Chapter 171

Sophia and Joseph had planned to head to the police station together after work, but things kept getting delayed. Sophia was swamped with work and lost track of time until the last patient was taken care of. Finally, she had a chance to wrap up and hand over her duties. However, when she glanced at her phone, she realized she was running late.

Rushing through the hospital corridor, she made her way to the parking lot. Just as she was hurrying towards her car, her phone buzzed.

She checked it to find a message from Joseph: [Waiting for you in the parking lot.]

She quickly replied: [I'll be there soon.]

Then she pocketed her phone and picked up her pace.

The parking lot was dimly lit, casting long shadows. Sophia hurried past rows of parked cars. Suddenly, a horn honked from the exit in the distance. She looked up and saw Joseph's car approaching.

The black sedan sat quietly under the dim light, its tinted windows concealing the interior. It seemed like there was someone inside.

Without much thought, Sophia opened the passenger door and got in, buckling up.

"I'm sorry, I..." she began, but before she could finish, the door clicked shut, and the car sped towards the exit like a race car.

Startled, Sophia quickly realized something was off and became alert. "What's going on?"

She turned to the driver's seat, only to see not Joseph but a familiar yet chilling face, Gary.

Her heart sank, and her thoughts shifted to high alert.

Gary's lips curled slightly, his eyes devoid of emotion. He drove on, tossing a phone onto her lap.

"Choose one: him or me. Who lives and who dies?"

Sophia's heart raced as she considered her options. Instinctively, she reached for her bag and felt the familiar scalpel, gripping it for composure.

Pressing the blade against Gary's throat, she said coldly, "Is that how it is? Then you choose first, throat slit or crashing into a wall?"

Gary's lips twitched, trying to contain his emotions.

He raised his hand, trying to grab her wrist, but the blade followed his movement, lightly cutting his skin, a drop of blood appearing.

Unfazed, Gary continued in a cold tone, "The car owner is in my control."

Sophia's hand trembled slightly, the blade chilling her palm, her gaze unwavering. "So what? He's just a coworker. If there's danger, I'll protect myself first."

Gary fell silent, then whispered, "He's not in the car, he's in my truck. Now, you have to help me with something."

A surge of turmoil swept through Sophia's heart, her lips quivering slightly, but she pushed herself to remain composed.

Her voice was icy and firm, "Enough talk, pull over and let me out." The blade edged closer, "Or you'll be tasting your own blood."

Gary gripped the wheel tightly, the car's speed unchanged.

His tone turned even colder, "Do you really think you can intimidate me?"

Before she could respond, Gary abruptly slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a sudden halt. The intense force caused Sophia to jolt forward, her forehead slamming hard against the windshield.

The impact made her head spin, her surroundings blurring. Just as she tried to regain her bearings, she felt a strong grip on her wrist, forcefully pushing her against the steering wheel. The horn blared, the sound mixing with the ringing in her ears, everything becoming hazy.

When she came to, Sophia was still in Joseph's car, but the scenery had changed drastically.

Outside, darkness enveloped everything, obscuring her view. The engine was silent, the only sound a suffocating stillness. Sophia tried to open the door, but it was locked tight, and her scalpel was missing.

She realized the car had been loaded onto Gary's truck, completely isolated from the outside world.

The jolting movements inside the truck gradually ceased, and the vehicle finally stopped.

The rear door was flung open with a loud creak, a blinding light flooding in. Sophia shielded her eyes instinctively, and as her vision adjusted, she saw Gary at the truck's entrance, with Joseph curled up in a corner, unresponsive.

"Gary," Sophia tried to sound composed, her voice steady but laced with a chill, "The hospital doesn't need to resort to kidnapping for unpaid bills. If you're looking for a target, go after ophthalmologists or dentists; they've got the cash."

Gary remained silent, removing his headlamp and placing it on the ground, its beam directly on her face.

His voice was rough, tinged with a harsh edge, "I didn't want it to come to this. But I heard you were heading to the police station, so I had to change my plans."

Sophia furrowed her brow, attempting to respond calmly, "It's just a routine statement. The police need our help with the accident investigation."

Gary chuckled coldly, a chill in his voice, "Before the car owner passed out, he spilled a lot."

Sophia fell silent, the tension thick in the air.

Gary continued, "I dug a hole and buried him alive. Not with a shovel, but by suffocating him with mud over his nose and mouth. Is that murder or manslaughter?"