He stiffened but didn't turn around immediately.
On the other side of the rooftop, Elise was pinned against the fence by another kidnapper, half her body hanging over the edge.
Her eyes were red, and she looked at the man in the distance. "I'm scared…"
She was trembling all over, her hair a mess, and a shadow covered her beautiful face.
The former superstar, who used to be high and mighty, was now holding her stomach in fear, her eyes red as she looked at her fiancé. "Don't come over, they'll hurt you!"
Kelsey didn't feel anything when she heard her tearful voice. Instead, she even thought her acting was really impressive.
If she hadn't clearly heard her talking with the kidnappers earlier, she probably would've been fooled by her too.
She really couldn't understand it. She never tried to provoke them. The person who asked her to marry him was Rhett. The one who heartlessly demanded a divorce was Rhett. The one who made her abort the child was Rhett…
But Elise wanted her dead!
She just wanted to keep the only child she'd ever have. Why did they have to kill her?
She never had a choice. She was just a sacrifice in their love game.
Kelsey didn't say a word. She only stared at the man, watching him turn and walk toward Elise without hesitation.
It was like that pause from before never happened. Maybe she just imagined it.
Between her and Elise, Rhett would always choose Elise.
...What was she even hoping for?
Her nails dug deep into her palms, the sharp pain helping her stay clear-headed for a moment.
Kelsey closed her eyes and swallowed down the pain. Then she shouted hoarsely behind him, "Rhett! She's lying to you! These kidnappers are all her people—Mm!"
Before she could finish, the man behind her covered her mouth tightly. His face looked panicked and twisted as he yelled, "Shut up, you bitch!"
Elise didn't expect Kelsey to suddenly say that, and her face stiffened instantly.
But when she saw the dark flash in Rhett's eyes, she reacted quickly, her face showing confusion as she looked at Kelsey. "What are you talking about? I don't even know them…"
Before she could finish, the kidnapper behind her suddenly grabbed her collar and slammed her against the railing—
The rust scraped her skin, leaving deep bloody marks.
"Hiss—"
She gasped in pain, her expression twisted, but she didn't scream. She just bit down hard and looked at Rhett with tears in her eyes. "Rhett…"
The kidnapper suddenly pulled out a knife and pressed it to her neck.
"Don't come any closer! Where's what I want?"
Rhett's eyes turned icy cold. He threw the leather suitcase hard on the ground and stepped on it. With one forceful kick, the suitcase slid forward.
After counting the money, the kidnappers exchanged signals.
Rhett clenched his wrist, clearly holding back his anger. "Let her go. Then take the money and leave."
The kidnapper gave a cold sneer. "President Clark is a smart man. He brought so many people with him today. If I give you both women, how are my brothers and I supposed to escape alive?"
His face suddenly changed, turning fierce. "Since you brought the money on time, we'll be generous. You can choose one of these two women to take with you. The other… we'll return her after we're safe!"
Kelsey's whole body froze. She shouted, "Rhett! Don't believe them!"
She struggled hard, and her voice had become hoarse. "Believe me this time! They're really Elise's people. She won't let me come back alive. You have to believe me…"
Tears kept falling down her face. Kelsey realized that no matter how strong she was, she would still feel an overwhelming fear when facing death.
Please…
Don't push her to the edge of death…
She cried and sobbed, "Believe me, Rhett! I never lie… you know… I wouldn't joke about something this serious…"
The man's eyes were dark and gloomy. His emotions looked like they were fighting inside of him, but all he could do was grit his teeth and hold it in.
"You don't have much time left, President Clark. Choose one."
"Three!"
"Two!"
"Give me Elise." Rhett's patience had completely run out, and the coldness on his face couldn't be hidden anymore.
He clenched his fists, the veins on the back of his hand popping, and finally gritted his teeth and said, "You better send the other one back safely…"
Before he could even finish, he heard Kelsey's desperate voice. "They won't let me come back alive, Rhett. Trust me, they only want me dead… and the baby in my belly…"
"Even if you take me away, she'll be fine, I swear! If you let them take me, I'll die, I really will…"
Her words made Rhett pause, and a struggle flashed in his eyes.
Kelsey clenched her fists and stared at him, not daring to blink. Her heart felt like it was about to burst.
Thump, thump…
Her blood felt frozen, waiting for his answer.
Not far away, Elise looked at the man in front of her with unreadable eyes, her gaze full of tears. "Rhett, do you believe her?"
She mumbled to herself, her voice soft and shaky, "Do you believe what she said? Do you think I would do something like that?"
"Elise! How long are you going to keep pretending?" Kelsey gritted her teeth and cut her off, her voice full of anger and hurt. "Are you really willing to risk two lives just to test how much a man loves you? Aren't you scared of karma?"
Her eyes were full of fury as she struggled hard, but the kidnapper beside her pushed her down even harder and shouted, "Shut up! If you don't behave, I'll push you off right now!"
"President Clark, are you still not going to make a choice? Time doesn't wait for anyone. Don't think I can't tell you're stalling. If you are, both of them are dead!" The two kidnappers shouted at the same time, pressing both girls tighter against the railing, threatening to throw them off. They were forcing Rhett to choose.
Kelsey didn't move, even though the pain was unbearable. Her eyes never left the man in front of her. They were red and full of blood, waiting.
But Rhett didn't look at her.
After a while, he slowly forced out the words, one by one: "I choose Elise."
Kelsey suddenly lifted her head and stared straight at him.
The air froze, and there was a long silence…
Then, she slowly closed her eyes.
She had said everything she could. Saying more wouldn't change anything.
Her heart had been in pain for so long that she couldn't even feel it anymore.
It felt like something had torn a hole straight through her chest, leaving only a cold, bleeding emptiness behind.
Before she could even catch her breath, she heard Rhett's low, raspy voice:
"I choose Elise… she's afraid of heights."