Wealthy Love Snatch: The Shameless Ex-Wife

Chapter 7: Pain

A henchman stepped forward, clamping a hand over Liang Xiaoluo's mouth and pinning her arms tightly. He dragged her deeper into the dark alley, while the others looked around, snickering at the desolate surroundings. It was the perfect scene for their grim intentions.

"Mmm! Mmm!" Liang Xiaoluo flailed wildly, tears streaming down her face. Her mind raced with regret. Why did I trust Lin Xue? How could I have been so stupid—again?

She knew better than to believe her stepsister's lies. Yet here she was, falling into another of their traps.

This is all my fault, she berated herself. She had escaped once and could have waited for nightfall to buy her ticket to Seattle. Now, she was cornered, her cries for help swallowed by the silence of the dark alley. Am I really doomed?

The thugs shoved Liang Xiaoluo against the cold ground in the furthest corner of the alley. One of them sneered, "Stay quiet, and we'll go easy on you. Hahaha…"

Seizing a fleeting opportunity, she kicked one of them hard in the groin.

"ARGH!" The man doubled over, groaning in pain.

She tried to scream for help, but a thunderous slap silenced her. The blow sent her reeling, blood seeping from her split lip as her head spun.

"You little b*tch!" the leader barked, pinning her down with brute force. He gripped her arms above her head with one hand while his other tore at her collar.

"HELP!" she screamed, her nails raking across the man's face in a desperate bid to escape.

"Ahh! Damn it!" He staggered back, clutching his bloodied cheek.

"You'll pay for that," he growled, slapping her repeatedly until her vision blurred and her mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood.

Liang Xiaoluo's body ached, her strength ebbing with each passing second. Her resistance became futile under the leader's relentless weight. Her cries grew faint, desperation giving way to despair.

"Please… someone… help me…" she whispered hoarsely, her voice barely audible.

Suddenly, a deafening BANG! echoed through the alley. Time seemed to freeze.

Liang Xiaoluo's glassy eyes stared into the darkness, the sound ringing in her ears. A sharp, pungent smell of blood filled her nostrils, breaking her dazed stupor.

She turned her head to see the thugs scrambling, their faces pale with terror.

"Boss! Boss is down!" one screamed.

"Run! We've got to get out of here!"

Panic ensued, but escape was futile. One by one, the men fell as successive gunshots reverberated through the alley. Their bodies crumpled like puppets with severed strings, lifeless.

Liang Xiaoluo remained paralyzed on the ground, her mind struggling to comprehend what had just happened. The alley, once filled with laughter and cruelty, now reeked of death.

A shadow loomed over her—a tall figure clad in black, his face obscured by a mask.

Her body trembled uncontrollably. She had no strength left to run, no voice left to plead. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she gasped, "Please… don't kill me…"

The figure didn't respond. Instead, he crouched beside her, his presence exuding an oppressive aura that made her tremble even more.

Her eyes squeezed shut as he reached toward her. To her shock, instead of striking her, he draped his coat over her trembling frame. Then, with surprising gentleness, he dabbed away the blood on her face with a soft cloth, brushing away her tears.

Liang Xiaoluo opened her eyes slowly, bewildered by his actions. Her heartbeat steadied as she stared at him, questions swirling in her mind.

"Don't be afraid," he said softly, his voice deep and soothing. "I won't hurt you."

The kindness in his tone felt oddly familiar, like a long-lost memory resurfacing. She squinted, trying to discern his face behind the mask, but the darkness revealed nothing.

"Who… who are you?" she stammered, her voice weak.

Before she could get an answer, he whispered, "Sleep," as he injected her arm with a sedative.

Liang Xiaoluo's world blurred, her eyelids growing heavy. The last thing she saw was the masked man cradling her protectively as the alley faded into darkness.

The man looked down at the unconscious woman in his arms. His gloved fingers brushed her bloodied cheek, a soft sigh escaping his lips. His eyes, visible beneath the mask, were filled with a mix of pain and tenderness.

"Xiaoluo," he murmured. "Everything will be okay now."

In another part of the city, the buzz of an exclusive gathering filled the air.

"Hey, isn't that Ye Tianlin?" someone whispered, nudging a companion. "He's never attended the Night Auction before."

"Rumor has it he's here for something—or someone—special."