Aston darted his eyes to Nathan and briefly thought of something. "It's not the Minister's doing. There's someone who tracked us." He raised a brow when he thought of the only possibility. "The call was tracked!"

"Aston is right. If it's my step-mother's doing, I will surely receive a report." Nicole added with an anxious face and turned to Nathan. "Save your men first. That's the most important. I don't want any casualty. Success is not the priority here."

Without saying anything, Nathan returned to the call. "Don't fight with them. Retreat right away!" He ordered and return to the first call. "I will take care of things there." He said and called Garcia Han right away.

"I already warned you not to play any trick. Now, if you still want your daughter back alive, tell your men to retreat." He said in a deadly low voice.

Garcia Han who was standing near Carson Jun was placed in a dilemma. She looked at Carson and for the first time, anxiety was evident in her eyes.

When Garcia Han fell silent, Nathan grew impatient. "Are you playing dumb because you believed that the men whom you sent here will be able to rescue her? Unfortunately, they still need 10 minutes to get here and... 10 minutes is more than enough to kill her."

Garcia Han's eyes grew wide and she turned to Carson. "Tell your men to retreat! This is not the time to act rash."

"But Nicole will be rescued - "

"Whatever, she is still in their hands!" She turned to the car where Nathan's men put the cash. "That cash is nothing. If Nicole really dies because of this, I will never forgive you!"

"Garcia." Carson Jun uttered and stared at her with a flustered face.

"I won't wait for long," Nathan said, adding more to the pressure.

Garcia Han darted her eyes to Carson and the latter finally gave in. He turned to his men and ordered, "Retreat."

Carson's men put down their guns and Nathan's men cautiously get inside the car and left the place.

Garcia Han tried to speak up but Nathan hang up the call and she turned to Carson again with a disappointed face. "Why did you mess up everything?! What will you do if they really kill Nicole?"

Carson Jun holds her in the upper arm. "Get ahold of yourself. She will be fine. My men are still there and she will be rescued soon. I know where they keep her. I will take you there."

*

"It's good that you don't ask her to retreat the men who came this way too. If they were forced to stop, they might separate in the three paths and we will be in big trouble." Aston said the moment Nathan ended the call.

Nathan slightly smiled. "We also proved one thing. She cares about her step-daughter than the cash." Then he turned to Nicole. "Let's get out of here."

Aston bent down to release Nicole but...

Nicole shook her head. "Those men will be here soon and we should keep our promise. Destroy the lights and leave me alone."

"No! We don't even know the one who sent them. Destroying the lights? That's impossible! Your trauma will act up again!" Aston strongly opposed and attempt to free her again.

"Aston, please listen to me. Only five minutes left before they will reach this place. I will be able to hold out for that long. You must be safe first! There is no time to argue!" Nicole uttered, glancing straight at Aston.

"Nicole - "

"Just this time! Do as I say. If you and your friend get exposed, I won't be able to bear the consequence. I will be fine alone! If I run away with you now, how will I return? Garcia Han is not a fool!" Nicole glanced at Nathan seeking help from him.

"She is right, Aston. You can only help her if we leave now. If we get caught, Nicole will be in huge trouble." Nathan said, putting his hands on Aston's shoulder.

Aston gazed at Nicole and when he saw her pleading with him through her gaze, he tightly clenched his fist. Then he abruptly stood up and destroy the lights as Nicole said.

For one last time, he glanced at Nicole who was now nodding at him with a little smile. "Call me after you settled everything. I'll be waiting." He said and quickly left the building with Nathan.

Nicole watched Aston until he was out of her sight and she could already feel the pressure forming inside her. She didn't tell him one thing. Being bound this way will refrain her from struggling and... it will only be more tormenting! A little over three minutes left and she wasn't sure if she would be able to hold out until that time.

Less than ten seconds passed and she already finds it hard to breathe! Her breathing became abnormal and her vision was blurred, making her desperate to break free but to no avail.

Her dark and tormenting childhood resurfaced on her mind which only made her troubled. If her step-mother cared about her, why did she do all those things to her? Why did she let her grew up in hell?! She cannot understand anything at all!

When she struggled, desperate to break free, the chair falls to the left along with her. With quite a force, her head clashed on the wood which was on the floor and a few drops of blood forced their way out of her head, making her feel the pain even more. Then she gave up. She couldn't breathe anymore and her vision was dark, even darker than the dark room where she used to be locked up as a child.

When she heard the sound of footsteps coming her way, she slowly closed her eyes and lost her consciousness.

* * *

Nicole slowly opened her eyes and finds herself laying on a hospital bed. When the things that happened crossed her mind, she instantly wondered how long she had been remaining unconscious.

Her eyes swept around the room and when she saw no one, she tried to get up. When she moved, it only makes her head ached more! Then she yelped in pain and placed her left hand on the side of her head. Was the wound that severe?! Then the door was opened and Garcia Han walked inside.

The Minister's eyes grew wide when she saw her step-daughter, holding her head in pain and attempting to get up. "Stay there. Don't move."

Nicole instantly froze when she heard Garcia Han's voice. Then she lay down again.

"How can you be so careless? I always told you to pay more attention to your safety. You never take it seriously and look at yourself. You're kidnapped!" Garcia Han immediately started scolding her when she stood near her bed.

Nicole didn't say anything and simply lay on the bed. However, the pain in her head was quite disturbing.

"Those kidnappers. I asked for two things yet they break both of them. I will make sure to catch them and pay for their sins!" Garcia Han firmly declared which instantly made Nicole uncomfortable.

"Mother, they don't hurt me. I hurt my head when I struggled to break free." Nicole said in a low voice.

Garcia Han darted her eyes to Nicole with disbelief written all over her face. "Are you crazy, Nicole? You shouldn't defend them. When will you stop being soft?!"

Nicole promptly narrowed her eyes. "That's not my intention. I only want to say that they don't lay a hand on me, so don't worry too much. I'm fine."

"I'm sorry for making you worry. I don't know how much you spent for the ransom but I will pay you back all of it." Nicole added.

"Forget it. I don't spend much. Just focus on your recovery but... " Garcia Han's voice trailed off. She wanted to ask Nicole something but she chose not to. "Take a rest."

Did Nicole really tell the kidnappers that her step-mother won't give away anything in exchange for her? That's what Garcia Han wanted to know. Somehow, that thing bothered her.

She didn't spend much? It's 30 million and Nicole knows it. However, she decided to not mention it. "What time is it now?"

Garcia Han pressed the small button on the remote control which was placed on the top of the drawer and the curtains rolled up, revealing the bright sun. "8 in the morning."

What?! Nicole couldn't believe it! What about Aston? He would surely wait for her call!

"I don't inform the police for your safety. So, I will investigate it quietly. Do you see any of their faces?" Garcia Han asked her.

Nicole shook her head. "They wore a mask, so I don't know their faces."

Garcia Han let out a sigh. "Alright. Rest for now."

While Nicole couldn't feel at ease thinking of Aston, the door to her hospital room was suddenly opened and when she saw the one who appeared, her eyes grew wide in surprise!

She was currently thinking of him and... there he was, making his way to her in the presence of Garcia Han!