Chapter 1

My editor wife managed the millions I earned from my novels. Then she transferred every cent of my royalties to a rising male author.

"You gave it to him? What about Mia!? She's been kidnapped! They could kill her!"

She just shrugged. "Call the police. I sent you ten bucks. And need I remind you? The publishing contract is in my name."

I stared at the ending I'd already written. Then I picked up my keyboard. And I rewrote everyone's fate.

Thanks to its newly signed deal with a famed director, this novel was about to expose her to massive financial liabilities.

"Liam, get it together. The press is on their way. Make sure you properly thank Blake for all his inspiration."

I frowned. "The inspiration was mine. He's a rookie who shouldn't even be at this event. Why would I thank him?"

Smack!

A sharp slap landed squarely on my face.

"You think you got here on your own? I've seen Blake's talent. If he hadn't stepped aside, you'd be nowhere."

Blake drifted past, the picture of wounded grace. "Liam, I know my work isn't like yours. If you think I don't deserve the support...I can give the money back."

I swallowed my words. Chloe, however, was incensed. "Liam, Blake put his own book on hold to promote yours! All you do is travel and slack off. And now you're bullying the one person actually trying to help you?"

I looked at Chloe's impatient face, feeling like I was seeing her for the first time.

She was my editor. She was my wife. And yet, she never noticed the days I skipped meals, the nights I traded sleep for words, all for the sake of the story.

To make my worlds real, I ventured into treacherous places, all to bring back the grand, breathtaking vistas I had pledged to my readers.

It cost me my health. Chloe never saw them.

To her, writing a novel that moved millions was a simple gift. The real work was in the promotion she managed.

My phone buzzed. A text.

A photo loaded: my sister Mia, bound and gagged. Below it, a demand:

"$100,000 in one hour. Wire it here. Or you'll never see your sister again."

I was still trying to decide if this was some sick AI scam when a video started to play.

"Liam, please, help me! I'm so scared."

Mia's voice was raw, muffled by the blindfold. The dark cloth around her eyes was already soaked through with tears.

I called her number. Again and again. Nothing but silence.

Panic seized me. Looking at the few thousand dollars left in my bank account, I turned to Chloe, desperation in my eyes.

"Mia's been kidnapped.I need a hundred thousand. Now. Can you help me?"

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Call the police. Where would an editor get that kind of cash?"

"You transferred millions in royalties. My royalties. Don't tell me you don't have it."

Chloe was about to say something, but Blake cut in. "Chloe, he seems desperate. Even if it's not for his sister...just let him have his fun. What's the harm?"

Without another word, Chloe transferred the money.

My phone vibrated the instant it cleared. A storm of cold, hard clarity washed over me.

To her, Mia's life wasn't even worth a single word from Blake.

And the money I was begging for was my own, hard-earned cash.

I quickly pulled out my phone, ready to transfer the money to the kidnappers' account.

But after entering the password, I was told there wasn't enough balance.

Suspicious, I opened my transaction history. That's when I discovered Chloe hadn't transferred $100,000 at all. It was ten measly dollars.

My hand, gripping the phone, trembled slightly, but I didn't explode.

I lowered my voice again, almost begging. "Chloe, did you make a mistake? I only received ten dollars."

Chloe looked utterly annoyed. "Who knows if that's just an excuse you made up to get money? Just take the ten bucks and be grateful. Don't go blowing it all on parties behind my back."

Chloe was about to pull Blake away, but I had no other choice. If I didn't transfer the money soon, Mia's situation would become even more dangerous.

I called out to Chloe. "What do I have to do for you to give me the money? I'll do anything you say."

She looked at me with disgust. "Are you really going to make such a spectacle of yourself out here?"

She loathed my current pathetic state, afraid someone might recognize me as her husband.

Chloe couldn't be bothered to say more and turned to leave.

But Blake seemed intrigued.

"Liam, I can help you, if you promise me one thing." Thinking of Mia, whose life hung by a thread, I nodded.

Blake watched my desperation, the smile on his face completely unrestrained.

"As long as you tell the reporters that you're a dog, and then bark three times, I'll transfer the money."

I gritted my teeth, my fists clenched so tight. Despite the raging fury inside me, I couldn't bring myself to throw a punch.

"Fine, I agree. But you have to transfer $50,000 to me first."

Blake readily agreed.

Seeing the $50,000 indeed land in my account, I walked towards the reporters.

The cameras were still rolling.

The reporter spotted me and was about to begin the interview when I cut him off.

"I'm a dog."

Then, I barked three times into the camera.

"Woof, woof, woof."

Each bark was laced with humiliation.

People around me stared, even the reporter looked utterly shocked.

I ignored the whispers of the other renowned authors nearby and rushed over to Blake.

He wore a mocking smile and promptly transferred the rest of the money to me.