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Lucas' POV

The sound of the voice of my sister angered me. Even though I had not expected her to call me, it angered me at the audacity she had after everything she has put me through. I lost the love and trust Jackie had for me because of her and yet she had the mind to call me? It was unbelievable to me.

"Is that Ruth?" Jackie whispered.

I nodded in response and waited to hear Ruth's response.

"L-Lucas?" Ruth said in a low voice. "Where are you?"

"Why do you want to know? In fact, shouldn't you already know where I am?" I asked, feeling more pissed off at the fact that she still pretended.

"What are you talking a-about?" She stuttered, breathing heavily.

"Look, I don't have the time to pretend with you so come off it," I growled out and she gasped.

"Lucas, please. Listen to me. You have to come to get me. I'm close to the border of Redside... I-I was kidnapped. Please, I'm being chased after by some people and I had to borrow this phone to call you. Lucas, you gotta help me. I'm in a store close to the border."

I rolled my eyes at her acting. I never knew my sister had an Oscar-worthy acting talent. I didn't believe a word she said. For all I know, she could be trying to lure me into her trap. I couldn't trust her.

Without another word, I ended the call and put my phone in my pocket.

"What did she say?" Jackie asked, standing closer to me.

"Ruth said she was kidnapped and that some people were after her. She's at the border of town and wants me to come to get her. I don't trust her," I replied and watched Jackie begin to think.

"That's weird," Jackie said. "Why would she call you and say such? I would have been expecting her to call you about something else but a kidnap? I don't know, Lucas. She might be planning something."

I ran my fingers through my hair and exhaled. I was confused about everything right now. On one hand, I wanted to confront Ruth but on the other, I needed to act smarter about this issue by not acting on impulse. Then again, I needed answers.

"Jackie, I need you to call Jared. Tell him to come to pick you up." I faced the street and looked out for a taxi.

"Where are you going?" Jackie rushed to my side.

"I am going to meet her," I replied and she grabbed my arm.

"Are you crazy? You don't know what she's planning and you want to jump the gun? No, you're not going anywhere," she said in a soft voice. I could sense the fear and worry in her voice and I was touched.

"I have to confront her and I believe this is the time for me to do so," I retorted and pulled my arm out of her grip when I saw a taxi driving toward us.

"Then I'm coming with you," she said in a stiff tone.

"No, you're—"

"Save it," Jackie cut me off with a dark look.

I gulped and waved to the taxi when it got close. Once the car stopped before us, I opened the back door for her, and she boarded it before I followed suit.

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Half an hour later, the taxi parked by the store that Ruth had told me about. I knew I was late and Ruth might not be here but I had to still check. It was already late at night and there were barely any houses, just mountain tops, and an empty road.

"Can you wait here for us? I'll pay double for the trouble," I said to the driver who hesitantly nodded in agreement. I smiled and met Jackie's eyes. "Let's go."

I got out of the car and looked at the store. The light bulb outside flickered off and on, giving it an eerie glow. I shut the door and went around the car to where Jackie was waiting.

"Is she here?" Jackie asked.

"I don't know. She said she would be at this store," I replied and started making my way to the store.

The open sign was visible and glowing red. As I drew close, I saw it was a convenient store with barely anything on the shelves from where I could see from the glass windows. I climbed the wooden steps and looked over my shoulder to check up on Jackie who nodded at me.

I sighed and pushed the door open. I hesitantly walked in, my eyes on alert for any form of ambush. I felt Jackie close to me with her small hand clutching the back of my shirt.

As I stepped further, I heard quick footsteps to my right and grabbed Jackie's arm, pulling her behind me. The footsteps stopped and I narrowed my eyes at the small shelf shielding a pathway. I held my breath and looked toward the counter where I was expecting a cashier to be.

"Ruth?" I called out.

My eyes fell to the floor when I saw two feet, then I looked up when a body came into my view. I gasped at the sight of Ruth. Her hair was cut short, brushing her shoulders and wet. There were fresh bruises on her forehead, cheek, and jawline. Dried blood was under her nose. The blue shirt she was wearing was torn out at the edge and my eyes spotted the torn-out fabric around her thigh, which was bloodied.

"Lucas," Ruth whispered and ran into me. She wrapped her arms around my body and I froze. "Thank goodness you're here."

I was too stunned to speak or to move. So many things were going through my head. I was wondering why she looked injured, what had happened to her, while I also hated the feel of her body on mine, it disgusted me.

I grabbed her arm and pushed her away. She staggered and fell to the floor with a sharp hiss. I glared down at her in hatred and anger.

"What is all these, Ruth? What do you want from us?" I asked and she moaned, holding her thigh.

"Lucas, I was kidnapped. I just escaped... Listen," she said and rose to her feet. "We need to leave. They'll be here soon. Please, don't make them catch me."

I heard Jackie's footsteps behind me and felt her touch on my back. I looked over my shoulder in worry.

"Lucas, let's take her with us. Even though we don't know if she's telling the truth. This place isn't safe. Let's leave," Jackie whispered and I turned my head to glare at Ruth.

"Let's go," I said, grabbing my sister's arm.

"Ow! You're hurting me."

I ignored her as I dragged her out of the store with Jackie ahead of us. Once we got to the taxi, I opened the door and forced her into the car. Jackie got in and I followed suit then told the driver the address of the motel.

"You have a lot of explaining to do," I said and Ruth only looked from one person to another.

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The moment we got back to the motel, I tied Ruth up with the help of Jared who kept on asking questions. I had no answers for him since I needed my burning questions answered too. While we tied her up, Jackie was silent in the corner of the room, watching Ruth cry out in pain.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Ruth demanded, teary-eyed.

"You don't get to ask questions," I said and sat on a chair in front of her. "You have things to explain, Ruth. You better start speaking or I'm going to call the police."

I raised my phone, showing her the screen which was on the dialer. She eyed the device with wide eyes before looking at my face.

"Where have you been?" I asked.

"Lucas, why are you behaving this way? Okay, I'll tell you where I've been. A few days ago, I received an email from my agency since you know I'm a model. They gave me a week to have fun before our Paris fashion show next month. I decided to use that as an opportunity to go on a trip with my girlfriend, Donatella. Something came up that day and Donnie had to go before me. On my way, an SUV ambushed us. Everything happened so fast and the next thing I know, I was being carried into the SUV."

I found myself standing up from the bed in slight shock. I didn't know if I should continue to listen to her bullshit but I needed to hear her out.

"I was scared when I woke up in a small empty room. I was tied up and blindfolded for what I calculated as the rest of the day. Before the day ended, I was forced to send a text to Donnie; lying that I would catch the next flight. There were some masked men in black. Everything was so scary that I wished for help. A day or two went by and the most disgusting thing was forced on me..."

Ruth paused, shutting her eyes tight. I narrowed my eyes at her and glanced at Jared who shrugged then at Jackie who was angrily staring at her.

"Go straight to the point," Jackie said in a miffed voice.

Ruth shook at her tone and glanced at her with tears in her eyes. She looked away from Jackie and begin staring up at me.

"I... I was forced to write love letters to you. I was flogged when I refused. So, I had to write twenty letters in two days with altered dates, most dated backward. I wanted answers to my torture but no one said a word. When I had known their timetable, the timetable of the kidnappers, I escaped, killing one of them before escaping."

I gritted my teeth at her words. I could not blame myself for not believing her. I knew for sure she was still part of this, down to her injuries. Ruth was like a lunatic to me.

"I don't believe you," I said and she gasped.

"Lucas... I just told you I was tortured for no reason and you say you don't believe me?"

"I don't believe you too," Jackie said and stood up. "Stop pretending, Ruth. Why do I feel like everything you're doing now is all an act? How come you suddenly get kidnapped or show up now that I and Lucas are in Redside? Are your goons watching us? Were the guys who followed me today one of your men because it's kinda coincidental how you decide to call your brother to come to save you, knowing he's in town."

Ruth tried to speak but only shook her head. She wiggled in the seat and tears flowed down her cheeks as she looked at me, pleading.

"You ruined my relationship with the one woman I love. I feel nothing but hatred for you, dear sister. Don't think I'll believe everything because of your good acting. Getting yourself injured won't coax me into doing anything to save you except sending you to prison as early as tomorrow morning," I spat angrily and left the room, slamming the door in the process.

I rushed to the center of the motel and leaned against a car, my anger burning so hard inside me. My heart was pounding and my mind felt like I wanted to go crazy.

I couldn't help but start to cry out the pain in me. Everything was ruined because of my half-sister. I didn't know what my future would be like with everything going on. I no longer had Jackie in my life, she was distant and it was all because of an unhealthy obsession with me. I have lost so much because of the evil doing of someone.

"Why me?!" I yelled into my hand. "Why can't everything just stop?!"

I slid to the ground and tilted my head back. I stared at the half moon in the dark sky.

"I wish all of these was a dream," I said to the moon.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw the door to Jared's motel room opening and closing. I quickly wiped my eyes and bowed my head. Jackie's booted feet came into my view and I looked up.

"There's something you need to see and I'm starting to believe your sister," Jackie said and I stood up so fast that my head spinned a bit.

"What?"