My husband’s last wish was to become an organ donor—but after he passed away, his doctor hurried after me and said, “There’s something Mark made me promise not to give you until after he was gone.”

I stared down the barrel of the gun, my entire world collapsing once again.

"Please," I begged, my voice cracking with pure terror.

"Mark trusted you with his life."

Elias snorted, keeping his weapon perfectly steady as he accelerated onto the deserted highway.

"Mark was a fool who threw away a massive empire for a suburban fantasy."

"His brother, Julian, is going to inherit everything once the old man dies."

"And Julian wants to make sure no illegitimate child suddenly appears in twenty years to claim the throne."

I placed both hands protectively over my stomach, feeling my baby kick against my palms.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked, trying to keep my voice from violently shaking.

"Julian has a private estate in the mountains where nobody will hear you scream," Elias replied coldly.

I frantically scanned the interior of the moving vehicle for any possible weapon.

There was a heavy metal thermos resting in the center console.

I knew I only had one desperate chance before we reached the isolated mountains.

"My water just broke!" I screamed suddenly, hunching forward in fake agony.

Elias cursed loudly, his eyes darting to the passenger seat in sudden panic.

In that brief moment of distraction, I grabbed the metal thermos and smashed it brutally against the side of his head.

Elias groaned, dropping the gun as his hands flew off the steering wheel.

The heavy SUV swerved violently across the empty highway.

I lunged across the console, grabbing the steering wheel to stabilize the speeding car.

I slammed my foot onto the brake pedal, bringing the vehicle to a screeching, chaotic halt on the gravel shoulder.

Elias slumped against the driver's side window, completely knocked out.

I grabbed his gun with shaking hands and shoved open my door.

The cold night air rushed over me as I stumbled out of the hijacked vehicle.

I ran into the thick, dark woods bordering the highway, ignoring the painful cramps shooting through my back.

I walked blindly through the trees for what felt like hours, praying for a miracle.

Eventually, I saw the faint glow of a small, isolated cabin hidden in a clearing.

I dragged myself onto the wooden porch and desperately pounded on the heavy oak door.

The door slowly creaked open, revealing a tall man holding a hunting rifle.

I fell to my knees, completely exhausted, and looked up into his face.

The Clumsy Maid Bathed His Dog—Then The Mafia Boss Said She Wasn’t Leavi...

She found her husband with another woman and walked away so quietly that...

The Mafia Boss Asked a Disabled Widow If She Was Okay

I let out a horrified scream, unable to believe my own eyes.

Standing in the doorway was Mark.

Chapter 4 - The Ransom