?Chapter 220:
During the journey, Alicia waspletely consumed by thoughts about Monica''s safety, without once considering who could be behind all this.
Finding out that Joshua was responsible didn''t surprise her, fear had already taken hold of her mind.
Since their divorce there had been a deep resentment between them, and Joshua, always agitated, was now trying to channel all his suffering towards her.
When Joshua reached out to touch her, Alicia recoiled in disgust.
Her body trembled and she instinctively tried to pull away, but Joshua’s hand shot out and gripped her chin tightly.
His voice lowered, dark and menacing.
“You still have the nerve to reject me?”
The pressure of his grip seemed to crush her bones, but Alice refused to break.
She gritted her teeth, enduring the pain, and asked, “Where’s Monica?”
Joshua sneered, his eyes dark with cruelty.
“Shouldn’t you care more about your own life? Monica was just the bait, you’re the one I want.
”
Without warning, he ripped the blindfold off her eyes and threw it onto the bed, immobilizing her.
His lips crashed against hers, but Alicia fought back, biting down hard on his nose before pulling her head away.
Joshua screamed in pain, stumbling back as he clutched his now bleeding nose.
Alice''s eyes burned with fury.
"Take me to Monica, now!"
Joshua grabbed her by the neck and growled, “She’s dead!”
For a moment, Alice felt her breath catch.
A wave of despair consumed her, but almost instantly her resolve returned.
She stared at him, her voice firm.
“No, that’s impossible.
You didn’t kill her.
The drug in your system was developed and modified by Monica.
Only she knows the cure.
”
Joshua tightened his fingers around her neck, his eyes burning with hatred.
She was right, he hadn''t killed Monica.
The drugs were part of the reason, but more importantly hecked the courage tomit murder.
With a push, Joshua pushed Alicia into a dimly lit room.
As soon as the door opened, fierce dogs began to bark furiously.
In the center of the room, Monica hung suspended in the air, her leg bloody and battered.
Seeing her friend in such a state broke Alicia''s heart.
Tears filled her eyes, but she bit her lip, forcing herself to keep herposure.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.
Turning to Joshua, her voice breaking with emotion, she pleaded, "It''s me you want.
Let her go.
"
Joshua replied calmly, a sinister smile on his lips.
“Now that you’re here, why should I let her go?”
Alicia''s voice was hoarse but determined as she said, "Monica''s been missing for almost a day.
If her family reports you to the police, you''re done for.
You won''t get away with this.
"
His words echoed around the room, crisp and clear.
Joshua stared at her, noticing the change in her demeanor.
It hadn''t been long, but she had grown sharper, calmer, and braver.
Even though she was right in front of him, she seemed miles away.
He reached out to grab her neck again, but Alicia was quick to act.
She sank her teeth into his hand, breaking the skin.
Blood gushed out instantly.
Joshua screamed in pain and shoved her off of him with a growl of fury.
When I''m done with you, I''ll let her go.
Don''t worry, I won''t be long.
Despite his words, Alice''s heart raced with anxiety.
"Aren''t you afraid his family wille after you?"
Joshua’s eyes narrowed as his tone turned cold.
“What do I have to fear now?” He paused, his face twisting in bitterness.
“Alicia, do you realize what you and Caden have led me to do?”
At the mention of Caden, a twisted smile spread across his face.
He pulled out Alicia’s phone.
“Did you break up?”
Alice didn''t have time to process his taunt; her attention was elsewhere.
She stared at him.
"I told you before: Aden would get fed up with you and leave you soon.
And now? How does it feel to see him so in love with Ynda?"
Surrounded by the foul stench and the lustful stares of men, Alice slowly lost hope of escape.
Her fate - to live or die - was now entirely in Joshua''s hands.
She closed her eyes and exhaled deeply, her voice firm but defiant.
“If you’re going to kill me, do it, Joshua.
Stop wasting time.
”
But Joshua, savouring her desperation, wasn’t about to end her.
With a twisted smile, he handed her the phone.
“Want to make a bet? Call Caden.
See if hees to save you.
”
Alicia''s lips curved in disdain.
She knew all too well what the answer would be, and she refused to debase herself further.
If she had to die here, she would do so with her dignity intact.
Thest thing she wanted was to make a fool of herself in front of Caden.
Joshua, however, was determined to break her spirit.
His voice turned venomous.
“If you don’t call him, I’ll have someone hurt Monica.
”
Alicia gritted her teeth so hard she tasted blood.
Joshua, thinking she didn''t believe him, barked an order to take Monica down.
Alicia’s heart raced and she quickly gave in.
“I’ll call him!” Her hands shook as she reached for the phone.
She could have simply pressed the emergency dial to call Caden, but instead she callously entered his number.
Joshua watched her actions with amusement.
“You must be obsessed with him if you know his number by heart.
”
Alicia''s fingers stopped.
It was now that she realized.
Despite everything, Caden''s number was still burned into her mind.
When the line began to ring, her initial resignation crumbled and a fragile hope took its ce.
Would hee? No, he was far away, in Averibon.
Yet, at that moment, she couldn''t help but feel hopeful.
What if Caden cared about her, even just a little?
She should have died at Joshua''s hands a long time ago, but it was Caden who had given her those fleeting moments of happiness.
The phone rang for what seemed like an eternity.
Then, finally, it was answered.
But the voice on the other end was not his.
It was Ynda, with azy and disdainful tone.
“Hello? Who is it?”