Healing God's Heir: Abandoned Son-in-law

12. Bela Rossi's Grim Situation

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"Hmmn, it's my sister-in-law. Why is she calling me?" Aarav was surprised to see Bella Rossi's name flashing on the caller ID.

Bella, his wife's younger sister and the owner of Bella Couture, rarely contacted him unless there was something urgent.

"Hello," Aarav answered the phone.

"Good, the call went through. Hey, listen up, 'cause I won't say it twice. If you want Bella Rossi alive, then bring 100 million Celestial Crowns, in half an hour, at the back of Second Venue Dome Plaza!" Instead of Bella's sweet voice, a gruff man's threatening tone demanded a ransom.

(Note: Currency of this world: "Celestial Crown" (C₢))

"Du...du...du...Hello...hello...fucker!" Before Aarav could react, the line went dead.

"What kind of situation did she get herself into, and how the heck did this bastard get hold of her?" Aarav muttered, his mind racing with concern for Bella Rossi.

He swiftly changed into simple clothing he found in a drawer before rushing out.

"Where is the place again? Right, let's take a cab!" Aarav left the estate in a hurry, arriving on the main road, his thoughts consumed by worry and confusion about Bella's kidnapping.

"Second Venue Dome Plaza, ASAP. I'll double the fare if you get there the fastest!" Aarav instructed the cab driver, who eagerly agreed, eyes lighting up at the promise of extra payment.

"Right away, Mr. Fasten your seatbelt. It won't take much longer than ten minutes!" The driver assured as Aarav settled into the back seat.

"Vrooomnm...!"

The cab's engine roared, and with a thunderous sound, it sped up, providing Aarav with a thrilling yet tense experience as they raced against time to reach Second Venue Dome Plaza.

The urgency in the air added to the palpable tension, amplifying the intensity of the situation.

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Second Venue Dome Plaza,

A bustling hub where a weekly herb market unfolded, drew crowds seeking various herbs.

The sizable area enclosed by the dome-shaped venue had two sections: one for market exhibitions, including auctions for rare herbs, and the other for the public to rest and discuss.

On this particular day, the plaza was alive with people searching for herbs, and officers worked to maintain public order.

However, the back of the dome Plaza was deserted, with six black cars parked in a circle behind Second Venue.

In the middle of this quiet space, a group of dozens of men encircled a young lady sitting timidly on a stool.

"Who are you people, and how dare you try to kidnap me! Do you know who I am?" The lady spoke in a slightly cold tone, attempting to appear tough in front of the intimidating men surrounding her.

"Hahahaha! Look, lady, we know exactly who you are, your background, Ms. Bella Rossi." The men erupted in laughter, finding her defiance amusing.

A strong and intimidating man stepped forward, towering over her, and spoke, acknowledging that they knew who she was and addressing her by name.

"What do you want? Why did you kidnap me?" Bella Rossi asked, sensing that these men didn't seem to fear her family background.

The leader, with a sinister grin, leaned in, his face inches from hers. "Oh, Ms. Rossi, you're quite the catch. Your family's got deep pockets, and we're here to empty them. A hundred million Celestial Crowns, to be precise."

Bella's eyes widened in shock and fear. "You think my family will pay such a ransom?"

The leader chuckled menacingly. "Oh, they will. And if they don't, well, let's just say we've got other ways of making them see reason. Maybe a lovely piece of you in the mail as a reminder."

Another man, with a menacing grin, chimed in, "Oh, we're counting on it. Your precious family won't risk harm coming to their beloved fashion icon."

Bella recoiled, her bravado wavering. "You criminals! My family won't bow down to such threats."

The leader grinned, revealing a cruel satisfaction. "We'll see about that, won't we? You're not in a position to negotiate, Ms. Rossi. Now, make yourself comfortable. This is gonna be a long day." The menacing laughter of the men echoed through the dimly dark space, intensifying the chilling atmosphere of the situation.

The menacing atmosphere intensified as Bella faced the grim reality of her situation.

"Hehehe, now we're talking, but don't worry. I already called your family. If they bring the money I asked for and arrive on time, we'll let you leave peacefully. Otherwise, you can imagine what would happen...!" The leader chuckled, a sinister satisfaction in his smile as he felt pleased that she understood their demands.

His words didn't bring comfort; they instilled more fear in Bella as she observed the other men ogling her without concealing their wretched expressions.

'I really hope they arrive here on time. I don't know how much longer I can withstand these ugly, disgusting men staring at me!' Bella thought, praying silently that her family would come to her rescue swiftly.

Feeling violated just from their stares alone, she never imagined she would be in such a horrifying situation. Even her brother-in-law hadn't displayed such depravity; at least she didn't find his glances towards her body repulsive.

'Why is that good-for-nothing brother-in-law coming to my head!' Bella Rossi shook her head, unexpectedly finding herself thinking about him amidst the chaos.

"Brother Tiger, can we have some fun with her before we exchange her for the ransom?" After a prolonged wait, one of the men spoke up, turning towards their leader.

"Hehe, Brother Tiger, we won't damage her, so can you let us have some fun!" Another one chimed in, displaying a lewd smile, making his intentions clear to Brother Tiger, the leader of this group of men.

"Yes...yes, Brother Tiger, let us play a little!" Another one joined in, mirroring the lecherous expression of the others.

Then, all of them directed their attention back to her, their expressions suggesting they were undressing her with their eyes.

Bella's heart pounded, a nauseating realization of the grim fate that might await her in the hands of these menacing captors.

The atmosphere grew even more sinister, casting a shadow over her already dire circumstances.

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