Chapter 1

Title: My Husband Chose His “Sister” Over Me During a Kidnapping

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In the eighth year of my marriage to Lucas, his so-called sister, Sarah, and I were kidnapped together.

Lucas, a multimillionaire, showed up with ransom money—but only enough for one person.

When forced to choose, he looked at me and said, “Claire, your dad’s wealthy. He’ll come for you. But Sarah only has me.”

When I barely escaped and made it back home, the media was already celebrating their so-called "unbreakable bond."

When I finally stumbled back home, the media had swarmed the front of my father’s estate. Cameras were flashing, reporters were everywhere, and they were all focused on Lucas and Sarah.

Lucas was holding Sarah tightly, and the reporters were eating up their story of "surviving together through thick and thin." No one cared that Sarah was just the other woman in my marriage.

To them, loyalty in marriage didn’t seem to matter as much as the fleeting thrill of "true love."

When I got out of the car, battered, bruised, and wearing the tattered remains of my clothes, the camera flashes turned their attention to me.

My father rushed out with a large blanket, wrapping it around me, desperately trying to shield me from the prying eyes of the press.

It didn’t matter.

For a moment, I caught Lucas’s gaze. There was a flicker of shock on his face, quickly replaced by disgust.

Pain rippled through my entire body, especially my abdomen. It felt like my insides had been torn apart. The pain was so overwhelming that I collapsed, losing consciousness.

In my dreams, I was still with the kidnappers.

Sarah had already been taken by Lucas.

She had begged and pleaded with him not to call the police because the kidnappers had taken compromising photos of her.

On the phone, Lucas had reassured her. He promised to bring the ransom money.

But when he arrived, he only brought enough for one person.

When the kidnappers forced him to choose, he held my hand tightly, his face full of false sincerity.

“Claire, your dad’s rich. He’ll come for you. But Sarah only has me. You understand, don’t you?”

I didn’t understand.

All I knew was that the kidnappers were watching me closely, their eyes lingering on my torn clothes. I was terrified.

Tears streaming down my face, I begged him, “Lucas, don’t leave me here. Pay for my release, and I’ll make sure my dad reimburses you!”

Lucas lowered his head.

“I’m sorry. My company is struggling right now. If I pull this money out, your dad might not help me. I’m sorry, Claire.”

And just like that, he pulled his hand away, grabbed Sarah, and left.

I didn’t even have the chance to tell him I was pregnant.

I was carrying our baby—two months along.

But those words would never be spoken.

The kidnappers tore off what was left of my clothes, gagged me, and tied me to a post with barbed wire.

As I struggled, the wire cut into my flesh, and I felt the life inside me slip away.

Meanwhile, my father had no idea what was happening to me.

Lucas returned home with Sarah, who was too traumatized to talk about what had happened. She refused to mention anything, and Lucas, my loving husband, didn’t bother to press her.

The police couldn’t get any useful information from either of them.

Time slipped away as they searched for me.

By then, it didn’t matter how much money my father had.

I had seen the kidnappers’ faces, and they planned to sell me to Southeast Asia.

Luckily, during transport, they let their guard down, and I managed to escape.

I crawled through mud, slept in dumpsters, and fought stray dogs for scraps of food.

Against all odds, I made it back to the city, where the police finally found me.

When my father saw me, he nearly collapsed but managed to steady himself long enough to wrap me in a blanket and carry me away.

In my dreams, I saw a little girl with pigtails, wearing a princess dress. She waved at me and called out softly, “Mommy, Mommy, I forgive you.”

I ran toward her, desperate, but she only drifted farther away until she disappeared completely.

I woke up with a start to find Lucas sitting by my bed.

The sight of him made me sick.

“Why are you here? Get out. I don’t want to see you.”

His face contorted with anger. “We’re married. Isn’t it normal for me to check on you?”

Furious, I grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him.

“Get out! I never want to see you again!”

Lucas’s patience snapped.

“You should be more like Sarah. At least she knows how to comfort me. All you do is yell and complain. I haven’t slept for days worrying about you, and this is how you act? You’re so spoiled!”

I let out a bitter laugh.

He hadn’t slept for days? How could that compare to the pain I endured?

Every day, I was electrocuted, whipped, and burned with cigarettes.

The kidnappers mocked me, saying my husband didn’t think I was worth the money.

“Lucas,” I said through gritted teeth, “your heart must be made of the filthiest, most disgusting stone. You call yourself my husband? What kind of man leaves his wife with a group of violent criminals?”

His expression softened slightly, as if he felt a shred of guilt.

“You know my company’s cash flow is tight. I don’t come from money like you do. Your dad is rich. And besides, you’re back now, aren’t you? What’s the big deal?”

At that moment, the door burst open, and my father stormed in.

The second he saw Lucas, he lunged at him, ready to fight.

Lucas shoved him away without hesitation.

“Dad!” I screamed.