IJCFIARFS Chapter 68

“Then let’s think about it again! Could it be that the Ruan family also disappeared because of Hortez? Did he kidnap them too? After all, Hortez has always been ruthless, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he imprisoned someone out of a twisted love-hate obsession!”

“Damn, this is so exciting. I love this kind of plot.”

“Who needs TV dramas about wealthy families? Real news is way more thrilling!”

“Intense—!!!”

“Even screenwriters can’t come up with something so brilliantly dramatic… I want to be a shameless money-grabber too.”

“……”

In an instant, countless speculations erupted online, and people around the world were watching the news closely.

But right then, the central character, Ruan Jiaojiao, lying in the middle of this chaotic “melon field,” had not yet woken up.

Hortez looked at Ruan Jiaojiao in his arms, smiling. His dark eyes were deeply red, revealing a twisted affection.

He gently stroked her face.

“So, the Jiaojiao I knew before wasn’t the real Jiaojiao?”

“But it doesn’t matter; we can slowly explore ourselves and each other…”

Overwhelming hate and love twisted Hortez’s smile, making his expression crazed, growing eerier and more terrifying.

He was not a fool.

Once the veil obscuring his eyes lifted, he remembered everything clearly, and with her phone upside down, he finally understood everything.

Ha…

It turned out he had always been the one deceived.

It turned out that his Jiaojiao…

Had betrayed him long ago!!!

But even so, he would not let go. Jiaojiao like this… ha-ha-ha, isn’t she an even better match for him?

In this life, Ruan Jiaojiao could only be his and only his.

If she wanted wealth, power, and status, he would give it to her.

He could give it all.

As long as his Jiaojiao behaved… and stayed by his side.

He could give her everything within his reach!

But…

It wouldn’t be right if he didn’t test her patience a little.

He faced setbacks, and Jiaojiao, who always claimed to love him, was willing to betray him. This was unacceptable.

Logically, if his men dared betray him, he’d torture those scum to death, cut off their hands and feet, and torment them with drugs for months as his most merciful method.

However, he couldn’t bear to do this to Jiaojiao, but… how could he ensure she understood the consequences of misbehavior if she still thought about betraying him?

While playing with her ears and hair, Hortez revealed an even more terrifying smile.

Why not let the Ruan family try it out first?

Ha…

Didn’t the Ruan family also oppose him and Jiaojiao being together?

How could he not punish them? Otherwise, they’d keep sowing doubt in Jiaojiao’s mind, and even if she wanted to settle down with him, she’d be tempted to leave.

Besides, the Ruan family were her relatives. Seeing them suffer would surely make her soft-hearted, right?

The smile on Hortez’s face widened, becoming even more terrifying.

Meanwhile, in the slums…

Mr. Ruan and Ruan Yanwei, now awake, learned everything from Ruan Yanzheng.

Ruan Yanwei cursed loudly, only to be beaten black and blue by Hortez’s men. Mr. Ruan nearly fainted from anger, only to be revived with two slaps. He lay on the ground, eyes wide, face pale, gasping for breath.

He had lived so long and had never been so humiliated!

What a beast! Hortez is a beast!!!

But in the end, he swallowed his pride and took it.

Their lives were in Hortez’s hands now. Only by surviving could they hope for revenge someday!

He raised his pale face, looking at the burly men in front of him, speaking weakly and coughing between words.

“I know what… what Hortez wants… tell him I’ll cooperate, cough—cough! I’ll cooperate and let him come to talk to me!”

“Talk to you?”

A thin man walked in, carrying a high-end laptop, sneering.

“Old man, I think you don’t grasp the situation. We could crush you at any moment. You have no right to negotiate. Understand?”

“Huh… huh! I’m not talking to you; I’m talking to Ho… Hortez!”

He had to survive, and then find a way for Jiaojiao and Marceau to come save them!

Mr. Ruan suppressed all his hatred. It was just a matter of enduring it. He could endure it.

But he didn’t expect the man’s next words: “By the way, your granddaughter will be brought here soon. You know what to say in front of her, right? Don’t say anything you shouldn’t, or I can’t guarantee whether you or your sons will be left alive or whole.”

Before he’d finished, Mr. Ruan and Ruan Yanwei’s faces turned pale, as if they’d seen the end of the world.

…….

In the car heading toward the slums, Ruan Jiaojiao was gradually regaining consciousness.

But she kept her eyes closed, pretending to sleep.

Sweat dripped from her palms as her heart trembled with anger and panic.

She never imagined Hortez would go this far!

She had to find a way to escape; she had to escape!

Hortez, whom she’d once delighted in toying with, was now worse than trash in her eyes. She couldn’t even bear to look at him. Just lying in his arms made her feel nauseated and want to vomit!

Why hadn’t Brother Marceau or Brother Wright come to rescue her yet? She was truly afraid—

Afraid she’d be taken by Hortez to live in exile and suffer like she was in hell!

She should have been the pampered daughter of a wealthy family, admired by everyone, and leading the best life. How had she ended up like this?!

Ruan Jiaojiao felt a dark premonition—

It shouldn’t be this way; her life shouldn’t be like this!

Where had things gone wrong?

Ruan Jiaojiao recalled the past, frustration clouding her mind and causing her hands to tremble.

Looking back… looking back.

She realized the turning point seemed to be when Lin Zhiyu fought back against her family, and from then on, everything went wrong.

Yes, it must have been Lin Zhiyu.

If it weren’t for him and that hacker sabotaging her family, they’d never have faced disgrace after that minor incident.

If nothing had happened to the Ruan Group, she would’ve remained part of a wealthy family, and she wouldn’t have needed to agree to Hortez’s advances so soon.

Not to mention all the frustration that followed.

Lin Zhiyu was her nemesis!

Why wasn’t he dead yet? How could he still live so elegantly, rising higher each day?

Hatred ate away at her heart. She moved her fingers slightly, making a final decision.

—She had to find a way to make Hortez kill Lin Zhiyu.

As long as Lin Zhiyu was dead, she could consider Hortez’s advances more seriously.

But as long as Lin Zhiyu was alive, Hortez would never get his wish.