Cora drew a knife and pressed it against Callie’s throat, a crazed pleasure appearing on her face.
“Nelson, you can only save one of them,” Cora sneered. “If you choose Marilyn, I’ll cut Callie’s artery immediately. If you choose Callie, Marilyn’s rope will be cut, and she’ll fall.”
“How’s that for a choice?”
The knife tip pricked her throat, causing Callie pain. She gasped for breath, looking at the cold, gleaming man in front of her, unsure of what to say.
Nelson met her gaze, his thoughts unreadable.
“Mr. Oconnor, I know your skills, but you can try. See if you’re faster than my knife,” Cora taunted. Marilyn was guarded by someone, and Nelson couldn’t manage both sides alone.
“Do you like me?” Nelson suddenly asked, making Cora instinctively dodge the question. “I’m making you choose!”
“Do you really like me?” He chuckled softly, an inappropriate charm in his voice. “If you’d said so earlier, the position of Mrs. Oconnor would have been yours. How was I supposed to know if you didn’t tell me?”
Cora stared at him, her eyes clearly filled with affection. Her hand holding the knife trembled, cutting Callie’s skin slightly. Callie endured the pain.
“You mean if there was no Callie, your wife would be me?”
“Of course. I chose to marry because I needed a wife. It could have been anyone,” Nelson took a small step forward, his tone convincing.
Cora became wary. “But you said before…”
“Our relationship was just superior and subordinate. I had to say that. But now it’s different. I have no feelings for her. If you’d told me earlier that you liked me, you’d have had the advantage.”
No feelings indeed, Callie thought, her heart aching. She silently admitted that Nelson was a master manipulator.
Cora pulled Callie back step by step, still full of doubt. “You’re tricking me. The Nelson I know wouldn’t come unprepared. Did you call someone? Did you call the police?”
She immediately had someone check outside while tightening her grip on the knife. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill the hostage?”
Nelson stopped advancing and his face darkened.
“I didn’t call the police.”
The bodyguard returned and told Cora he saw no one following.
Cora relaxed slightly and took a deep breath. “Choose then. On one side is your wife, on the other is the eldest daughter of the Ellison family. I’m curious about your choice. If Mrs. Oconnor has an accident, all of Ylosea will know tomorrow that Nelson is widowed. If the eldest daughter of the Ellison family has an accident, the Ellison family won’t let you or Oconnor Group off.”
“For a man like you who values profit above all, it’s a tough choice, Mr. Oconnor. I feel sorry for you.”
Nelson raised an eyebrow after hearing this. He extended his hand and pointed at Callie. In her burning, terrified gaze, a hoarse voice suddenly called out: “Nelson!”
Unexpectedly and suddenly.
Marilyn woke up, shaking violently in mid-air, her face showing extreme fear. “Why am I here? Nelson, save me!”
Her previously cold and beautiful face was now filled with terror as she looked over with wide eyes. She was trembling all over, crying out for Nelson and pleading for help.
Her cries made even Callie’s heart shrink a little.
“Marilyn!” Nelson’s hand clenched into a fist as he ran a few steps toward her in concern.
Callie closed her eyes and let out a bitter smile.