261: TRUTH OVER TROUBLE

TRUTH OVER TROUBLE

FOR how many weeks now, they have been tracking and following Vanessa wherever she goes. They have suspected that she has some connection with the mastermind and she's one of the key to have an access to the enemy.

"Sir, I have some news.." it was Griffith who called him when he was about to sleep with his wife.

"Yes, Griffith? What?"

"There has a movement on Vanessa's camp,"

"Vanessa? What happened?"

"She called and wanted some help." Griffith informed.

"Where?"

"Our men are on the way to rescue her. I'll just send someone to get you so that you will be safe."

"Okay, okay, I will be there!" he put down the phone and shifted his gaze to his confused wife.

"Love, I need to go and see Griffith, something happened to one–" he could not continue explaining because his phone rings again and he answered it immediately.

"I am on my way…"

He kissed her goodbye and left. When he was at the door, she called him.

"Clifford, what's with Vanessa?" he stopped in his tracks and faced her.

"I will explain everything to you when everything is clear. Just trust me in this, love… you know I love you, right?" she nodded and her eyes started to sting. "I got to go. And please, do not go out." With that, he hurriedly went outside.

When he reached the place where they have to rescue Vanessa, she ran to him and hugged him for comfort because she feared for her life. It only took a few seconds before Clifford slowly pushed her from hugging him.

"I am sorry, Cliff. It's all my fault. That mastermind is on the loose now. He is very determined to get Ingrid at all cost." Vanessa's body tremble as she speaks.

"How can she get my wife when she's at our house at this very moment?"

"I don't how he'll do it but one thing is for sure, that mastermind did something I was not aware of."

"What do you mean?"

"Someone took some pictures of us inside the hotel in a malicious angle, that time when you brought me to a hotel room when I was in distress? Do you remember that time when I hugged you and kissed you on the cheek?" Clifford clenched his fist tightly that his nails almost dug into it.

He has to remind himself that she is a woman and that he won't allow his anger overrule his sanity because his wife is at stake!

"Come down! What is the mastermind's plan?" he almost shouted at her.

"Sir, one of the bodyguards called and the Madam went out of the house after you left and as of the moment, they could not locate her… and when they went to your room, they found this…"

He handed an envelope that contains the pictures of him and Vanessa on the hotel room.

Clifford's phone then notified of a picture message. Ingrid sitting on a chair, unconscious, both her hands and feet are tied.

Finally! I caught you.

Damn!

"Master Briggs, I'm sorry but I have to tell you that when Madam went out, she did not use the car that has a tracker. We suspected that she was about to follow you–"

"Stop! I don't want to hear it. Griffith you know what to do. Call our informant; I know he is already there."

"Yes, master… men! Let's go. We got a mouse to trap and catch," he said grinning with much anticipation.

…

BODY pains. That's all what Ingrid felt at that moment. She felt like she run until she drops on the ground. When her eyes adjusted to the light she immediately looked where she is and Sheldon. She could not stand up nor move because she was tied, feet and hands.

'Where is he?' she started to panic. 'What did they do to him? Oh my.. did I bring him to harm? What have I done!' her eyes welled up. She started to shout but it was only then she realized that her mouth was sealed with a duct tape.

Suddenly, somewhere from the corner, on the dark part of the room, someone cleared a throat. Her eyes widen, her anxiety grows even more.

"Hello there! At last! I've caught you after much chasing and teasing. It was fun."

'It's that voice!' she gasps. 'oh no…'

"Ooops! Sorry I forgot that you're sealed, someone, take the tape on her beautiful mouth.' A man went to her but she could not recognize him because he was wearing a mask. She screamed in pain as he took off the tape from her without warning.

"Where is Sheldon?" she angrily spat.

"Why are you looking for him, when the one who have been haunting you is already here in flesh and blood." That voice send chills on her spine, but she must act brave.

"How can I know you if you'll just hide in the dark. Pathetic!" she countered.

"Ahhh… feisty, just like before…"

"Before? What do you mean? Who are you exactly?"

She heard a chair moved.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

Four.

Then it stopped. Gradually, the steps went nearer, she could hear it loud and clear. When she spotted the shoes, she immediately looks up only to be dismayed because he or she is still wearing a mask.

"Disappointed?" then that person took off his or her outer garments leaving only a polo shirt, khaki pants and a pair of sneakers, but still there a mask on. It's a man! A familiar one. His hand took something near his throat, a device, maybe the thing he is using to conceal his voice.

He handed the device to one of his men. His two hands are now at the base of the mask. She gulped. It felt as if everything happened in a slow motion. The chin first appeared, then the nose. He stopped. All of its part are so familiar to her.

"Do you recognize me now?" she almost choked and hyperventilated when he fully took off the mask.

"S-SH-SHEL-DON??!!"

She has never been this scandalized. She wanted to faint.

"WHY?? YOU- Why are you doing this? OH MY GOD!!" she could not comprehend what was happening. Everything seems not right.

"Yes, that's right. Be puzzled. To answer your question Why? You ask me why am I doing this? Because of you!" he shouted. No he burst out.

"Me? Why me? In the first place it's you who did something, no, planned horrible things to me. You are insane! Psychotic!" he laughed instead making her more confused.

"Of all people? It's only you, Sheldon? You have the guts to do this when in fact I should be the one doing this to you and not the other way around! How can a bastard like you even think like this? Oh my GOD! I should have trust my husband." her panic stated suddenly change into rage and frustration.

"Yes maybe I am insane. But it's because you were my chance to prove to my family that I, too, can make our business flourish!"

"Me? I don't have anything to give you and if I have I'll never choose you. Oh my gosh! What a lame excuse! You can do better." She said rolling her eyes.

"Ha! How I wish that's how my parents think about me. I was the black sheep. Their weakest link. They are disgusted having me around and there's one thing that will make them happy. Money. Investment. All they think is business. How to expand their so-called empire and we, their children, was like their high class employees." But Ingrid don't care a bit as she thought that she has nothing to do with it.

"And what have I to do with that? I'm not in the mood to hear you drama in life. You need a therapist. You idiot!" she said sarcastically. This is becoming boring to her. It really frustrates her. She should have just stayed at home. This would never have happened.2

"Will you just shut up and hear me??" she just rolled of her eyes in annoyance. He continued.

"Back in our college days I was so desperate to please them that I eavesdropped whenever they were having some random talk. One time, I've heard them talking about you, well, I know you of course, you're famous at school. And what interest me was that, my mother said that you were the target of every businessmen to have for their son.

If you haven't realize it, well, maybe you know you did, your father have subtly express his desire to partner to any businessmen in the country and that includes my family of any of their son could make you fall in love. Your father was at the top. Always. And everyone knew you will follow your father's footsteps. Though everyone knew that it was McNaught's family was the first to your father's prospect.

Besides, any businessman would want to have you as their daughter-in-law aside from the fact that you're smart, you also have that wealth that runs from generation to generation. And since I was the less loved child by my parents and since I wanted their affection so desperately that I volunteered to court you. Well, I knew as well that you liked me back then and well, have these quite vivid imaginations about you, particularly if you're under me in a warm bed."

"How dare you!"

"Oh yes! How dare me! So, we had a relationship and because I love adventure, I added some flavor to it, which was so in favor to me. When I told my parents that you were my girlfriend already, I thought I could now have their attention and praise. I was wrong. They wanted more. My parents were desperate and they already wanted you to be my wife. So again, as an obedient and desperate child that I was, I planned to get you pregnant but still I wanted challenge that my friends and I did a bet on you."

"You are a monster! Oh God! Why did I ever associate myself with you!" she cried frustratingly.

"No, I'm not! It was Lance who is a monster!" she went still.

"Lance?"

"I was doing good, my plan was all set. It was all set! Do you understand? But this bastard of a man ruined everything! Do you know what he did to me when he knew about the bet? He hired someone to kidnap me and placed me in an abandoned clinic, punched me until I could not barely open my eyes and then… and then…"

He paused and closed his eyes as though he is reminiscing something traumatic, a nightmare that was so hard for him to look back.

"You cannot accuse someone like that. You are just making some excuse for your crime. He has done you no wrong!"

"Well, good news sweetheart, he already did!"

"Gosh! And why does it include me? It should be Lance that you are after! Not me!" She protested.

"Well, it all started from you and don't worry Lance is also here. Bring him in!"

"Wait! Wait! Did you kidnap him ahead of me?"

"Well, I was a good actor and he fell to my trap. That's why he is here now."

Lance was all bruised. Tortured is the right word. His eyes are half closed, his face is swollen and his skin is already in red, and some other parts of his body are almost violet in color. He coughed blood, too.

"OH MY GOD! WHAT DID YOU DO?!" she cried. Then looked at the monster clad in human form with disgust. "No wonder your family did not favor you. Your soul is slowly rotting in hell!" he roared and then slapped her with all his force. She screamed in pain.

"You do not have the right to say it to me. You do not know what happened to me because of that bastard!" he pointed Lance menacingly. "Lance… He cut off my chance to produce an heir!"

"A what?"

"He paid someone to cut off my penis and said that I could never touch you, ever! Aggghhhh!!!!"

"I don't believe you! Lance could not such a thing!"

He takes his pants off including his undergarments and before he could totally pull it off, she instantly close her eyes tightly.

"Oh no you won't close your eyes!" so he opened her eyes with force. She moves violently but she could not over power him more so the slap still stings.

She gasps by surprise when she sees his cut off penis, only some inches long. The sight made her tight-lipped. He then put on again his pants. There was a deafening silence and only Lance cough could be heard.

"I wanted revenge badly that I needed time to figure things out. When I fully recovered and was discharge from the hospital, I ran away. My thirst to revenge has been my driving force to succeed. I did construction work, I worked as a waiter, all lowly jobs as long as it is decent since I wanted my money to come from my hard work so that, as I thought, my revenge will be more meaningful.

Until I climbed up the ladder and earned so much money. That's the time that I slowly worked my plan to fruition. When I knew of your affair to Paul Keller, I paid him to hurt you emotionally. It was all going smooth. You became aloof and was afraid to love again." He laughed. "I planned to be your knight and shining armor, but then I changed my mind. Your heartbreak was still fresh. It wasn't the time yet, I thought."

"But then Clark happened! I was angry at first because I firmly believed that you do not have the right to be happy, but then I realize, I could use the child to my advantage. I'll approach you again, court you, then we'll get married. I'll seduce you to make me as Clark's father, legally. I waited for the right time, yet again! I was almost there. All over again, someone interrupted, this time, it was Clifford. Then Lance appeared, he showed before you once more and he brought with him your parents! Oh, I hate that man to the core!"

"You are so evil."

"No I am not. It was Lance. He pushed me to be like this. So I was saying, I hated him. So I need to get rid of him nice and easy. Except that Clifford entered to the scene.

"Were you also responsible to the car accidents, my accident?"

"Car accidents, the supposed tampering of DNA result, kidnapping of Clark, but your recent accident was not my doing. It was one of my allies and that I think she succeeded. She's happy in the arms of your husband as of the moment." He smirked.

"So much for the life's chitchats. Let's focus now on Lance…" his eyes gleams with much anticipation. he laughed. "Bring the table here in front of Ingrid." Everything went fast. She could not follow everything that happened because she was solely focused on Lance, with her eyes were blurred with tears

"He deserve it! I live in hell because of what he did. Do you remember the saying, 'an eye for an eye' and a tooth for a tooth?' in my case, it's a penis for a penis. Do you understand me, huh? Ingrid? How about you Lance?" He evilly grins. "

"And you will witness his mutilation."

"NOOOO!! PLEASE DON'T!"

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