Chapter 222


    You Deserve It "He''s willing to exchange your life with any amount of money as long as you''re safe and


    sound.


    But I can''t get a dime if you die,” Tessa revealed.


    Tessa’s lips curled up in what she thought was a sweet smile.


    But on her face, it looked terrifying.


    "He seems to care about you,” Tessa added.


    This revtion left Raegan bewildered and unable to grasp even her own emotions.


    "I once thought Mitchel was interested in Lauren.


    But it turns out he prefers you, you wretched girl.


    Lauren had me fooled.


    She made me believe that if you were out of the picture, she could step into your shoes, and I could


    gain a lot by being friends with her," Tessa borated.


    "But I never expected that you''d outmaneuver even Lauren, Mitchel’s first love!” Raegan''s eyes


    widened in shock at the mention of Lauren''s name, and she asked in disbelief, "Are you saying Lauren


    tricked you into kidnapping mest time?" Raegan had suspected the mastermind was Lauren all


    along.


    But Lauren had always denied it, and Tessa disappeared without a trace.


    The mystery had remained unsolved, especially after Lauren was admitted to a mental hospital.


    Raegan turned bloodshot as Tessa’s words confirmed her worst fears.


    With a voice shaking with rage, she questioned, "You two conspired to harm my child, didn''t you?" In


    Tessa''s eyes, Raegan was to meet her demise today.


    Therefore, Tessa didn''t hide the truth from Raegan anymore, wanting Raegan to suffer from the


    revtion before the final end of her life.


    "Back then, Lauren provided me with the money and revealed details about your discharge.


    Then, I arranged for someone to kidnap you in _ the underground parking lot.


    Did you recall Lauren was coincidently kidnapped that day? Well, it was just a staged performance for


    Mitchel, urging Mitchel to rush over to save her while leaving time for me to end you.


    But...” Tessa confessed without a hint of remorse.


    She then paused for a brief moment and looked down at Raegan with apparent disdain.


    "Even if I tell you, what difference does it make? Lauren didn''t directly do anything.


    What can you possibly do to her?" Raegan felt a surge of fury, which caused her entire body to tremble.


    Sure enough, Lauren was undoubtedly involved.


    Lauren yed her cards right and ensured there would be no direct evidence against her even if the


    truth came to light.


    How evil! What a cunning and vicious woman! The truth was, Tessa, too, resented Lauren.


    If it hadn''t been for Lauren''s maniption, she wouldn''t be hunted down by Mitchel like this.


    Moreover, she wouldn''t have met that pervert fisherman and wouldn''t have been tortured.


    In Tessa''s tormented mind, everyone she met was to me for her misery.


    The more Tessa dwelled on it, the more her face contorted into a_ ferocious expression.


    "It''s all your fault! All of you guys! I was a refined young woman.


    My face was my fortune!” Tessa spat, her face twisted further into a grotesque appearance.


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    Tessa had spent millions maintaining her appearance and striving for perfection.


    With her looks alone, she assumed she could''ve married into a wealthy family and led a leisurely life.


    But now, her once wless face was marred beyond repair.


    Medical experts had told Tessa no amount of money could fix her face.


    Her body, too, had deteriorated due to neglect.


    For Tessa, life had lost its meaning and purpose.


    Today, she was prepared to gamble with her life.


    A win meant escape and riches, while a loss would mean dragging Raegan and Mitchel down with her.


    Raegan watched Tessa with rm.


    Thetter''s behavior was erratic and far removed from sanity.


    At this moment, Raegan tried to appeal to Tessa''s remaining reason and advised, "Tessa, don’t make


    things worse for yourself.


    Let me go now, and you might still have a chance.


    But if you cross the line, there will be no turning back.” "Let you go? Keep dreaming!" Tessaughed


    terrifyingly, bringing shiver down Raegan''s spine.


    "Oh, I''ll release you.


    But straight to hell.


    You and Mitchel can be together there." Fear gripped Raegan''s heart.


    She realized that Tessa was beyond reasoning.


    Without another word, Tessa gagged Raegan with a cloth and took out a strange, custom-made phone.


    Then, she started a video call.


    "Now, let''s see where Mr.


    Dixon is.” A momentter, the video connected.


    Mitchel appeared on the screen.


    His clothes were untouched, but his hair was slightly disheveled.


    Raegan, on the other hand, could not be seen in the video.


    Mitchel kicked the bag beside him and said in a cold, business-like tone, "Tessa, I’m almost at the


    location you gave me.


    I''ve brought the money with me.” "Prompt as ever, Mitchel,” Tessa remarked.


    "I deliver the money, you deliver the person.


    That''s the deal." "It''s been a while since Ist saw you.


    I''ve missed you, Mitchel, but..." Tessaughed maliciously and added, "You''re too formidable, Mitchel.


    You scare me." Mitchel gritted his teeth in frustration.


    "What do you want?" "First, stab yourself twice.


    Then, I''ll give you the exact location.


    And remember, you go in alone.” In a defiant gesture, Mitchel drew a woman over and showed her to


    the screen.


    “Do you think the life of your mother and this money are enough leverage, Tessa?” The screen then


    revealed Kenia.


    Her mouth was bleeding and swollen, clearly a victim of abuse.


    "Tessa, please, don''t be impulsive! Mitchel has promised to let you go and give us the money without


    involving the police.


    We can take the money and flee the country.


    Please, don''t do anything reckless!" Kenia implored.


    Tessa nced at Kenia with eyes devoid of warmth and only with disdain.


    "Mitchel, do you really think you can threaten me with my mother? I don''t care even if you kill her.” "Is


    that so?" Mitchel nonchntly replied.


    "I guess we''ll just throw her out then." On a high-speed highway, being thrown out of a car was like


    sending Kenia to death.


    Upon hearing this, Kenia cried out in desperation, "Tessa, how can you do this to me? I''m your mother!


    How can you just let me die like this?" "If you weren''t so useless, would I have ended up like this?"


    Tessa shot back.


    “Why didn''t you seduce someone richer? Instead, you settled for a coward.


    When things went south, your husband just kicked us out the door.


    It''s all because of you.


    You failed your husband, and he didn''t help us.


    If I had a choice, | would never pick a worthless mother like you!” Kenia was left speechless by Tessa''s


    cruel words.


    She never expected such heartlessness and tant disregard for her life from her own child.


    Tessa was born selfish.


    She had no sense of family and only saw value in people if they could be of use to her.


    "Everything I''ve suffered is because of you.


    All of you! It''s all your fault!” Tessa cried out hysterically.


    Overwhelmed by Tessa''s heartlessness, Kenia copsed to her knees, and a hollow emptiness


    consumed her heart.


    Even Mitchel sneered at Kenia and muttered, "You brought this upon yourself." If Kenia hadn''t turned a


    blind eye to Tessa''s wickedness, things wouldn''t have spiraled out of control.


    In other words, it was Kenia’s inaction that had led to this dire predicament.


    Just as Kenia was about to be thrown out of the car, Tessa turned the camera toward Raegan.


    "Mitchel, since we''re cousins, I''ll give you one minute to think it over." Raegan looked directly at Mitchel


    through the screen with her eyes brimming with tears.


    In the dark night, Mitchel was a beacon of light.


    His handsome face that embodied serenity was now etched with anxiety.


    Mitchel was always proud and cool, yet showed vulnerability and fear upon seeing Raegan after her


    being kidnapped by Tessa again.


    Raegan felt a stinging sensation in her nose, a precursor to tears, and a wave of emotional pain


    washed over her.


    Mitchel''s unwavering resolve to save her and protect her made her feel that she was not alone in this


    world.


    Meanwhile, Mitchel''s brows furrowed deeply.


    His eyes were filled with uncontroble anger.


    How dare Tessa kidnap Raegan again! If anger could pierce through the screen, Tessa would have


    been obliterated by now.


    Mitchel clenched his fists tightly and gazed at Raegan''s pale face, which reflected her terror and pain.


    His lips moved as if to speak, but no words came out.


    In this situation, words seemed futile.


    Only swift and decisive action could make a change and bring sce.


    Suddenly, Tessa’s voice cut through the tension from off-camera, and she counted down, "Mitchel, five


    seconds left...


    Four, three, two, one!” When her countdown ended, Tessa frowned when she saw that Mitchel hadn''t


    made a move.


    "You won''t y along? Fine.


    Let me give you a demonstration." Tessa brandished the knife menacingly and aimed it at Raegan''s


    leg.


    "Stop!" Mitchel bellowed.


    The next second, the sound of the de tearing through flesh was heard.


    Mitchel had driven the knife deep into his own thigh.