Larry sped down the highway in a white van. Glancing in the rearview mirror, he saw Celine lying unconscious. He leered at her shapeless figure, thinking that if he had the chance, he would take advantage of her immediately. However, to be safe, he needed to get her away from there. Once they reached a secluded location, she wouldn't be able to escape. He'd have all the time in the world to do as he pleased. The thought aroused him.

Suddenly, the cars ahead stopped. Larry slammed on the brakes. Traffic was congested. Drivers leaned out of their windows. "What's happening? Is there an accident?" one asked.

"No accident. Someone's blocking the road and checking cars," another replied.

The road was closed? A wave of dread washed over Larry.

"Who has the power to shut down all of Mercity?" a driver asked.

"I heard it's Mr. Adam Alvarez, the richest man in Mercity, CEO of Alvarez Group. Mercity is his playground. He could do this easily," another answered. "Maybe he's looking for his runaway bride?"

"You're reading too many novels," someone scoffed.

As the drivers chatted, Larry's heart sank. It was over. Adam was looking for Celine. Fuck Lucy for telling him Adam didn't care for Celine, that she was merely an unwanted, abandoned woman. Why would Adam cause such a commotion for someone abandoned?

A group of uniformed officers were checking cars one by one. Larry's heart pounded. He couldn't be caught. He had to escape.

Larry flung open the van door, grabbed Celine, and fled, abandoning the van.

Celine felt a grimy hand on her face. Her eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes. She was in a dark cave, lying on weeds. Larry was beside her, leering, his hand caressing her face.

"You're awake, Celine," he said.

Celine felt a throbbing pain at the nape of her neck. The touch of his hand felt nauseating. "Get away from me! Don't touch me with your disgusting hands!" she spat.

Larry showed no anger. "Celine, you were so beautiful even as a child. I imagined all the men who would want you when you grew up, so I decided I'd have you. You would be my wife. Why were you disobedient? Why did you blind me? Why did you send me to jail for ten years? Nothing has changed. You're still beneath me."

His desire peaked. He had restrained himself, waiting for her to wake up. He wanted to torment her, to get revenge. He reached for her clothes, tearing them apart.

Celine struggled and screamed, "Let me go! Don't touch me!"

Larry panted. "Who do you expect to save you, Celine? Adam, your husband?" A malicious glint appeared in his eyes. He remembered his humiliating escape. "It'll be too late. By the time he gets here, I'll have had my way with you. You'll be broken, secondhand goods. Do you think he'll still want you then?"