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"Help!" Rachel scread again, her voice raw, echoing against the cold morning air.
Finally, there was a footstep. Heavy. Hesitant.
"Is that soone’s voice in there?" the gate man asked aloud, halting in his tracks as he strained his ears. The desperate cry for help wasn’t sothing he could ignore.
Quickly, he made his way toward the back of the yard where the horses were kept.
The wooden fences creaked as he stepped around them.
And there, he ca across Rachel lying helplessly on the ground.
She wasn’t tied with any rope, but the fragile Rachel couldn’t stand up on her feet.
Her knees had buckled beneath her earlier, and now her legs refused to cooperate.
Her dress was dirty from the ground, and her hair clung to her face.
The man gasped slightly at the sight but still walked forward, cautious but curious.
"Are you alright, miss?" he asked, his voice low but audible.
"I’m alright," Rachel replied quickly, nodding weakly. "Can you please help out of this place? And your phone—I need to make a call."
"About that," the man said slowly, straightening. "You have to pay."
Rachel blinked, stunned. Her brows shot up in disbelief, and anger imdiately flared in her eyes.
"You!!" she snapped, but quickly shut her mouth.
’ Are you seriously going to snap at him while you’re the one in need of his thing? ’ a voice whispered sharply in her head, reminding her she was the one who needed help and had no room for pride.
She inhaled slowly, biting the inside of her cheek. "Okay, I will pay you. But... how much?"
"Five yuan," the gate man said without missing a beat.
Rachel took a deep breath before nodding, her pride crumbling under the weight of helplessness. "Fine. I’ll pay. But I don’t have the money right now."
The man shook his head with a scoff.
"There’s no way, miss. From your clothes, you look like a rich lady. And here you are, telling you don’t have money? Unbelievable."
He turned around to leave, shaking his head as if disgusted by the idea.
Seeing this, Rachel quickly stretched her arm toward him, desperate to stop him.
"Wait! I’ll give you ten yuan if you give the phone—but you will only be paid if the person who’s picking up Arrives."
Hearing ten yuan, double what he originally asked, the man froze. He turned back, eyes glinting, then without another word, he handed her his phone.
"Be quick," he said firmly.
Rachel, thrilled to hear that, quickly snatched the phone from his hand, her fingers trembling with urgency.
She dialed Logan’s number, the only one she could rember in her panicked state.
"Ring... ring..."
The phone rang. But on the other end, Logan glanced at the screen and, seeing an unknown number, he ignored it.
Rachel’s chest fell. Tears welled in her eyes instantly. Her heart dropped.
"You see? The person didn’t pick up," the gate man said, arms folded. "Now who will pay the money?"
"Wait... let try again," Rachel said hurriedly, swallowing her panic. She redialed Logan’s number.
anwhile, Logan, heading to the kitchen to get a glass of water for himself, paused when his phone rang again.
"Hmm..." he humd, frowning as he took a deep breath. "The sa number..."
This ti, curiosity got the better of him, and he picked it up.
"Hello?" his voice rang calmly through the speaker.
Rachel’s breath hitched. Her lips trembled. Tears stread down her cheeks uncontrollably.
The sound of his voice cracked sothing inside her.
The first ti he didn’t pick up, it felt like being abandoned all over again.
"Logan..." she finally spoke, voice weak and choked with emotion.
On the other end, Logan’s eyes narrowed. He imdiately recognized the voice.
"Rachel? Is that you?"
She nodded vigorously as if he could see her. "Yes, it’s , Logan... please co and pick ," she said, her voice cracking toward the end.
"What happened? Are you alright?" Logan’s voice was sharper now, concern coating every word. He could tell she was crying.
"Why are you crying?" he asked again when she didn’t answer.
"Look, man," the gate man suddenly cut in, "you too will end my recharge card. Co and pick this woman at Phoenix Park."
Before Logan could respond, he heard the beep—the call ended. The man had hung up.
Logan stared at his phone.
"Now, what did she cause for herself again?" he muttered, sighing as he turned and headed back to his room. He grabbed his wallet.
"But whatever it is... since she’s crying, it’s evident she touched soone who’s just like her and won’t let it pass... nice," he murmured.
He opened his car door, slid into the driver’s seat, and started the engine.
"You could have allowed to finish talking since I said I will pay you," Rachel snapped bitterly at the gate man, "not just grab the phone like that."
He had pulled it away from her ear without warning, like snatching candy from a child.
"You already talked. What else?" the man shrugged. "And I’m sure he’ll co with the money, right?"
He walked closer to her, eyes scanning her figure as if sizing her up.
Rachel’s skin crawled.
’ God, what a creepy man. Wait, Rachel, don’t go pissing the man off. What if he does sothing? Don’t forget—you’re alone here with him.’
The voice in her head spoke louder this ti, warning her to stay calm.
""Yes... he’ll co with it," she said softly, lowering her gaze to avoid provoking him any further.
Ten minutes later, Logan arrived. It was still early morning, and the air was cool and still.
He parked his car right in front of the gates and stepped out quickly, his pace urgent.
He didn’t bother closing the car door properly as he jogged inside.
What a caring boyfriend... he ca running... his princess is in danger—seriously? Hehe. Even I, the author, am wondering.
Just a few steps into the park, Logan ca face to face with the gate man.
"Wait! Are you the one the woman called?" the gate man asked even before Logan could say anything.
Logan nodded firmly. "Where is she?"
"I’ll only tell you where she is... if you give the money," the man said smugly, his hands planted on his hips.
Logan’s eyes widened.
"Are you a kidnapper?" he asked, his voice cold, sharp.
The gate man flinched, taken aback. His eyes widened in disbelief as his supposed kindness was now turning into sothing criminal.
"Hey, hey—stop! I’m not a kidnapper, nor did I ever try to do sothing like that," he defended, his voice rising with offense and pride. "I just gave her my phone to make a call."
"Then why are you asking for money before telling where she is?" Logan asked, brow lifting slightly in disbelief.
"I offered her my phone. She used it. In exchange, she agreed to give ten yuan," the man explained, crossing his arms like it made perfect sense.
Logan took a deep breath, his eyes still fixed on the man. He stepped closer, his presence suddenly heavier, taller.
"Ten yuan..." Logan muttered under his breath. Then he looked the man straight in the eye and stepped forward again—his gaze narrowing, sharp and unreadable.
The man suddenly swallowed. Even though Logan hadn’t raised his voice, the silence that followed his words felt louder than a shout.
Logan pulled out his wallet slowly.
He counted out a ten-yuan note without looking down.
He handed it over.
"Now. Where is she?" He asked eyes still narrowed.
The man nodded quickly and pointed toward the small fenced area behind the stable, where Rachel was still on the ground.
Logan didn’t wait for another word. He walked briskly, rounding the corner—
And there she was.
Rachel.
Hair ssy. Knees bruised. Eyes red and watery. She looked up the mont she saw him.
"Logan..." she whispered, relief crashing over her as tears stread freely again.
He didn’t speak. He didn’t blink. His chest tightened at the sight of her—dirty, fragile, yet still holding on.
He just dropped to his knees beside her and carefully reached for her arm.
"What happened, Rachel?" Logan asked seeing her all disheveled.
"I will tell you everything letter, just take ho, take out of this place," Rachel said sounding so pitiful.
Hearing her Logan nodded "Can you walk?"Logan asked.
She nodded feebly.
"I’ll help you," he said, sliding an arm under her back and lifting her carefully to her feet.
Rachel’s knees wobbled.
He caught her instantly, holding her against him without hesitation.
"You didn’t tie your shoelace to fall like this, did you?" he muttered softly, trying to ease the mood.
Rachel chuckled through her tears, leaning against his shoulder.
"You should have picked up the first ti," she whispered.
"You should have used a better excuse for vanishing," he answered back—voice low, yet without edge.
The gate man watched the whole scene from a distance and shook his head.
"Love drama," he mumbled, pocketing the ten yuan with a shrug.
Logan looked down at Rachel one more ti.
"Let’s get you out of here."
And together, they walked back toward the car.
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