Chapter 1

My wife was terrified that her childhood sweetheart’s claustrophobia would flare up in the dark room. So, she ditched the critical meeting that was supposed to save our struggling company.

Instead, she drugged me, used me as a substitute, and handed me over to a ruthless syndicate of loan-shark scammers.

"Five days! Just give me five days tops. I’ll find other corporate executives to trade you out. After this, whatever business you want to start, I’ll back you with everything I have!"

For five agonizing days, I endured unspeakable torture. Every passing second, I prayed she would rescue me.

Meanwhile, she was leisurely strolling through life with her sweetheart, taking him for haircuts and attending romantic symphonies.

On the seventh day, she finally brought people to swap me out.

"Babe, I'm here to take you home."

I shoved her reaching hands away and stared at her like she was a total stranger.

"Who the hell are you calling 'babe'? Don't flatter yourself!"

"What did you put in my drink? Why is my head spinning?"

I weakly set the cup down in the cup holder and glared at her.

Vanessa awkwardly slipped her phone into her purse, forcing a cheerful smile as she popped a piece of candy into my mouth.

"What crazy ideas are running through your head? Your blood sugar must be crashing again."

"Today’s the day we pitch the venture capitalists to save our firm. Why on earth would I spike your drink right now?"

She reached over and expertly began massaging my temples.

Except this time, she was completely distracted. Her fingers fumbled awkwardly, missing the pressure points multiple times without her even realizing it.

Following her gaze toward the rearview mirror, I noticed several black SUVs with tinted windows trailing us closely—they had been following us since we left town.

In an instant, everything clicked.

"You still refuse to tell me the truth."

"The investor's headquarters isn't anywhere near this route. Is this road going to lead you to Julian?"

Julian. Her precious childhood sweetheart, the man Vanessa had secretly loved for years. The moment his name left my lips, her hands trembled involuntarily.

"Nathan, you're really just hallucinating from low blood sugar. Listen to yourself—you're completely delirious."

"Julian is ancient history. He has nothing to do with me anymore."

I stared at her, my vision blurring. "He got lured into a scam syndicate chasing quick cash, didn't he?"

"I know he has leukemia. I know you found him a matching bone marrow donor, and this is his only shot at surviving. So your grand plan is to use me—a founder on the brink of bankruptcy—to take his place, right?"

Vanessa averted her eyes, looking out the side window. "Nathan, you're overthinking."

"Julian had no choice. He's a victim in all of this."

Swallowing the bitter rage welling up inside me, I rasped,

"Being desperate doesn't excuse being a monster. He conned young kids from his own hometown into that nightmare just to save his own skin! Don't those victims deserve pity too?"

Vanessa suddenly lunged forward, wrapping her arms around me as tears spilled down her cheeks.

"Nathan, years ago, Julian gave me his own medical funds to pay for my emergency surgery! My life belongs to him! I can't let him die!"

"You don't understand—he has severe claustrophobia! Those thugs locking him in a pitch-black container will literally kill him! You love me so much, Nathan... please, you'll do this for me, won't you? Just take his place for a few days, please!"

The frantic obsession in her eyes struck my heart like a blunt blade.

"Vanessa... you're out of your damn mind."

She bit her lower lip so hard it nearly bled, her expression twisted in anguish.

I knew right then: I had lost.

From the very beginning, her heart belonged solely to Julian.

And this sick scheme? It was probably Julian’s idea all along—whispering poison in her ear so she would target me, the man he hated most.

As the drive dragged on, my limbs turned completely numb. I lost all ability to move.

Vanessa never dared to look me in the eye again. She just silently let her tears fall onto the steering wheel.

Eventually, the car rolled to a stop outside an abandoned warehouse in the middle of nowhere.

She pushed the door open, grabbed my limp arms, and dragged me out.

In that exact second, every ounce of love I had ever harbored for her died.

A crew of masked men in dark hoodies swarmed forward, dragging me into a grimy, makeshift office.

A woman who introduced herself as Brenda sneered, ripping my designer watch off my wrist before tossing a contract onto the table in front of Vanessa.

"Damn, girl, you're cold. Ditching a rich husband just to trade him in for your little sidepiece! Sign the damn waiver! If you don't bring me a few real whales on time, you know what happens to him!"

Her thugs roughly wheeled out a rusty stretcher.

Vanessa let out a bloodcurdling scream. "Julian! Oh God, what did they do to you?!"