When Left
CHAPTER 138

Chapter 138: You’re Not Good Enough for Him

1 gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands, my knuckles turning white. Under the threat of the criminal, I had no choice but to step on the gas pedal.

Even after leaving the parking garage, the knife remained pressing against my neck. My fear escalated with every mile.

Trying to calm myself, I asked, “Who sent you?”

The criminal snorted coldly. “Stop with the nonsense and focus on driving.”

Suddenly, Christopher’s cryptic words from this morning made sense. This wasn’t a random occurrence, and I realized Christopher probably hadn’t anticipated their move so soon either.

It was the weekend, and traffic was beginning to build up. After about an hour of driving, the car slowly exited the busy area via Sunset Boulevard. Panic surged as I realized the direction we were heading.

The criminal only spoke to issue directions. “Turn left at the traffic light.”

Just as he finished speaking, the car’s audio system rang–it was a phone call! Jerry’s name flashed on the screen.

Before the criminal could react, I quickly pressed the answer button. Jerry’s voice crackled through. “Mrs. Valence, are you reliable? She’s been looking around the entrance and hasn’t seen you.”

Opening my mouth to speak, I felt the blade cut into my skin. The message was unmistakable.

Jerry’s confusion grew. “Hello, where are you? Is the signal bad or something? Hope Royston? Did you leave y

Before Jerry could finish, the criminal reached over the center console and ended the call. He snarled, “I told you, no tricks.”

“I was too nervous, and my hand slipped,” I stammered, hoping my excuse would suffice.

The criminal scraped the knife against my neck and laughed coldly. “If your hand slips again, mine will slip even

more.”

The implication was clear: one wrong move, and the blade could easily end my life. Cold sweat soaked my back, and I had no option but to drive in the direction he dictated.

Jerry called two more times, but I didn’t dare answer. Eventually, the criminal directed me to an old but expansive villa complex. After passing through the gates, I drove straight along the road and stopped in the yard of an abandoned villa, its grounds overrun with weeds.

As soon as I hit the brakes, another car slowly drove in behind us. The criminal swiftly exited, opened my door, and barked, “What are you staring at? Get out of the car!”

“Okay, I replied hastily, fumbling to unbuckle my seatbelt.

The moment I stepped out, two familiar figures emerged from the car that had followed us–Kimberly and Noah. The

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Chapter 138: You’re Not Good Enough for Him

sight of them together was both shocking and confusing.

Kimberly’s gaze turned fierce as she coldly commanded the criminals in the yard, “What are you standing around for?

Throw her down!”

The criminals hesitated for a moment, but a single glance from Noah sent two of them lunging towards me, gripping my arms tightly and tossing me unceremoniously into the basement. Thick dust billowed up, clogging my nostrils and stinging my eyes. My palms screamed in pain from the harsh friction against the cement floor. Above me, a lone incandescent bulb swayed gently, casting an eerie, dizzying light.

Just as I tried to steady myself and get up, the unmistakable sound of high heels echoed through the staircase, each step a harbinger of impending doom. Kimberly descended, her face twisted with a cruel delight. She stepped on my fingers, pain shooting through my hand and forcing tears to my eyes.

Kimberly’s smile widened at my cries. She crouched down, her fingers clamping around my neck. “Hope Royston, I warned you to get a divorce. Why won’t you listen? Why do you insist on clinging to Christopher? How many times do I have to tell you, you’re not good enough for him! Why won’t you believe me?”

Her grip tightened, and she squeezed my cheeks hard, bringing her face close to mine. “Do you really want to force me into this? Do you think I’m Evelyn Valence, that fool, who wants to enter the Valence family but can’t even remove an

obstacle like you?”

She continued, her voice dripping with venom. “Hope Royston, ever since I was a child, I’ve never failed to get what I want. If I can’t get it, my mother won’t just sit by either. You’re weak and powerless, what right do you have to compete with me?”

Kimberly glanced over at a nearby tattooed thug. “Go call Christopher Valence.”

“Yes.” The tattooed man nodded and swiftly left to make the call.

I met Kimberly’s gaze with defiance. “You and Noah Gomez are working together. What do you want?”

“What do we want?‘ Kimberly’s laugh was cold and mirthless as she clapped her hands and stood, looming over me. “Worried I’ll hurt Christopher? Don’t be. He’s the husband I handpicked. If you have any concern, it should be for

yourself.”

I looked up, desperation mingled with determination. “What do you want?”

Kimberly placed her hands behind her back and leaned in, her voice slow and deliberate. “If both of us were kidnapped and he could only save one, who do you think he would save?”

I was stunned into silence. Christopher had told me this morning to trust him, to believe in him no matter what happened. His words echoed in my mind as I clenched my fists. “I don’t know.”

After all, the last time there was a choice to be made, Christopher didn’t even glance my way.

Also, I was afraid of provoking Kimberly, making her do something even crazier.

Furthermore, I feared provoking Kimberly–pushing her to the edge might incite even more unhinged actions. With the Harris family backing her, Kimberly could very well get away with murder.

Chapter 138 You’re Not Good Enough for Him

“You don’t know?” Kimberly’s laugh was a shard of ice. “Then let’s replace out together today, shall we? Hope Royston, you need to face reality. Only then will you understand that someone like you doesn’t belong in the upper echelons!”

The tattooed man returned at that moment, speaking nonchalantly. “Miss Harris, I made the call. I informed Christopher Valence that both you and Hope Royston were kidnapped and that he needed to come personally to save

you.”

Kimberly lashed out, slapping the tattooed man. “It’s Mr. Valence!”

Temporarily enraged but noticing Noah lounging nearby, the man quickly composed himself. “I told Mr. Valence, as you instructed.”

“And what did he say?” Kimberly’s voice was a mix of impatience and anticipation.

“Mr. Valence was very anxious and he’s on his way.”

“Good.” Kimberly’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. She signaled to two nearby men. “Tie this bitch up.”

Noah’s men moved with practiced ruthlessness, binding me to a pillar swiftly, giving me no chance to resist. Once I was securely tied, Kimberly eyed the stool under my feet and smirked. “Kick the stool away. It’s more fun to hang her.”

The tattooed man didn’t hesitate, his foot connecting with the stool and sending it flying. I lost my balance, my body hanging, gravity pulling me down slowly. The rope tightened with each millimeter I descended, its harsh fibers burning my skin.

The constriction was relentless; as the rope dug into my flesh, I felt my chest tighten, my breaths coming in ragged, desperate gasps. The suffocation was excruciating, and the helplessness was almost more than I could bear.