Chapter 3

Back then, Selene's kidnappers would ramp up the intensity of their torture every day in an attempt to pry money out of Charlie's hands. It started with deprivation of food and water, but eventually they began hanging her up and caning her. Selene remembered one night in particular. It had been pouring, but her hands were bound, and she was dangling from a tree. The rain drenched her through the night, then the sun came up and baked her thoroughly the next day. Selene thought that day would be her last. Time and time again, Selene would consciously defend Charlie whenever she doubted him. What if the pictures that her captors took were never delivered to Charlie? Perhaps someone had mistakenly picked them up, or some of the helpers thought they were trash and simply dumped them. Or, Charlie had just seen the photos and was now on his way over to save her. Selene waited for him, watching the sun vanish below the horizon day after day after day. In the end, she was rewarded with the news detailing how he was about to marry another woman. Exhausted, Selene no longer wanted to continue trying to survive. Yet, before she lost consciousness, she was gathered into a pair of strong, warm arms. Selene remembered him saying, "I'm a policeman. You've been saved. Hold on, I'm going to bring you to the hospital right now!" Selene only found out that his name was Quentin Lancaster after the fact. He'd disguised himself as Charlie and obeyed the kidnappers' demands of showing up to hand over the ransom money alone. In order to save her, Quentin fought off dozens of men and got stabbed multiple times. He'd succeeded in rescuing her and sent her to the hospital's emergency department, but then he collapsed outside the operations room himself. Sometimes, Selene found all of this hilarious. A man who claimed to love her could watch her be tortured to the brink of death unmoved. He could even marry another woman and start a family with her. Yet, a policeman who had nothing to do with her had been willing to risk his life just to save her. Selene took the boxes outside and handed them to the men from the secondhand shop. "Hello. I don't need all this stuff anymore. Please help me sell them off." While they were taking stock of the objects Selene had given them, one of them noticed an emerald pendant and asked in surprise, "This is a beautiful necklace. It must've been expensive, right? "You should auction it off instead. We might not be able to secure a high price for it." "Selly!" Charlie stormed out and grabbed the necklace from him. He roared, "I gave this necklace to you as an engagement gift. How could you sell it to a secondhand shop?" The worker added, "He's right. Miss Thurman, you're in such a loving relationship with Mr. Grant. I saw the news of your wedding online and was so envious of your love. "This necklace must have a symbolic meaning within your relationship. You mustn't just sell it off like that." Selene laughed. What an engagement gift it was. Charlie had married another woman, and they had a child together. What meaning could this necklace possibly carry anymore? Selene took the necklace back from Charlie and passed it to the worker. "Sell it off. Please donate the money you earned from selling it." "Should we donate it to a charitable organization?" "Use it to purchase objects needed by the police department and give them to the police force. They're willing to sacrifice their lives for their people's safety, so I'd like to do something for them in return." However, the worker turned to Charlie and asked, "Mr. Grant, what would you like us to do…" After a moment of pause, Charlie answered, "Carry out Selly's request as she wishes. It'll be a donation from us. I'll just buy Selly the newest necklace on the market." "Alright, no problem. Mr. Grant lives up to the rumors about you, with how you spoil Ms. Thurman. I'm hoping you guys will stay together till the end. All the best!" Together till the end? They didn't have that much time. A day had passed, so they only had nine days left together. In the past, Selene always felt like time passed too quickly whenever she was with Charlie. It brought her so much joy. However, now a mere nine days seemed way too long. Selene wanted nothing more than to skip forward to nine days later so she could go back 13 years in time. She would have nothing to do with Charlie. Selene turned and went back in. Charlie caught up with her and called her name, "Selly." "What?" "I know you're angry with me. When Bell recovers, I'll send her away, I promise. We'll go back to how we used to be, alright? After all, all the media outlets think I married you." "Charlie!" For the first time, Selene got mad. "Do you actually think we'll be able to go back to how we were?" "Why not? You heard what he said. Everyone thinks we've got a fairytale-like love, and they see us as a perfect couple." "Charlie, things can never go back to the way they were." "Why? I don't get it! All I did was find a placeholder for you, thinking that you were never going to wake up. Marrying Bella was done out of love for you. It all happened because I love you!" Just as Selene was about to speak, Bella moaned, "Chuck, it hurts…" Without even a second of hesitation, Charlie abandoned Selene and ran over to Bella. "What's wrong? What hurts? Do you need to go to the hospital?" Bella giggled and said, "It's nothing much. Just that Malcolm pulled on my hair too hard." Charlie sighed in relief. "You terrified me." Bella waved Selene over with a grin and asked, "Would you like to take a look at Malcolm? He looks exactly like Charlie, especially his eyes. They were cut from the same cloth—" Selene turned on her heel and left, "No thanks. I've got something I need to do, so I'm heading out now."