You tricked me into raising your son? You'll divorce me and become my aunt.

"Tell him to bring five million over within half an hour, or we'll kill him."

The kidnapper took Ruan Ning's phone, dialed Fu Tingchen's number, put it on speakerphone, and held it to Ruan Ning's ear.

The dial tone rang a few times before the call was connected.

A cold, distant male voice came from the phone: "What is it?"

It's very noisy over there, a cacophony of voices and music.

Ruan Ning's throat was dry and sore, and her voice trembled with fear as she stammered, "Fu Tingchen, I...I've been kidnapped. The kidnappers said..."

She hadn't finished speaking.

The man impatiently interrupted her: "Ruan Ning, stop fooling around. I'm at a friend's welcome party. I don't have time to play these boring games with you."

Ruan Ning's voice was hoarse: "I'm not making a scene, Fu Tingchen. If you don't come, they'll kill me, I'll die, you know that?"

The man's voice was deep and cold: "If you die, I'll personally arrange your funeral, okay?"

After saying that, the man hung up the phone decisively.

The kidnapper paused for a moment, then sneered, "Looks like your husband doesn't care whether you live or die."

Ruan Ning lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

Fu Tingchen's words made her feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

A sweltering summer day with temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius.

A bone-chilling cold spread from the heart to every part of the body.

She risked her life to protect Fu Tingchen's beloved younger brother, only to be met with the man's words, "I will personally arrange your funeral."

In his eyes, her life was nothing more than a pointless and pretentious charade.

The man she had loved for five years, the man to whom she had given her whole heart, treated her life as nothing more than a pointless game.

Eight-year-old Fu Zishuo was curled up in her arms.

The child was so scared that his face turned pale, tears streamed down his face, and his little body trembled violently.

He was terrified, but dared not cry out loud, only sobbing softly, his wet eyes pleadingly fixed on Ruan Ning, which broke Ruan Ning's heart.

The kidnapper menacingly pulled out a dagger and walked towards Ruan Ning. "Your husband isn't coming. I told you, if I don't get the money, I'll kill her."

"I have money," Ruan Ning said hurriedly. "Don't kill the hostage, I can give you money."

The kidnapper paused, his suspicious gaze sweeping over her. "How much do you have?"

"Didn't you just ask for five million? I have it in my account, I can transfer it to you now, just let us go."

The two kidnappers exchanged a glance.

One of the kidnappers said, "Okay, untie her hands and let her spin around."

The rough hemp rope was torn open, revealing a bright red welt around Ruan Ning's wrist.

Ignoring her discomfort, she shakily picked up her phone, opened her bank card page, and entered her password.

This contains her dowry and the inheritance her mother left her before her death.

Just as she was about to enter the amount, the kidnapper suddenly snatched her phone away.

The man's gaze fell on the balance on the screen, and his expression brightened with delight.

"Thirteen million? You actually have over thirteen million!"

Ruan Ning's heart tightened, and she immediately reached out to grab the phone.

"You agreed on only five million."

The kidnapper sneered, "With money right in front of us, why not take it?"

Ruan Ning panicked, took a half step forward, and pleaded, "Please, don't do this! That's my mother's inheritance... My mother is no longer alive, this is the last thing she left me..."

"Slap—" Before Ruan Ning could finish speaking, a crisp slap rang out.

The kidnapper slapped Ruan Ning hard across the face with tremendous force.

Ruan Ning's head was turned to one side after being hit, blood seeped from the corner of her lips, and half of her face swelled up instantly.

The kidnapper's eyes were fierce. "I don't care about your inheritance or anything like that. What right do you have to negotiate with us now that you're in our hands? Do you think we're a charity?"

Ruan Ning's ears rang for a moment after being hit, and her face burned with pain.

Fu Zishuo was so frightened by what he saw that he trembled all over and finally couldn't help but burst into tears.

"Cry, cry, cry! If you cry again, I'll kill you!" one of the kidnappers roared menacingly at Fu Zishuo.

Ruan Ning pulled Fu Zishuo into her arms, holding him tenderly and softly comforting him, "Shuoshuo, don't be afraid, your sister-in-law is here. Don't cry, don't cry, be good..."

"Enter the password, hurry up!" The kidnapper glared at Ruan Ning, shoving the phone in her face, his tone violent. "Otherwise, you'll both be dead!"

Ruan Ning had no choice but to enter the password.

More than thirteen million.

The inheritance her mother left her was wiped out in an instant, completely wiped out, leaving not a single penny.

After receiving the money, the kidnappers, fearing that Ruan Ning would call the police, smashed her phone to the ground right in front of her.

That wasn't enough, so they added a few more kicks.

Only after confirming that the phone was completely unusable did the two get into the van and leave.

Aftermath.

Ruan Ning breathed a sigh of relief.

The baby in her arms fell silent.

Ruan Ning's heart sank as her fingertips touched the child's burning forehead.

I have a fever.

Ignoring the pain on her face, Ruan Ning carried Fu Zishuo on her back and headed to the hospital.

This place is too remote. The roads outside are muddy paths, and you can't see a single person or car.

Not long after we started walking, it got dark.

The drizzling raindrops fell, quickly turning into a downpour that lashed the barren countryside.

The surrounding area was desolate.

There were no vehicles, no residents, only the endless sounds of wind and rain.

Fu Zishuo's breath was hot, his little face flushed red, and he leaned softly against her shoulder, unconsciously murmuring, "Daddy...Mommy..."

"Don't be afraid, Shuo Shuo, don't be afraid," Ruan Ning whispered to comfort him, her heart aching for him. "Sister-in-law will take you to the hospital."

A slender woman, carrying a feverish child on her back, gritted her teeth and walked forward step by step.

The heavy rain soaked her completely.

The road beneath our feet was muddy and slippery, and the rain blurred our vision, making every step difficult.

One kilometer, two kilometers, three kilometers...

The road stretches endlessly.

I don't know how long I walked, but I finally saw some strangers.

Ruan Ning asked for directions as she walked until she found a village hospital.

Upon arriving at the hospital, she weakly pleaded, "Doctor, please save my brother, he has a high fever..."

Medical staff immediately surrounded them and took the unconscious and feverish Fu Zishuo from Ruan Ning's back.

The moment the heavy burden was lifted, all the strength drained from Ruan Ning's body, her vision went black, and she collapsed straight down.

When Ruan Ning woke up again, it was the next morning.

There were two hospital beds in the small ward.

Ruan Ning lay on the hospital bed, her whole body aching.

Fu Zishuo, pale-faced, lay on the hospital bed next to him.

He had an IV drip in his hand.

After a while, Ruan Ning got out of bed and walked to Fu Zishuo's bedside, reaching out to touch his forehead.

Thankfully, the fever has subsided.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're awake." The nurse pushed open the door and came in. "Your brother's fever broke last night, so don't worry."

"Thank you," Ruan Ning said, then paused and said, "May I borrow your phone to make a call?"

"Sure." The nurse took out her phone and handed it to her.

Ruan Ning was just about to call the police.

Suddenly, an entertainment news notification popped up at the top of the screen.

Breaking News! Fu Tingchen, president of the Fu Group, entered a hotel with a woman and did not leave overnight!

Ruan Ning's breath hitched, and she clicked on the button with trembling hands.

The accompanying photos in the news article were crystal clear.

At the hotel entrance, a man in a suit and tie embraced a woman beside him.

Ruan Ning was all too familiar with the man's figure and profile.

It was her husband, Fu Tingchen, whom she had been married to for three years.