Startled, Emma sat up from her bed. "Who are you?"

The hoarse voice on the other end was still asking for help, "H--help me…"

"Lily?"

"Mm…" Lily struggled to respond.

"Aren't you with Holden Payne? Aren't you pregnant with his child? What happened to you?"

Meanwhile, Lily was locked inside a cell and her lips were so dry that the skin was peeling. Had she known that she would end up like this, Lily would have never gone to Holden for help. She had thought that he would keep her around for the sake of the child in her belly, but she had underestimated his viciousness.

Holden had gone from South City to Kidon City before Axel sent him overseas by ship merely three months ago with Sean and Rose's retirement fund. Sean had wanted to send Holden to Europe so that he could extend his career with his sharp mind, but Holden changed his path halfway. He did not go to Europe, but instead went to the Middle East.

The Middle East was plagued with wars and no one with an ordinary mindset wou