The man behind me sneered coldly. "You're dead today!"

Panic flooded me. "At least give me a reason first."

"Richard ruined my family. I want him to feel the pain of losing his loved one!"

"Big brother, you're absolutely right!" I said, sounding even more furious than him. "I've got a black card his mother gave me to get rid of me. You can max it out! Make that heartless capitalist cry!"

The kidnapper said nothing, silence engulfing us like the bridge of a peaceful poem.

"Not enough? Here's an idea. His beloved first love has returned. You know what to do, right? Kidnap her instead! Let's set a small goal—200 million for the ransom!"

My scheming ideas had the kidnapper lost in thought.

"I've never met someone so shameless!"

I was just about to thank him for the compliment when I realized the voice sounded familiar.

I turned my head to look, and behind me, bound as well, was none other than Richard's first love.

"Well, what a coincidence, you're here too."

6

I played it off cool, embodying the idea that as long as I wasn't embarrassed, the embarrassment would fall on others.

Carol trembled with anger, seemingly unlocking some hidden power within her, and gave a suggestion of her own. "Money is too boring. You should put a green hat on Richard—take his woman!"

I was shocked.

"Are you crazy?" Who begs the kidnapper to do something like that? Is she trying to follow in the footsteps of a literary figure?

The kidnapper paused for a moment, and then, his sinister hand reached for me.

I shouted, "What's wrong with you!!!"

Carol let out a villainous laugh in the background, and for the first time, I couldn't hide my terror.

The kidnapper was momentarily stunned by my outburst and, with a confused expression, muttered, "Are you planning to watch?"

I froze.

Carol also froze.

In a daze, I awkwardly added, "Brother, you have good taste!"

Just as the kidnapper was about to drag me away for some nefarious purpose, Richard descended from the heavens!

He was like...

The obstacle to my survival!

And before I knew it, the kidnapper's hand was clamped around my neck again.

"Stay back! Don't come any closer!" the kidnapper yelled.

The pressure on my neck made me nearly roll my eyes back, while the sound of his voice echoed painfully in my ears.

Richard, you bastard, are you really going to watch me die?

"What do you want to let her go?"