Chapter 34

Aurora's sudden move halted the three men.

"What now?" One instinctively glanced at their leader, Caleb. Their employer's instructions were clear: they couldn't harm the girl in the pink dress. Now that their target had realized the situation and was using the girl as a shield, the men faced a dilemma. If they acted and accidentally injured her, would they still receive full payment? Money was too important to risk.

"Ms. Aurora, what are you doing? Let go of Ms. Maura immediately!" Leopold shouted, panic evident as he pointed at Aurora. He'd believed his job was simply to prevent Maura's abduction. Hearing the prearranged horn, he'd even separated Maura from Aurora to avoid her entanglement in the chaos. This, however, was unexpected.

"Aurora, let go of me! My head hurts!" Maura cried, struggling against Aurora's grip on her hair, her face contorted in pain.

Aurora ignored her, tightening her hold. She glared coldly at Leopold. "Leopold, are you blind? Can't you see these men are dangerous? You're our driver; your job is to get us home safely. Why aren't you dealing with them?"

Leopold froze, conflicted. He was supposed to be unaware of Aurora's planned kidnapping; this wasn't how it was supposed to go. His original plan was simple: pull Maura aside, stand near the car, and let them take Aurora. He'd follow the van briefly for appearances, but wouldn't actually catch them. Then, he'd call Stacy in a panic, receiving a hefty reward. Everything had deviated drastically.

How had things reached this point? Aurora had thwarted their initial grab, and now held Maura, Stacy's prized daughter. If Maura were harmed… Leopold couldn't imagine the consequences.

A thousand scenarios raced through his mind in what felt like half a minute. Finally, he made his decision, striding calmly toward Aurora, his face impassive. "Ms. Aurora, what are you talking about? They're just passing by. Let go of Ms. Maura."

He'd clearly chosen Maura's side.

Aurora remained eerily calm. A wicked smile spread across her face as she gave Leopold a penetrating look. "Since you won't protect Maura, I guess I'll have to." She mused, "Since Stacy has the audacity to plot against me, I'll return the favor, using her daughter."

She began dragging Maura toward the driver's seat. Leopold's actions confirmed the car wasn't broken down; he'd stopped deliberately.

A chill ran through Maura as the memory of Aurora holding her underwater resurfaced. The suffocating helplessness brought cold sweat to her skin. "Aurora, what are you doing? You're pulling my hair too hard!" she screamed, her voice high-pitched and desperate. The fear of drowning, of utter powerlessness, overwhelmed her.

Tears streamed down Maura's face; panic etched itself onto her features. She looked pleadingly at Leopold, her feet shuffling with Aurora's movements, her hand reaching desperately for him. "Leopold, help me! Aurora's lost it!"

Meanwhile, Caleb had made his decision. "Get this over with quickly. We're taking both of them."

His men stared, dumbfounded. "B-Both? Are you sure?" They questioned the altered plan. Wasn't it just Aurora? Their employer had even sent a photo for confirmation. The girl in pink was the employer's niece. If she were harmed, would their payment be affected? They were in this for the money.

Caleb's forehead throbbed. He smacked Tom, one of his men, and growled, "Just dump another girl somewhere later, alright?"

His plan was simple: cars passed frequently. If spotted, they'd be in serious trouble. Two high school girls couldn't cause too much trouble. Once in the van, they'd call the shots. They could drop one off somewhere, and the mission would be considered complete.

Chapter 24

"Boss, you always think ahead," Tom grinned, exchanging a glance with the other man. With a sleazy smirk, they cracked their knuckles and approached Aurora.

"Chick, you'd better come with us, or you're in for a world of pain," Tom threatened.

Aurora backed away, her eyes scanning her surroundings, searching for an escape plan. She couldn't devise a foolproof solution quickly. These weren't school bullies; they were clearly trained professionals. Taking them down wasn't an option. She needed to buy time, and Leopold was her best bet.

"Leopold! They're trying to kidnap us! Call the police!" she shouted.

Had Tom not used such direct language, Leopold might have continued feigning ignorance. Now, however, he couldn't. He hesitated, unsure whether to act.

Noticing his hesitation, Aurora subtly reached for the car door, simultaneously raising her voice to pressure him. "Think this through. You're the Crawfords' driver. If you let us be kidnapped on your watch, you'll be held accountable. And it won't end well for you."

Her words started to shake Leopold's resolve.

Aurora pressed on. "These thugs are after money. They won't kill unless they have to. If you do nothing, and my father has to pay to get me back, do you think you'll still have a job with our family?"

Leopold knew the answer: absolutely not. Jaxon would fire him, and no other wealthy family would hire a driver who failed to protect their charge. His career would be over.

Aurora's words tipped the balance. Leopold spread his arms, blocking the men's path. "Ms. Aurora, Ms. Maura, as long as I'm here, no one's laying a finger on you."

He knew Stacy's intentions—to teach Aurora a lesson. But regardless, Aurora would survive this. He wouldn't stand idly by.