Nobody Yesterday, Queen Today – “Damn b*tch! Three f*cking calls, and all I get is his voicemail! Are you even really Lennon Cruz’s wife?” Out in a derelict warehouse on the outskirts of the city, the lead kidnapper glared at his phone, his face twisted in fury. He spun around and delivered a stinging slap across Aurora Myers’ face. The side of her face immediately flared red and swollen, but the look in her eyes was one of deep, chilling despair, as if she had expected nothing better. “I told you,” she said, her voice eerily calm, like she was just mentioning the lousy weather outside, “Lennon doesn’t love me.” The kidnapper’s expression darkened with rage. He grabbed a fistful of her hair, wrenching her head back sharply. “If Lennon doesn’t want his trash, then maybe I’ll just have some fun with you myself.” His hands began tearing clumsily at her clothes.
If he wasn’t getting the money, he’d damn well get something else out of this deal. “No! Stop it!” Aurora’s composure finally shattered. Raw panic and helplessness flashed in her clear eyes, her lips trembling uncontrollably. “Give me the phone. I’ll… I’ll call him myself.” The kidnapper eyed her with suspicion for a long moment before finally shoving the phone into her cold, unsteady hands. “Don’t try any funny business, or I’ll let all the boys here have a turn with you.” Her fingers were like ice. She dialed the familiar number with trembling hands. The line rang once, twice, again and again, but no one picked up. With each passing tone, her heart sank further into a bottomless pit of despair. He’s probably busy with Vanessa. He doesn’t have a single moment to spare wondering if I’m alive or dead. But it was Vanessa Fairchild who had abandoned him all those years ago to go abroad. Aurora was the one who had stayed by his side for four long years, helping him rebuild his life and his business from the ground up.
How could he just cast her aside like this? If she died here today, would Lennon feel even a flicker of sadness? “Hello?” Finally, a voice answered, but it wasn’t Lennon’s. It was Vanessa’s. Aurora’s grip on the phone tightened, her hand shaking slightly. “Aurora? What do you need?” Vanessa’s voice carried a subtle, mocking lilt—she had obviously seen the caller ID. “Looking for Lennon? He’s in the shower right now. Can’t come to the phone.” The distinct sound of running water echoed faintly from Vanessa’s end of the line. So, Lennon was right there, showering, letting her answer his private phone. Aurora bowed her head, her disheveled hair falling forward to hide her expression. Only the sharp, suffocating ache rising in her chest felt real. In the middle of the damn day? Could they not even wait until nightfall? “I…” Aurora started to speak, but the kidnapper ripped the phone back from her. “Listen up! I’ve got his woman here! Wire five hundred grand, and I let her go. Otherwise, you can start planning her funeral!” he snarled into the receiver.
The voice on the other end remained light, almost amused. “Alright then, I’ll be sure to pass the message along to Lennon. After all, Aurora is the lady of the Cruz family. You really shouldn’t do anything… inappropriate to her.” And with that, Vanessa ended the call. That sickeningly sweet reminder, dripping with hidden meaning, made Aurora’s stomach churn with nausea. She knew Vanessa wouldn’t tell Lennon she’d been kidnapped. Vanessa probably wished she were dead, clearing the way for her to have Lennon all to herself. After loving Lennon for so many years, Aurora knew perfectly well he didn’t love her. Their marriage had only happened because of the immense pressure from his grandfather, Edward. Edward despised Vanessa and wanted a capable, respectable woman from a good family for Lennon. Aurora fit the description, so Edward had forced the match. But a marriage built on coercion was doomed. Lennon always believed she worked so hard, managing his company, purely for money and status. He looked down on her.
Even in their most intimate moments, he was often rough, dismissive, and cold. Leaning her head back against the cold, rough concrete wall, Aurora closed her eyes, completely engulfed by hopelessness. Just as she had feared, there was no further response from Lennon’s side. The kidnapper grew increasingly impatient and began kicking her violently, his boots connecting with her ribs and legs. “Useless piece of trash. “Can’t even keep your own man on a leash. “If Lennon isn’t coming for you, we might as well have ourselves a good time before we end this.” The group of kidnappers started closing in on her again. Aurora shrank back in sheer terror, struggling weakly, her mouth opening to plead, but her voice seemed to have deserted her. No sound came out.