Chapter 142

~ Octavia ~

I groaned, a deep, bone-weary sound that echoed in my own ears. My body felt heavy, every muscle protesting as I slowly fluttered my eyes open. The world came into focus in fragments—dim light, concrete walls, the sharp bite of plastic restraints cutting into my wrists and ankles. I was strapped to a hard wooden chair, hands twisted painfully behind my back and secured with thick cable ties. The same cruel bindings held my legs in place. A strip of grey duct tape sealed my mouth, muffling any attempt at sound.

Panic surged through me like ice water. I tried to struggle, twisting my body in a desperate bid for freedom, but the more I fought, the weaker I became. My limbs felt like lead, drained of strength. I couldn’t believe it. The stranger I had met in the hospital park—the one who promised to help me regain my memories—had turned out to be dangerous. I remembered the sharp prick on my arm, the sudden dizziness, the way the world had blurred and tilted. I had been drugged. Kidnapped. But why?

Even in my weakened state, I continued to strain against the ties, the plastic digging deeper into my skin. A low, mocking voice cut through the darkness from somewhere ahead of me.

"Struggling is pointless, Octavia."

The voice was calm, almost amused, coming from the shadows of what looked like an abandoned room. Only a single bare bulb hung from the ceiling, casting a harsh, sickly glow that left most of the space in deep shadow. I felt rough hands from behind rip the duct tape from my mouth in one swift motion. The sting brought tears to my eyes, but I gasped for air, my lips tingling.

I stared into the darkness where the voice had come from, recognizing it immediately as the same man who had approached me at the hospital.

"What do you want from me?" I demanded, my voice hoarse and trembling.

"You play an important role in my plan, Octavia," he replied smoothly, still hidden in the shadows.

"Why?" I asked, fear and confusion warring inside me. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Soon, you will see."

"Let me go right this instant!" I yelled, my voice cracking. "You’re keeping me hostage!"

"Letting you go would jeopardize my plan," he said, finally stepping into the circle of light. It was him—the same man who had lured me out and drugged me. His face was cold, calculating, with a cruel twist to his mouth that made my stomach drop.

"Why did you lie to me?" I asked, my voice shaking. "You said you could help me regain my memory."

"Because you were gullible," he answered with a shrug. "And it was the easiest thing to say to lure you out and kidnap you."

"Please... let me go," I begged, tears welling up. "I’ll do anything."

"Stop begging. It won’t solve anything," he said, stepping closer. He pulled a small penknife from his pocket and pressed the cold, sharp blade against the side of my neck. I could feel its edge, razor-thin and threatening. I heaved in terror, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps.

"Somebody help me!" I screamed as loudly as I could.

"As far as I know," the man leaned down, his breath hot against my ear, "nobody is going to hear your cries or your pleas."

Tears spilled down my cheeks. "Please don’t kill me. What do you want? Money? Jewelry? Gold? My husband can get it all for you—just don’t kill me, please!"

"Your husband, right," he chuckled darkly. "I spoke to him earlier. He sounded so scared... ’Please don’t hurt her, tell me what I need to do.’ What an asshole."

"So you called him," I said, a tiny sliver of hope cutting through the fear. Franklin knew I was missing. My mother must know by now too. She would be worried sick.

"I did," he confirmed.

"What do you really want from us?!" I yelled, desperation making my voice louder.

"Say that again and I’ll smack you right across your face," he warned, his tone turning deadly calm. I fell silent, terror gripping me.

"Everyone has a hidden vendetta against the Flemington family," he continued, circling me slowly. "They believe they can snap their fingers and get whatever they want. Well, it’s time that ends. Because once your husband comes to get you back, our plan will begin."

"Our plan?" I whispered, horror dawning on me. "That means you aren’t the only one behind my kidnapping."

"Didn’t you hear what I said, Octavia? Everyone has a hidden vendetta against the Flemingtons. I’m not the only one who wants to destroy that family."

"Who else wants to destroy the Flemingtons?" I asked, my voice barely audible.

"With time, you will know," he said, the menace in his tone sending fresh goosebumps across my skin.

He stepped even closer, the penknife still glinting near my throat. "Ever thought about who caused what you’re going through right now?"

"You mean... being in this state?" I asked, trembling.

"Yes."

"Want to know a secret?" he asked, leaning in so close I could smell the faint scent of cigarettes on his breath.

Something deep in my gut screamed that whatever he was about to say would shatter me. Still, I nodded weakly.

"I was the one who sent someone to push you down the stairs at JeffTech."

The words hit like a physical blow. Goosebumps erupted across my entire body as I stared at him in pure horror. Tears streamed down my face. Then a sharp, shrieking pain exploded in my head, so intense I gasped and winced, doubling over as much as the restraints allowed.

In that moment, the floodgates broke.

Memories crashed over me in a violent wave.

I remembered running down the stairs at JeffTech, in a hurry to present my project after someone had spilled coffee all over it. That someone had been Bella Washington. Then the sudden, brutal shove from behind—hands on my back, the world tilting, the sickening impact as I fell.

More memories poured in, relentless and painful.

Meeting Franklin at the bar, the passionate one-night stand that started everything. The contract marriage. The lavish wedding. The crushing hurt when I discovered Franklin had slept with Bella. The night he left me alone at the resort. The beach where we made love and confessed our true feelings. The betrayal when I got those nude photos of Franklin.

Every memory brought a fresh wave of agony. I groaned loudly, my head throbbing as if it might split open.

"I remember... everything," I gasped, looking up at the man through tear-blurred eyes. "So it was you."

"Surprise," he said with a cold smile.

"I never...knew you would do this to me," I whispered, struggling to speak through the pain.

"And I never knew Franklin’s late parents would destroy my family," he replied, his voice dripping with venom. "It’s my time to be vengeful."

Before I could process his words, someone stepped behind me. I felt another sharp prick in my arm. The drug hit fast. My vision blurred again, the room spinning.

As darkness closed in, the last thing I heard was his voice, low and satisfied.

"Sleep tight, Octavia."

And then everything went black—every pain, every betrayal, every hurt locked inside me once more, but no longer hidden.