—- Chapter 10 The two men on the floor were none other than Cheryl’s hired kidnappers- Rocky and Ted. Cheryl’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stumbled two steps back. Daniel’s voice was ice. “They already confessed. The kidnapping was your idea. You framed Elizabeth and made everyone think you were the victim.” Cheryl shook her head furiously. “I don’t know them! Dan, you can’t just take their word for it!
Please, listen to me…” But Daniel wasn’t giving her a chance to talk her way out of it. He pulled out his phone and held the screen up to her face. The screen displayed a screenshot of an international wire transfer. The recipient was Cheryl, and the amount was one hundred million. Then he scrolled through more images. There she was, dressed in designer gowns, sipping champagne, surrounded by luxury. A far cry from the tearful stories she’d told about starving abroad. Cheryl went ghost white.
She lunged for the phone, but he easily pulled it out of reach. —- She had no idea where Daniel got those receipts. She had no idea who had gone to such lengths to destroy her, even leaking that surveillance footage during the engagement party. Daniel looked at Cheryl, and the disappointment in his eyes was soul-crushing. They had met in university, nearly ten years ago. The Cheryl he remembered was gentle, thoughtful , and kind.
The woman standing in front of him now was ruthless, manipulative, and unrecognizable. If he hadn’t seen the evidence with his own eyes, he never would have believed Cheryl was capable of something so vile. “Dan, I can explain!” Cheryl’s voice cracked under his gaze. “I wasn’t trying to manipulate you, I just loved you too much. “IT was afraid you’d fall for someone else while I was away. And the money, I was going to pay it back. I swear.
I didn’t even need it-” Daniel reached out, his fingers brushing her trembling cheek. Suddenly, he seized her jaw ina crushing grip. “Tell me where Elizabeth is.” Cheryl winced in pain, tears welling in her eyes. —- “T-I don’t know…” “Speak!” Daniel’s fingers tightened around her jaw, nearly crushing bone. Finally, Samson couldn’t take it anymore. “Daniel, let go of Cheryl. I’ll tell you where Elizabeth is. She’s safe. Very safe.” Wanda stared at him in shock.
“Honey, you’re seriously going to let him go after Elizabeth?” But Samson’s face was dark; his voice was icy cold as he spoke each word clearly and deliberately . “After what Cheryl did, she deserves everything coming to her. “And you, if you hadn’t spoiled her all these years, she never would’ve turned out like this. You two-one scheming, the other enabling. “You’ve disgraced me completely. From this day on, you both get out of this house.
And the farther you go, the better.” Wanda’s legs gave out. She collapsed to the floor in stunned silence. After the engagement party, the fallout was swift. Of the men who had hurt Elizabeth, some cut off their own hands. The others? Within three months, their
—- families had gone bankrupt. Meanwhile, Daniel was desperately searching for Elizabeth. But no matter what he tried, there was no trace of her. He followed the address Samson gave him, traveling to Arvania, only to learn Elizabeth had joined something called Project Dawnlight. It was an international medical aid program. Every member’s location and personal information were strictly confidential.
Daniel tried everything -bribes , threats , emotional pleas-but the organization refused to reveal anything. Eventually, he resigned from his position on the Kaverton University board. Then, he spent his days drinking himself into oblivion , bar after bar, night after night. In just three months, women came and went from his life like a revolving door. They came from all walks of life, but every single one shared one thing in common. Each of them looked, in some way, like Elizabeth.
That night , Daniel was once again killing time in a dimly lit bar. His friend, well aware that he was always chasing —- Elizabeth’s shadow, had gone out of his way to assemble a lineup -ten or so women who resembled her to varying degrees. “Mr. Woolridge , I’ve handpicked these girls just for you. Take a look, see if any of them catch your eye,” he said with a grin. Daniel lifted his eyelids lazily, his cold gaze sweeping over the line of nervous, hopeful faces, and then it stopped.
One girl stood with her head bowed, long hair draped over her shoulders . Just below her eye was a single , delicate beauty mark identical to Elizabeth’s. Daniel narrowed his eyes. “That one.” His friend nodded, motioned for the others to leave, then leaned in and gave the girl a light pat on the shoulder. Lowering his voice, he whispered in her ear, “Mr. Woolridge had a girl named Elizabeth. You look a lot like her. Be good to him tonight , and you’ll be well taken care of.”
