"This will teach you a lesson and temper your personality. You should understand our good intentions."

After hanging up the phone, when the leader learned that the ransom wouldn't arrive on time, he subjected me to even more brutal torture.

In the following days, I was tortured until I wished for death.

On the night they gang-raped me, through the dim window, I saw fireworks being set off at the aid camp.

As "Happy Birthday" exploded across the sky amid laughter and joy, the enraged rebels decided to execute me, using my life as a warning.

They cut out my organs while I was still alive and dumped my naked body on the street, where I died with hatred in my heart.

In this life, looking at Nolan who was still begging me, I simply replied with a calm:

"Okay."

Nolan was stunned, seemingly surprised by how easily I agreed.

As I turned to leave, Nolan inexplicably grabbed me.

I turned back to look at him, and there was hesitation in his eyes.

"Sure you can handle this, Lena? I promise I'll get you out as soon as the rescue team arrives."

I nodded and repeated simply, "Okay."

As I walked away, Nolan stood frozen in place for a long while.

He had prepared a heap of noble-sounding excuses to send me to my death, yet not a single word escaped his lips.

Silently returning to camp, I began packing my gear.

Nolan was right, I had a background as a special agent with exceptional skills.

I had managed to escape from far more perilous situations unscathed.

So he felt fully justified in believing that using me to exchange for Grace was a foolproof plan.

I secretly implanted a tracking device in my body, making thorough preparations. Just then, a call came in from the Montgomery parents.

"Lena, we're begging you. Grace is timid and can't handle this kind of pressure. Please go exchange yourself for her. Whatever you want, we'll give it to you."

Mrs. Montgomery pleaded through sobs, while Mr. Montgomery heaved a heavy sigh.

"It's all our fault, a thousand times over. Grace has nothing to do with this."

I paused, suppressing the lump in my throat, and replied coolly.

"I can go and bring her back."

The two of them instantly became excited.

"Lena, you're really willing to do this? Mom always knew you were a good child. When you come back, we'll make it up to you properly."

"That won't be necessary."

The cold voice continued as I spoke further:

"Prepare the ransom. Just ensure my survival."

"Once you get me out, we're even."

In my previous life, they knew I had been swapped in as a hostage. The $5 million ransom wasn't beyond their means.

Yet they deliberately held back, unwilling to pay up.

All because I refused to switch places with Grace, causing their precious daughter to suffer for two extra days.

They self-righteously declared:

"We owe you nothing. When I gave birth to you, I hemorrhaged and was unconscious for half a month. If we're counting, I gave you this life. What right do you have to hate us?"

"If you've done wrong, you deserve punishment. Learn your lesson, so you won't think of harming others in the future!"

In this new life, I truly have learned my lesson.

This life, I'm giving it back to them.

I only ask to be even, with no future entanglements.

I stood alone before the armed group's camp. Grace, bound hand and foot, had cried until her eyes were swollen.

Behind me, Nolan was nearly heartbroken.

He shouted loudly to the other side:

"Don't be afraid, Grace. You'll be safe soon."

As he finished speaking, he looked at me, slightly guilty.

"Lena, I'm sorry for putting you through this. Once you go over there, you must protect yourself at all costs. Don't try to be a hero. I believe you'll be alright."

"When you come back, I'll propose to you. I promise I won't let you down for the rest of my life."

I simply let out a cold laugh and turned to meet his gaze.

Half a month ago, those same beautiful eyes had looked at me with utmost sincerity as he said:

"After this mission is over, I'll take you home to meet my parents. Then I'll leave the aid organization, and we'll live a peaceful life together."

Under the intense moonlight, we had shared a passionate kiss. I truly loved him to my very core.

But in just two weeks, Grace had effortlessly stolen his heart.

My years as his comrade-in-arms, facing life and death together, couldn't compare to Grace's seductive glances and tending to his wounds once.

She drew a heart on his bandage, and just like that, Nolan was bewitched.

I looked at him and spoke coldly.

"Nolan, don't bother proposing to me."

"I don't love you anymore."

With that, I strode towards the armed organization's camp.

Both sides were in a tense standoff, weapons at the ready, closely watching each other's movements.

I walked to the midpoint, where the armed personnel escorting Grace also stood.

Grace sobbed uncontrollably, crying out to Nolan:

"Nolan, I was so scared. Thank goodness you saved me."

However, Nolan called out my name instead:

"Lena, don't say such hurtful things. You know I love you."

"It's just that this time, I really had no choice."

I didn't respond to him anymore as the armed group had already restrained my hands.

The hostage exchange was completed, and I returned to the dark hellhole of my previous life.

The familiar stench of decay hit me once again, making me instinctively nauseous.

Unlike last time when I was drugged and brought here unconscious, I now had more control over the situation.

"If you harm me, the ransom will decrease. If I die, you'll end up with nothing."

Seeing Nolan's attitude earlier, the leader of the armed group showed a hint of caution.

After all, hurting a soldier from an aid organization wouldn't benefit them much in their country's conflict.

But money was truly useful.

Even without physical torture, they could still make me suffer immensely.

For two days and nights, they didn't let me close my eyes.

Whenever I showed signs of drowsiness, they'd shock me with electric batons.

They wouldn't let me sit or lie down, forcibly keeping me in a half-squatting position.

I was on the verge of a mental breakdown, but I was still grateful that my worst fear hadn't come true.

Two days later, my childhood sweetheart from the aid organization arrived, bringing with him five million dollars in cash prepared by my birth parents.

It was the same phone call, but Kael's attitude had changed.

"Lena, hang in there a little longer, we're on our way."

"The Montgomery Parents struggled to raise the money to rescue you this time. You can't forget their sacrifice; they just want you and your sister to get along well."

"Grace hasn't been able to eat for days because she's so worried about you. She's woken up from nightmares several times and can't settle down. We all care about you deeply. There's no misunderstanding that can't be resolved. Don't hate her anymore, okay?"

I suppressed the intense hatred in my heart and replied:

"I understand."

Kael seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

"You've always been sensible since you were little, we all know that."

As the call ended, the leader of the armed group narrowed his eyes and scanned me back and forth.

The familiar gaze instinctively sent chills down my spine.