyes lit up. "That’s a brilliant plan, boss. A brilliant plan."

Bret nodded, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. He had turned the tables on Levi, had found a way to exploit his weakness. And he knew that with Lyse as the bait, Levi would be powerless to resist.

The game was on.