Russell leaned closer, but I instinctively slapped him. "Don't touch me!"

The image of my death lingered, and I fought to contain my rage.

He blinked, taken aback. "Alright, Lottie, calm down. If you're not in the mood, we'll skip it."

His quick retreat felt off, but I had no time to dwell, not with danger looming out there. According to the timeline, the kidnappers would arrive in less than two hours.

I grabbed my jacket, slipped my phone into my pocket, and headed out. Russell caught my arm, his eyes wide with panic. "Where are you going?"

His reaction set off alarms in my head. "Not your business. Let go."

"It's getting dark," he insisted, his grip tightening. "What's out there? You said you were tired."

I stared at him until he faltered. My tone softened. "Just grab some water."

Outside, the kettle from dinner sat by the fire. I poured a cup and took a gulp, noticing that Russell was watching me closely from the tent's entrance. His eyes tracked my every move.

A chilling thought hit me, but I pushed it aside, slipping a few sleeping pills into the cup and watching them dissolve quickly. I had brought them for my insomnia, and now they came in handy.

I casually walked back and handed the cup to him. "Here, have some water."

He drank it without a second thought. "Alright, time for bed."

I got back into the tent, and he passed out like a light. I tied his hands and feet with rope and stripped him bare, thinking he'd be lucky if the kidnappers ignored him.

If not, he'd taste the suffering I endured.

I packed my backpack with a power bank and my phone, ready to flee. Then my eyes fell on his phone. On a whim, I unlocked it with his fingerprint and froze at what I saw.

His chat with Frida was still open.

Frida: [You guys there yet?]

Russell: [Yeah, babe. Just finished dinner, ready to crash. Those guys won't hurt me, right?]

Frida: [Chill, I paid them well. They'll film Lottie's humiliation and leak it. Her reputation's finished.]

Russell: [How soon will they get here?]

Frida: [Two hours, tops. Just don't touch her. You promised to be with me. That's why I'm doing this.]

My heart sank at those words. The kidnappers' lack of ransom demands, Russell's easy escape, and the video's release all made sense now.

No wonder Russell had been so nervous tonight, terrified I'd leave. They had hired those thugs and orchestrated everything.

I stared at his sleeping form, my hatred burning so intensely that I wanted to end him there and then.

This wasn't a random attack. It was a premeditated betrayal.

Without this evidence, I'd have been hunted down even if I escaped. I acted fast, texting Frida from Russell's phone.

[Have you met those guys? What do they look like?]

[Nope, too much trouble. I just told them to handle the girl you're with.]

This was perfect, meaning they wouldn't tell Frida from me.

[Babe, where are you? I miss you.]

[Close by. Once this is over, you're all mine.]

[Why wait? Come now. I'll tie Lottie up while she's out and meet you.]

[Hell yeah, I'm on my way!]

I smirked at the screen. They'd face the consequences for trying to ruin me.

I set up Russell's recording gear in the tent's corner, linked to his phone for remote monitoring. He slept soundly under the pills' effect, and I looked at his peaceful face, the one that once charmed everyone, making people envy me for being his girlfriend.

No one saw the rot inside, how he'd plotted to destroy me for Frida's wealth and connections.

I kicked him, leaving a red mark on his skin. Frida's texts showed the thugs were hardened ex-cons. With Russell like this, I didn't believe they'd hold back.

Now, less than an hour remained. I bolted, my heart pounding as I ran faster than ever, not stopping until the tent was a speck in the distance. Hiding behind a boulder, I pulled up the feed on my phone.

Soon, two rough voices crackled through. The kidnappers had arrived.

"It's dark in there. Are they asleep? Let's grab the girl and ditch the guy," one said.

The other snorted, "Ditch him? The hirer wants her to be humiliated in front of him."

"Rich folks play dirty."

"Enough pep talk. Let's get the job done."

Joakim Dodson, a scar slicing across his nose and jaw, unzipped the tent. I recognized him instantly as one of my tormentors from my past life.

He lunged at the bed, then cursed. "What the hell? Only one person?"

His flashlight switched on, catching Russell, naked and sprawled. The sight caught him off guard.

Russell stirred as the pills wore off, opening his eyes to see a big man looming over him. He tried to scream, but the latter quickly stuffed a sock in his mouth.

"Quiet!" Joakim hissed.

Michael Harris, the second thug, poked his head in. "What's up?"

He froze, staring at Russell. "Damn, sleeping like that? This guy is begging for it."

Joakim, focused on the job, pushed him back. "Watch the entrance. If the girl shows up, grab her."

But his hands started to roam over Russell, who thrashed wildly. Joakim smacked him hard in the butt. "Stay still! Naked like that, you're practically asking for it."

Just then, Russell's phone pinged with a message from Frida.

[Where are you? I'm near the tent but can't find you.]

I took a deep breath and typed back: [Inside the tent. They haven't shown up yet. Come in.]

The trap was set, waiting for the star of the show. I'd show no mercy to anyone trying to harm me.

Frida didn't suspect a thing, assuming Russell had left the tent open for her. Joakim heard her footsteps and switched off the flashlight, both men waiting in silence.

"Russell, why didn't you come out and meet me? I'm beat," she complained. "Those idiots are late. Can't even do a job right. Where are we going after..."