Sacrificed to the Intruders

In the dead of night, an alert chimed on my phone from the smart security system. Someone was tampering with the front door lock. I reached to dial 911, but my husband, Mason Vance, grabbed my arm and stopped me. "Stop being so paranoid! With security around here, who’d dare break in? It's just a glitch in the sensor. Don't waste police resources by making a false report." Annoyed, Mason snatched my phone, threw it onto the floor, and lay back down in bed to continue his FaceTime call with his mistress. Seven years of marriage, and after his endless cheating, our relationship had long been in ruins. Left with no choice, I had to go check on the front door myself. The moment I stepped out, seven muscular men stormed inside, grabbed me, and dragged me straight back into the master bedroom. Terrified, Mason pointed at me and pleaded with the thugs: "Take her! Do whatever you want with her! Just don't touch me. I swear I'll pretend I never saw a thing. I won't call the cops!" He couldn't wait for them to brutalize me to death so he could take all the money and marry his young trophy mistress. Too bad for him, these seven men were only interested in him! "Babe, did you miss me?" "Buy whatever you want. That custom designer bag you liked will arrive in a couple of days." "Of course, I’ll take you to pick it up myself. We can take a vacation abroad while we’re at it..." Right in front of me, Mason flirted shamelessly with his side chick, Samantha Reed, over FaceTime. We had been sleeping in separate rooms for two years. I had only come to his bedroom tonight to talk about the divorce, but he gave me the silent treatment, treating me like air. The familiar chill of his emotional abuse made me tremble, suffocating me from the inside out. He had built his empire in New York using my parents' wealth and connections. Yet the moment my parents passed away, he tried to strip me of everything and leave me with nothing. I refused to sign. In retaliation, he froze all my credit cards, cutting me off from every single penny. He was the one who cheated first, but because he controlled all the marital assets, I had no leverage against him. If I didn't agree to walk away penniless, my only choice was to endure this endless, agonizing stalemate. I felt like I was on the verge of losing my mind. "Mason Vance!" I clenched my fists, finally screaming at him as I threw the divorce papers onto his bed: "I'm not asking for half of the estate! I only want the initial investment my parents gave you—around thirty million dollars. That's pocket change to you now!" "Seven years as husband and wife, and your entire status and power were built on my family's back. Show some damn conscience. Sign the papers and let me go!" I had backed down again and again, reaching my absolute limit. Mason let out a cold chuckle and gave me a look of pure disgust. "Did I beg your parents for help? Cut the moral high ground, Nina. That guilt trip doesn't work on me. I'll say it one last time: walk away with nothing, and we get divorced. If not, get the hell out of my sight." I pressed a hand against my chest, physically unable to speak. Samantha, Mason's latest mistress, overheard our conversation and whined into the camera: "Babe, why don't you just throw her some scraps? Treat it like feeding a stray dog. As long as I get to marry you, I wouldn't mind spending a little less to save those few millions." Mason sneered. "Give her a dime? In her dreams. She thinks she's still the pretty young heiress from back then? She's a washed-up, dried-up hag. Looking at her makes me sick." My scalp tingled with rage, my ears ringing violently. Ever since my parents died and Mason showed his true colors, sleepless nights had worn me down. I had grown painfully thin, and the stress had aged my face prematurely. Mason, on the other hand, still looked polished, handsome, and rich. That was why Samantha, even though she already had a husband, was utterly obsessed with him and desperate to become the next Mrs. Vance. "Mr. Vance~" Samantha drawled in a sickeningly sweet voice. "Hurry up and divorce her so you can marry me. I already filed for divorce in court, but that leech of a husband won't stop clinging to me. He's been looking for me like a lunatic every single day. I won't feel safe until I'm wearing your ring." Hearing that, Mason chuckled with smug satisfaction. "That loser is still kicking? I crushed his gym and drove him into bankruptcy, and he still hasn't learned his lesson? Don't worry, sweetheart. I have a hundred ways to finish him off..." Samantha's husband was Ryan Cole. I had met him before; he had loved Samantha with his whole heart. Back when I was gathering evidence of Mason's infidelity, Ryan and I had tried to team up. But against Mason's ruthless connections and dirty tactics, we were completely outmatched. Ryan ended up in an even worse state than I was. Not only did he lose his business to bankruptcy, but Mason also hired goons to break his leg. Was Mason eventually going to do the same to me? Just as the thought crossed my mind, a sharp, repetitive beeping erupted from my phone. I unlocked the screen. The front door lock was being forced open! My heart dropped into my stomach. "Mason, we have a problem!"We lived in an isolated suburban villa. To force me out with nothing, Mason had not only cut my finances but had also fired all the housekeepers and staff. In this massive house, it was just the two of us. For my own safety, I had linked a smart home security system to my phone. If anyone attempted to break in, my phone would trigger a high-priority alert. "What is that damn racket? Turn it off!" Mason barked in annoyance. My life was on the line, so I ignored his temper and shoved the screen in his face. "Someone is breaking the front lock! Go lock the interior doors, and I'll call 911 right now!" I began punching in the numbers, but before I could hit call, Mason swatted my hand away. "Nina, you've completely lost your mind! Paranoid freak! Who the hell breaks into a house in this neighborhood? It's just a sensor failure. Don't waste emergency resources with a prank call." My phone hit the hardwood floor with a sickening crack, the glass shattering instantly. I scrambled across the floor to pick it up, only to find the touch screen was completely dead. It was an old phone from years ago. Ever since Mason cut off my cards, every penny I had was drained by legal fees for the divorce; I couldn't afford a replacement. I gritted my teeth, glaring at him with pure fury. "Since when do you give a damn about public resources? Mason Vance, you're just terrified of the police because of all the filthy, illegal things you've done! For the past two years, you brought your mistresses back here so often that you tore down all the security cameras so no one could catch you on tape! My security app is the only thing keeping this house safe! If you ignore it and something happens, you won't even have time to cry—" Slap! A brutal slap cut my words short. Mason stared down at me with utter contempt. "Have I been too gentle with you lately? You dare curse me?" Right then, the cracked screen of my phone flashed one last time before dying completely: the front door lock had been breached. Swallowing down the humiliation of the slap, I forced myself to stay calm and looked him straight in the eye. "You've made countless enemies out there. Aren't you even a little afraid? Fine, don't call the cops. But you at least need to step outside with me and check if we're safe!" Mason didn't listen to a single word. He flopped back onto the mattress and went right back to his FaceTime call. "Babe, are you really not going to check it out?" Samantha asked through the speaker. Mason snorted dismissively. "Why pay attention to that lunatic? She's completely off her rocker. If she doesn't throw a fit every single day, she feels uncomfortable." Samantha giggled. "Well, I hope she goes fully insane soon. Then you can finally throw her out." Both of them laughed cruelly. Their laughter made me feel like I was suffocating. Yet the creeping terror from downstairs weighed far heavier on my chest. Swallowing hard, I decided I had to go look on my own. With my phone broken, my only lifeline was the physical emergency panic button stored in the living room. Trembling, I crept out of the bedroom. The view outside the second-floor window made my blood run completely cold.Several dark silhouettes were sprinting across the courtyard, heading straight for the house. I wanted to run for the panic button, but my legs turned to jelly, and my instinct forced me back toward the bedroom. "Mason, there are people out there! For real!" "Call 911! They're coming right now!" Mason didn't believe a word of it. He tossed his phone onto the sheets, grabbed a handful of my hair, and shoved me forcefully toward the hallway. "Are you ever going to shut up? Even if someone did break in, I wouldn't call the cops. At most, they'll steal a few watches, and I can easily afford it! Get the hell out of my room!" After throwing me out, Mason slammed the door shut and locked it from the inside. I didn't dare bang on the wood, terrified that any noise would alert the intruders. I dug my fingernails into my palms, forcing myself to breathe, and crept down the hallway toward the living room. The panic button was locked inside a small safe beneath the TV console. Sweat poured down my face. I didn't dare look back. I pulled out the tiny key, but my hands were shaking so violently that it took me several agonizing seconds just to align it with the keyhole. Just as the metal door clicked open and my fingers gripped the panic button, heavy, hurried footsteps echoed right behind me. I was done for! The device required popping open a plastic safety cover before pressing the switch. If I triggered it now, they would see me instantly. Would they kill me on the spot to silence a witness? My panicked mind couldn't process rational thought. Pure survival instinct took over, and I slipped the device into my deep sweater pocket. The very next second, a massive, calloused hand clamped down over my mouth. "Keep your mouth shut if you want to stay alive!" "Where is Mason Vance?" My entire body went rigid. My eyes went wide as I looked up at the man holding me down. He was massive. And behind him stood six other men, each one just as towering and muscular! Even though black ski masks covered their faces, the exposed eyes looked shockingly familiar. I had definitely seen them somewhere before. "I asked you a question. Where is Mason Vance?" "We're here for him! Keep your mouth shut, and we'll let you live!" Hearing his voice again, a spark went off in my head. I remembered! I had seen these men at Ryan Cole's gym before he went bankrupt. Ryan had treated his trainers and regulars like brothers; he had even saved the life of one of the senior trainers during a bad accident. Had Ryan hired them to get revenge on Mason? My overwhelming terror subsided by a fraction, though my heart was still pounding violently. No matter how vile Mason was, I couldn't condone a violent crime. My immediate goal was to keep them calm, then find a safe moment to hit the panic button. Before the thought could settle, the man holding me lost his patience, his other hand tightening around my throat. "Still not talking?" He didn't need an answer. Down the hall, Mason must have heard something hilarious from Samantha, because a loud, arrogant burst of laughter echoed from the bedroom, carrying clearly into the living room. The intruders immediately dragged me down the hallway toward the sound. Finding the door locked, the leader pressed the cold tip of a knife against my lower back. "Get him to open it." To stay alive, I had no choice but to raise my hand and knock. "Mason... please don't be mad at me. I agree to the divorce. I'll walk away with nothing." "Please open the door. I brought you a warm glass of milk." If Mason had an ounce of common sense, he would have detected the red flags instantly. I had fought him tooth and nail for two whole years; why would I suddenly surrender everything? Furthermore, he was severely lactose intolerant; he never touched milk. On top of the security alert he had seen on my phone earlier, I was sure he would finally realize the danger and call for help. Yet, the moment my words faded, heavy footsteps approached the other side of the door. Then came his sickening, smug chuckle. "Still trying, huh? Nina Vance, I haven't even laid a hand on you yet, and you're already trying to poison me?" The next second. Under my shocked and horrified gaze, the bedroom door swung wide open. Before Mason could even blink, several hulking men pounced, tackling him violently to the carpet."What is this?" "What are you doing?!" "Don't hurt me! I have money! I can give you cash!" Pinned flat against the floor, Mason twitched with panic, his voice cracking into a pathetic, tearful whimper. One of the thugs yanked his hair back, grinning coldly. "We're not here just for money, Vance." Mason froze, his eyes darting frantically before he suddenly screamed: "I have more than money! I have a woman! Take my wife! Do whatever the hell you want to her, just don't touch me! I swear I'll pretend I never saw a thing! I won't call the police!" His words stunned the entire room. Not just me—even the seven intruders paused in disbelief. Mason took advantage of their hesitation to twist his body, lunging toward the bed and holding up his phone: "I'm telling the truth! Look, I'm on a video call right now! I'll tell her not to call 911! As long as you don't hurt me, you can have her. You can do whatever you want!" On the phone screen, Samantha was sobbing in terror. "What's going on?! Babe, what's happening over there?!" Mason hurriedly yelled into the microphone: "Nothing serious! Samantha, whatever you do, do not call the cops! They won't hurt me. They're only going to touch Nina. Didn't you always want to marry me? Once she's abused to death or crippled, she won't be able to fight back or stop our wedding!" At that moment, all eyes were on Mason. I had the perfect opportunity to slide my hand into my pocket and press the panic button, but Mason's monstrous words left me completely frozen in shock. I never imagined a human being could be so utterly vile. He could have kept his mouth shut. The intruders had no idea he was on a call with Samantha. He could have let her realize the danger and quietly call the police. Instead, he proactively revealed the call just to throw me to the wolves, offering my body to appease the criminals. He actively wanted me dead! A hollow, dazed laugh escaped my lips. "Mason Vance... are you even human?" My voice drew the thugs' attention back to me. Without hesitation, they grabbed zip-ties and rope, binding both of our wrists tightly and throwing us onto the floor side-by-side. Mason immediately dropped to his knees, keeping his head bowed in a pathetic, groveling posture. "Don't worry, gentlemen! Samantha listens to everything I say. She will never call 911. Take whatever valuables you want from the house—there's at least a few million in jewelry and watches. Zero risk for you! And my wife is all yours. Even if you kill her, I don't care! Her parents are dead. There's no one left to stick up for her anyway!" The leader of the thugs looked at him in sheer disbelief, tapping the flat side of his blade against Mason's cheek. "Damn, Vance. You really are a piece of shit, aren't you? But hey, I respect the honesty. Are you sure we can do whatever we want? You give us full permission?" Mason nodded eagerly, a sick, hopeful smile spreading across his face. "Yes! Absolutely! Take your time, enjoy yourselves! I swear on my life I won't report it!" The leader raised an eyebrow. "So... you're saying whatever happens in this room tonight is completely consensual on your part?" Mason cast a quick, spiteful glance at me, the terror in his eyes replaced by twisted excitement. "Consensual! Completely voluntary! You don't have to worry about a thing. I won't press charges!" The leader squinted, stepping back with a dark chuckle. "Heh. Alright then. Give us a minute to coordinate." A few of them stepped into the hallway and made a phone call. I knew without a doubt they were calling Ryan Cole, asking for final instructions. I knew they were here specifically for Mason, but Mason had no idea he had just dug his own grave. Any anger I had once felt toward him vanished, replaced by a bottomless, chilling disgust. "You're going to regret this, Mason." He gritted his teeth, his muffled laugh sounding entirely manic: "Regret it? You think I regret letting them in because I didn't believe your little alarm? Haha, Nina, do you really think I'm that stupid? The second your alarm went off, I knew someone was coming! I smashed your phone on purpose so you couldn't call for help! I put on that little show just to let them in, leaving you with nowhere to run! How much could these lowlifes possibly steal from me? A few trinkets? But you—an aging, worthless bitch—dared to demand thirty million dollars from my empire! Even if these guys hadn't shown up tonight, I was already planning to hire someone to make you disappear. Doing it myself carries too much risk. Borrowing their knives is so much cleaner! Even if they get caught later, I can just claim I was coerced. I sacrificed you to save my own life—no jury in the country would convict me!" I couldn't believe my ears. No human being could be capable of such evil. And this was the man I had once loved with all my heart—the man to whom my parents had entrusted everything! I wanted to rip him apart with my bare teeth, but the ropes around my body kept me pinned to the floor. All I could do was watch as Mason turned back to the returning thugs, offering them an obsequious, sickening grin. "You boys can start whenever you're ready. The sooner you finish, the sooner you can get to the airport and fly out of the country." The seven towering men slowly circled around us. "Sounds like a plan. Let's start the party." Two of them grabbed the rope around my shoulders and dragged me into the far corner of the room, while the other five closed in on Mason, grabbing him by the collar. Panic finally cracked through Mason's voice. "Wait... what are you doing? My wife is over there—" The leader clamped a massive hand around Mason's jaw, cutting him off with a chilling smirk. "Who the hell told you we wanted your wife? Mr. Vance... you're the one we've been eyeing all night. We came here specifically for you."