Chapter 2

“Mom, you’re too emotional to think straight right now. Trust me and go home. I promise, I’ll bring Fiona back safe and sound.” After much reassurance and persuasion, I finally got Mom to leave.

The first thing I did was call the police.

In my past life, I had listened to Fiona and didn’t call the cops, choosing instead to charge in on my own to save her.

But this time, I knew exactly where the fake kidnapping was happening.

I led the police straight to the location where Fiona was being held. Sure enough, there she was.

When the kidnappers saw the police, they were frozen in shock, and Fiona? She looked just as stunned.

“Fiona, I’m here to save you,” I said, making sure to speak before she could even react.

“Didn’t I tell you not to call the cops?” Fiona screamed at me, furious.

What she wanted was for Mom to bring the million dollars to the drop-off point, or for me to come alone to rescue her.

Now, with the police swarming the place, the kidnappers were already under control. There was no chance for anyone to get hurt—not even me.

“Don’t worry, Fiona. The officers will take care of these bad guys,” I said, wearing the perfect mask of concern, playing the role of the devoted sister.

“You bitch!” one of the kidnappers spat, furious. They had been working with Fiona from the start, and part of the deal was that no one would get the police involved.

“Nobody move,” one of the cops ordered sternly.

The kidnappers didn’t dare make a sound. They sat quietly, obedient, knowing they had no other choice.

The police successfully rescued Fiona, and this time, Mom’s assets were untouched.

In my past life, saving Fiona had cost Mom a fortune. The strain on the business was too much, and eventually, Harlow Enterprises went bankrupt. Mom, crushed by guilt for her employees and overwhelmed by the pressure, fell ill. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away within two years.

This time, I won’t let that happen again.

“Officer, what’s going to happen to them?” Fiona asked a young cop, her face filled with nervousness.

The officer, thinking Fiona was traumatized by the kidnapping, reassured her. “Don’t worry, this is a serious case of kidnapping and extortion. They’re going to face severe punishment.”

The two kidnappers glared at Fiona with hatred, and Fiona quickly grabbed the officer’s arm, her voice trembling, “Officer, can you give me an idea of how bad it’s going to be?”

“From what we know so far, they’re looking at at least ten years in prison,” the officer said, trying to comfort her.

Upon hearing the sentence, both Fiona and the kidnappers’ faces darkened.

The cop, misunderstanding Fiona’s reaction, added, “While they did extort and threaten your family, since you weren’t physically harmed, they probably won’t get life sentences.”

He was still trying to console her, but Fiona wasn’t listening anymore.

“Officer, they were just acting impulsively. I wasn’t hurt—can’t their sentence be reduced?” she said, her voice loud enough for the kidnappers to hear.

“If you sign a settlement agreement, there’s a chance their sentence could be lessened,” the officer responded, looking confused. It wasn’t often he saw someone advocating for their kidnappers.

“Callie, let’s sign a settlement,” Fiona rushed over, grabbing my hand.

She was terrified the kidnappers would expose her. All she had wanted was a quick way to get money and show off. She hadn’t expected things to go this far and was now scared that the thugs would hold a grudge against her.

These men weren’t the kind you could mess with lightly. They might look unremarkable, but they were ruthless.

In my past life, they hadn’t hesitated for a second before chopping off my hand.

“Fiona, don’t be scared. I’m here now. We’ll make sure those men are punished,” I said, embracing her as I turned to the police. “Officer, please take them away. My sister is so shaken that she’s not thinking straight. I need to take her to see a psychiatrist.”

I lowered my voice, but we were all standing close enough that everyone could hear.

Fiona immediately freaked out. “They didn’t scare me! They treated me well! I want to sign the settlement. They must’ve been desperate. They wouldn’t have done it otherwise.”

Her frantic tone only made her seem more unhinged.

The police officer came over and gently told me, “We’ve secured the kidnappers. Take your sister to see a doctor.”

Following his advice, I didn’t even bother going home. I drove Fiona straight to the psychiatrist.

Mom arrived at the hospital later and was shocked to see Fiona there.

As soon as Fiona saw her, her eyes lit up with hope. After all, she had grown up with Mom and believed Mom would always take her side.

So the first thing Fiona said after being rescued was to ask Mom to sign the settlement.

The joy drained from Mom’s face instantly. “Have you lost your mind?”

“I haven’t! I’m just trying to show compassion, to be kind. Mom, don’t you know those men had hard lives too? If they hadn’t been driven to desperation, they wouldn’t have committed such a crime!” Fiona cried, genuinely believing her own words.

She was terrified. If those men ratted her out, her future would be ruined.

Fiona’s sobbing was pitiful, and Mom’s heart wavered.

“Fiona, have you ever heard of someone asking for a million dollars as a ransom out of desperation?”

“A million dollars! That’s enough to support countless families,” I added, cutting through the tension.

My words made Mom’s earlier sympathy vanish. She firmly led Fiona out of the hospital.

I smiled. It wasn’t going to be that easy for Fiona to wash her hands clean.