Eva stirred awake, her head pounding as her eyes fluttered open. A dim, flickering bulb illuminated the cold, abandoned building she found herself in. Her hands and legs were tied, and the metallic smell of rust and dust filled the air. Struggling to recall how she ended up there, Eva’s heart raced. Her bag—where was her bag? The thought jolted her, but before she could act, she heard muffled voices.

Quickly, Eva shut her eyes, feigning unconsciousness.

“She’s still out cold,” one man said.

Another snickered. “She’s a beauty. Why kill her when we can have some fun first?”

Eva’s stomach churned, but she remained motionless, her heart pounding in her chest. These bastards wouldn’t get the chance. She had to escape.

“Don’t get ideas,” the first man growled. “We do the job, take the payment, and get out of here.”

“Who paid us anyway?” the second man asked curiously.

“Not your business. The boss will be here soon,” the first man snapped.

Eva peeked through barely opened eyelids, taking note of their positions and surroundings. As one of the men approached, she let out a low sob and opened her eyes, pretending to wake up disoriented.

“Where am I?” she cried, tears welling in her eyes. “Please, don’t hurt me.”

“Oh, pretty baby, don’t cry,” one of the kidnappers said mockingly, holding up a syringe. “We won’t hurt you. Just one little shot, and it’s over.”

Eva flinched and stammered, “Why did you kidnap me? Who sent you?”

The man chuckled darkly. “We didn’t kidnap you, doll. Someone paid us.”

The pieces began to fall into place in Eva’s mind. Jessica? No, she’s locked up. Josh? He’s dead. Could it be… Camilla? But before she could press further, another voice interrupted.

“The boss is here!” a guard called out.

Eva turned her head toward the door, her stomach twisting into knots when Celine walked in, her lips curled into a cruel smirk.

“Well, well, well,” Celine drawled, her heels clicking against the floor. “Hello, Eva darling. Did you miss me?”

Eva’s blood ran cold. “It’s you? I can’t believe this! Why would you kidnap me?” she demanded.

“Where is my Josh?” Celine snapped, her smirk fading. “What have you done to my husband?”

Eva laughed bitterly. “How would I know where your cheating husband is? Maybe he’s off with another woman. Isn’t that his specialty?”

Celine’s face twisted with rage as she stormed over, grabbing Eva’s hair. “He would never cheat on me!”

Celine’s slap came fast and hard, and Eva tasted blood in her mouth. She spat it out and glared up at Celine. “Should I tell you, then?” she said, smirking through the pain. “Josh is gone.”

“What do you mean, gone?” Celine demanded, shaking Eva.

Eva’s smirk widened. “Do you want to see him? He’s burning in hell where he belongs.”

“You’re lying!” Celine screeched. “Where is he?”

“I told you,” Eva said calmly, licking the blood from her lips. “Dead. Just like you’ll be soon.”

Celine’s fury exploded. She slapped Eva repeatedly, but Eva refused to cry out. Instead, she smiled through the blows, her defiance only fueling Celine’s rage.

“Stop it!” a new voice cut through the chaos.

Eva turned her head and felt her stomach drop. Camilla Foster entered the room, exuding cold authority. “What is going on here?” Camilla demanded.

Eva’s eyes widened in shock. “Mom?” she whispered. “You’re in on this?”

Camilla’s lips curled into a sneer. “Don’t call me that, you filthy bitch.”

She slapped Eva, who clenched her fists behind her back, trying to mask her anger. But as Camilla loomed over her, Eva noticed her bag lying nearby. She began working on the ropes binding her hands, loosening them little by little without drawing attention.

“Celine tells me Josh is dead,” Camilla said, glaring at Eva. “Is it true?”

“Yes,” Eva said flatly, “And now you know what it feels like to lose everything.”

“Where is my daughter Jessica,” Camilla asked, ignoring the mocking tone that Eva used with her. 

“Umm…let me think,” Eva looked thoughtful for a second before her face grew dark and she chuckled sadistically. “Probably dead by now if I had to guess.”

“You little bitch show me some respect before—” Camilla raised her hand again, but Eva cut her off with a cold glare.

“Don’t waste your breath demanding respect,” Eva said icily. “You don’t deserve it. You’ve never treated me or my siblings with respect. I was a child when my parents died, and I wanted a mother’s love. Instead, I got you—a monster.”

Camilla’s laugh was chilling. She leaned close to Eva and gripped her jaw. “Your parents didn’t die accidentally,” she whispered. “I killed them. I planned it all so I could marry Matthew Foster and gain everything.”

Eva’s heart sank, but she refused to give Camilla the satisfaction of a reaction. “You’re pathetic,” she spat.

Camilla’s eyes narrowed as she took out her phone, snapped a few photos of Eva, and sent them to Andrew. “Once Andrew sees these,” she sneered, “you won’t have a chance.”

Eva’s eyes blazed. “If you think Andrew will let you live after this, you’re delusional.”

Camilla laughed as she turned to leave. “Don’t let her escape,” she ordered the guards. “She dies once I have my daughter back.”

As the door slammed shut, Eva’s mind raced. She glanced at Celine, who was pacing angrily, muttering about Josh. The ropes around Eva’s wrists were finally loose. She shifted subtly, sliding her hand into her bag. Her fingers brushed against cold steel—the handle of her dagger.

Her resolve hardened. I won’t die here.