Chapter 220:

During the journey, Alicia was consumed by worry for Monica's safety, oblivious to the perpetrator's identity. Learning Joshua was responsible came as no surprise; fear already gripped her. Their divorce had left a deep resentment, and Joshua, perpetually agitated, now focused his anger on her.

When Joshua reached to touch her, Alicia recoiled in disgust. Her body trembled as she instinctively pulled away, but Joshua's hand shot out, gripping her chin tightly. His voice, low and menacing, hissed, "You still have the nerve to reject me?"

His grip felt bone-crushing, but Alicia refused to yield. Gritting her teeth, she endured the pain and demanded, "Where's Monica?"

Joshua sneered, cruelty etched in his dark eyes. "Shouldn't you care more about your own life? Monica was just bait; you're the one I want." He ripped off her blindfold, throwing it onto the bed, and his lips crashed against hers. Alicia fought back, biting his nose hard before wrenching her head away. Joshua screamed, clutching his bleeding nose and stumbling back.

Alicia's eyes burned with fury. "Take me to Monica, now!"

Joshua grabbed her neck, growling, "She's dead!"

For a moment, despair threatened to overwhelm Alicia, but her resolve quickly returned. She stared at him, her voice firm. "No, that's impossible. You didn't kill her. The drug in your system was developed and modified by Monica. Only she knows the cure."

Joshua tightened his grip, hatred blazing in his eyes. He hadn't killed Monica; the drugs played a part, but more importantly, he lacked the courage for murder. He shoved Alicia into a dimly lit room.

Fierce dogs barked furiously as the door opened. In the center of the room, Monica hung suspended, her leg bloody and battered. The sight of her friend broke Alicia's heart. Tears welled, but she bit her lip, maintaining her composure. Turning to Joshua, her voice breaking, she pleaded, "It's me you want. Let her go."

Joshua replied calmly, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "Now that you're here, why should I?"

Alicia's voice was hoarse, but determined. "Monica's been missing for almost a day. If her family reports you to the police, you're done for. You won't get away with this."

Joshua stared at her, noticing the change in her demeanor. She had become sharper, calmer, braver. Even close, she seemed distant. He reached for her neck, but Alicia was faster. She bit into his hand, drawing blood. Joshua screamed, shoving her away with a furious growl. "When I'm done with you, I'll let her go. Don't worry, I won't be long."

Despite his words, Alicia's heart pounded with anxiety.

Joshua's eyes narrowed, his tone cold. "What do I have to fear now?" He paused, bitterness twisting his face. "Alicia, do you realize what you and Caden have driven me to?"

A twisted smile spread across his face at the mention of Caden. He produced Alicia's phone. "Did you break up?"

Alicia couldn't process his taunt; her attention was elsewhere. She stared at him. "I told you before: Caden would get fed up with you and leave you. And now? How does it feel to see him so in love with Yolanda?"

Surrounded by a foul stench and leering men, Alicia's hope dwindled. Her fate rested solely in Joshua's hands. She closed her eyes, exhaling deeply. Her voice, firm but defiant, declared, "If you're going to kill me, do it, Joshua. Stop wasting time."

But Joshua, relishing her desperation, wouldn't end it. With a twisted smile, he handed her the phone. "Want to make a bet? Call Caden. See if he comes to save you."

Alicia's lips curled in disdain. She knew the answer and refused to further demean herself. If she died, she would do so with dignity. The last thing she wanted was to make a fool of herself before Caden.

Joshua, however, aimed to break her. His voice turned venomous. "If you don't call him, I'll have someone hurt Monica."

Alicia gritted her teeth until she tasted blood. Thinking she didn't believe him, Joshua barked an order to harm Monica. Alicia's heart pounded, and she yielded. "I'll call him!"

Her hands shook as she dialed Caden's number. She could have called emergency services, but instead, she deliberately entered his number. Joshua watched with amusement. "You must be obsessed with him if you know his number by heart."

Alicia's fingers froze. She realized then that despite everything, Caden's number was etched in her memory. As the phone rang, her resignation crumbled, replaced by fragile hope. Would he come? No, he was far away, in Averibon. Yet, she couldn't help but feel hopeful. What if Caden cared, even a little? She should have died long ago, but Caden had given her fleeting moments of happiness.

The phone rang endlessly. Finally, it was answered. But it wasn't Caden. It was Yolanda, her tone lazy and disdainful. "Hello? Who is it?"