Threats in return for threats

A tense atmosphere took over the room as Marco tried to contact Esme without getting an answer. His heartbeat quickened, and worry haunted his mind.

"Why isn't she answering? Is it possible that Lucian took her away?" Marco muttered, his eyes staring at the phone screen.

Sarah, who was next to him, asked, "What happened? You can't reach her?"

Marco nodded. He sighed deeply and tried calling Esme once again. However, the result was the same, with no answer. The anxiety on his face became more and more apparent.

"She's not answering anymore. We need to find her right away!" Marco said, his voice full of worry.

Sarah immediately nodded, "I'll come along. But, we need to know where to look first."

Marco thought momentarily, trying to remember places where Esme might be. "I don't know, I can't guess where Lucian took her. How about this?"

In a hospital room filled with the smell of medicine and tension, Sarah tried to suggest finding a way out of the impasse they were facing.

"What if you contact Lucian?" Sarah suggested, trying to find a solution to help them find Esme.

Marco immediately rejected the idea, "I don't want to. I have to find her myself."

Sarah nodded, trying to understand the reason behind Marco's refusal. "Why?" asked Sarah with a curious expression.

"I've upset him. When I brought you here, I made threats to Lucian. So, he thought that perhaps I had taken you away. So, he also took Esme away. I'm sure he thought that I had hurt you. So, I was afraid that Lucian would hurt Esme too," Marco explained in a regretful tone.

Sarah pondered momentarily, trying to digest the information Marco had just shared. "Why did you threaten him? I'm afraid it will threaten Esme's life," she said in a worried tone.

Marco bowed his head, feeling guilt weighing on his heart. "I was wrong to deal with her. I'm sorry," he said in a voice full of regret.

In suspense, Marco reluctantly accepted Lucian's call. Sarah tried to persuade him, realizing that perhaps the call could explain Esme's whereabouts.

"Marco, you have to accept the call. Maybe we can get a clue about Esme's whereabouts. Aren't you very worried about her?" Sarah said in a tone full of worry.

Marco pondered Sarah's words. The dilemma felt so real, but the concern for Esme guided his decision. Finally, with a heavy heart, Marco received a call from Lucian.

"Damn it! Where are you taking Sarah? Do you want to die?" Lucian asked in an angry tone.

Marco replied calmly, "Sarah is safe with me. But where is Esme? You took her away, right?"

"Esme? She's not with me. I don't care about her at all. Why would I take her away?" Lucian argued coldly.

Marco realized Lucian could be lying, but he needed to be sure. "Are you sure of your words, Lucian?" asked Marco in a voice full of doubt.

Lucian laughed sarcastically, "I don't know what kind of drama you're playing now; what is clear is that I want Sarah to return to me! If Sarah doesn't come back within an hour, I will shoot your lover in the head!"

"What? What kind of offer is that? Give Esme back!" urged Marco, anger, and anxiety merging in his voice.

"I don't understand what you mean, Marco. So, you're more concerned about Esme than your girlfriend?" taunted Lucian.

"Don't threaten me with the people around me!" said Marco, his voice full of firmness.

Lucian laughed mockingly. "You threatened me first. And now you're telling me not to?"

Marco disconnected the call, putting down his cell phone with indecision. He turned to Sarah, his face reflecting confusion and worry.

"What do we do?" asked Marco, searching for a solution to an increasingly complex situation.

"I don't know what to do next. But clearly, Lucian is a pretty ruthless guy. His threats could come true," she said.

Sarah looked at Marco with an empathetic gaze. Marco received another call from Lucian. Although reluctant, he decided to answer, but this time with better mental preparation.

"You decided to answer, huh?" mocked Lucian.

"Speak up. Where's Esme?" asked Marco in a stern voice.

Lucian smiled sarcastically, "I don't know, Marco. Put your lover's life on the line. You have to talk to her to understand!"

"Marco, what have you done? Why are you putting me in danger?" asked Laura, the voice of the woman she loved suddenly sounding.

Marco rounded his eyes, surprised that Laura was in Lucian's grasp. He didn't expect Lucian to mean what he said.

"Laura, why are you there?" asked Marco in a voice full of astonishment.

"I brought her, you idiot!" said Lucian.

"You sneaky bastard!" growled Marco, sensing that the situation was getting complicated.

"I'm more cunning than you can imagine. Remember Marco, you only have one hour from now to return Sarah. Understood?" said Lucian in a cold voice.

"Where should I return her?" asked Marco, trying to follow the rules of the game Lucian had imposed.

"Before you return her, I want to talk to Sarah. Didn't you hear your lover's voice earlier?" Lucian asked in a dismissive tone.

Sarah immediately took the initiative and said, "Mr. Lucian, it's me, Sarah. I'm in good shape."

Upon hearing Sarah's voice, Lucian was relieved. He immediately disconnected the call and sent the address where he should return Sarah.

"This is serious," said Marco with a severe face.

"Why?" asked Sarah, a worried look on her face.

"The time given by Lucian is not enough. We need two hours to get to where Lucian said we would go," explained Marco, pointing out the time constraints.

"What? How about this? What if you drive the car at high speed?" suggested Sarah, trying to find a quick solution.

"We can't. The police will chase us if we do that," said Marco, realizing the risks they would face.

Laura, who had been listening, looked at Lucian with a fearful gaze. However, behind her fear, she felt Lucian was handsome and cruel.

"It seems you want to ask me something. What do you want to ask?" Lucian asked Laura, feeling that the time to speak had come.

"Why did you bring me here? Didn't you have a problem with Marco? Why am I the victim? Besides, I don't have anything to do with him anymore. So, let me go right now!" she pleaded, trying to make sense of the confusing situation.

"I won't let you go before Marco returns Sarah to me!" insisted Lucian, defending his position.

"But, about your saying that you'll shoot me in the head if Marco doesn't return your girlfriend, is that really what you're going to do?" asked Laura in a trembling voice, feeling the pressure of Lucian's threat.

"Why not?" replied Lucian coldly, pointing the gun at Laura's head.

Laura felt her heartbeat quicken, and her eyes narrowed at the sight of Lucian pointing the gun at her head. The room became silent in an instant, filled only by her labored breathing.

Laura's face was pale, and her fearful eyes reflected confusion and shock—the gun in front of her looked vast and frightening. Every second felt like frozen time, making her even more afraid that her fate depended on the man's decision before her.