Could someone like Jackson really ever find himself in danger? If that happened, the threat would be beyond Serenity's means. Whether she got on her knees to beg would not matter.

She could get on her knees and beg until she broke her legs, but it would not benefit a man like him.

The light in his eyes dimmed at her silence. He was silent as he restarted the engine and drove away.

At this moment, Serenity found the stinging silence in the car unusually oppressive.

***

Serenity went to see Lisa the next day. The two met up and got a table in a restaurant near Lisa's house.

Seeing Lisa's swollen eyes, Serenity reckoned Lisa had probably not slept well last night.

"What happened after you got home yesterday?" Serenity asked.

"Don't even talk about it. My parents were starting to prepare a ransom amount. They almost punished me when they saw me back," Lisa grumbled.

Serenity looked puzzled. "What? You didn't tell them about Terry?"

"Uh... I told them a friend I hadn't seen in a w