Chapter 85 Do You Think He'll Come

'No way, I just turned twenty. I haven't even started living yet.' Isabella thought as a million things raced through her mind.

The car screeched to a halt.

A bunch of guys yanked Isabella out and dragged her away.

They ripped the black hood off her head. It was already dark, and the place was creepily quiet, like a dock.

'Riverside City's dock?' Isabella wondered, but before she could think more, they tied her up and forced her to kneel, making her feel a wave of fear and dread.

'They're not gonna dump me in the river, are they? I haven't pissed anyone off in Riverside City. Who'd want to hurt me?' Isabella thought.

"Who are you? Why did you bring me here?" she shouted, but no one answered.

Blinding lights hit her face, making her squint.

Still, no one answered.

Kneeling there in the dark, under those harsh lights, Isabella felt a chill. Then it started to rain and snow, adding to the eerie vibe.

Isabella shut her eyes and yelled, "Who are you?"

A black car rolled up slowly.

The door opened, and a guy in a black trench coat stepped out. With the lights in her eyes, she couldn't see his face, but she saw his breath in the cold air.

He walked over, a cigarette between his fingers, moving slowly.

Two of the three bright lights on Isabella turned off.

She finally saw his face.

Her eyes widened, and she started to tremble, "Joseph?"

"Long time no see, Isabella."

She knew Joseph had busted out of prison, but she never thought he'd have the guts to kidnap her again.

This time, it wouldn't be as simple as last time.

"Joseph, why did you kidnap me again?" Isabella asked.

Joseph pulled a gun from his back, making Isabella even more nervous. She instinctively tried to back away.

Joseph blew on the gun barrel and aimed it at her.

Isabella's heart pounded. She wanted to run, but the guys holding her down were too strong.

Joseph laughed, "Scared of dying?"

'Of course, who isn't?' she thought.

Isabella didn't want to provoke an escaped convict, but she needed answers. "Joseph, our little grudge isn't worth this, is it? I can apologize."

When it comes to life and death, everything else is trivial. Isabella was ready to apologize if it meant staying alive.

"Isabella, you're just a pawn." Joseph handed a phone to the woman next to him and said, "Call George. If he doesn't show, Isabella dies."

Isabella's eyes drifted to the woman beside Joseph. She was seductive, with a hint of danger.

Joseph was on the run, but he still had time for women.

But Isabella didn't care about that. She quickly figured out Joseph's plan and said, "George won't come. We're already divorced. Using me as a hostage is pointless."

"Divorced?" Joseph looked at her like she was joking, staring hard at her face. "Who are you trying to fool? Isabella, don't mess with me, or I'll kill you right now."

"I'm not lying. George and I are divorced. Using me to threaten him won't work. He won't come. Just tell me what you want, and maybe I can help."

Isabella wasn't sure if she was trying to protect herself or George. Either way, she knew that if they were together, Joseph would control one of them.

Joseph walked up to her, looking down with a sneer. He kicked her in the forehead, leaving a nasty gash that bled heavily.

He grabbed her chin, glaring at her. "Do you know how much the Spencer family owes me? Do you think your life is worth George's? You're nothing."

Isabella's head was spinning, and she felt disoriented. She got what Joseph was after. "You want to use me to lure George, right?"

"Exactly." Joseph let go of her, sneering. "Do you think he'll come, Isabella?"

She had once asked George if he would give up everything for love. His answer was that he didn't know.

He didn't know meant he wouldn't.

That's how Isabella saw it.

The woman next to Joseph swayed her hips as she walked over. "Joseph, he didn't answer the phone."

"If he doesn't answer, we'll have some fun first." Joseph pulled out a knife and handed it to the woman. "You do it."

The woman took the knife, playing with it as she walked step by step toward Isabella.

The cold blade was terrifying in the snowy night.

"You're so beautiful. This face must make many women jealous. If it were ruined, many people would be happy," the woman said.

The knife, gleaming coldly, tapped Isabella's face. Isabella swallowed hard and said, "Ruining my face is easy, but you're just Joseph's plaything. Don't leave yourself without a way out."

The woman's hand paused. She hesitated, then angrily stabbed Isabella in the shoulder.

Isabella screamed.

The blow drew a torrent of blood, and the woman sneered with satisfaction. "If it hurts, talk less."

Isabella's white sweater was stained red, and with the blood from her forehead running down her face, she looked pitiful.

She weakly looked up at the sky. Snowflakes turned to ice as they hit the ground. She was cold and in pain, feeling like she wouldn't make it through the night.

But she still didn't want George to show up.

In her despair, she wanted him to be safe. That was the sad reality of love.

Joseph dialed George's phone again, but it was still a busy signal. As time passed, he grew impatient.

He angrily threw the phone to the ground. "Damn it."

"Joseph, what do you want to do with her?" The woman clung to Joseph's arm, but he pushed her aside irritably and said, "Throw her into the river later."

Isabella endured the pain and looked at the irrational Joseph. She wanted to say something, but the cold and pain made her limbs stiff and weak.

The rain mixed with snow fell relentlessly.

Isabella's sweater was soaked, and the blood and rain had frozen together.