Pretend

Rita was weeping silently from her confinement. She wanted to approach her niece who was crying in a corner, but couldn’t because she was tied up. Even her mouth was gagged, so she couldn't talk to her either. Earlier, she thought Danica hadn't noticed her following her. When she stopped her car to a side, she also stopped and kept her distance. But someone suddenly knocked on the window, she thought it was a beggar because of his clothes. But, he aimed a gun at her and he got into her car. She could do nothing but drive and follow the man's command where to go to.

"Why did she tie you up?" Natasha's voice was trembling and she was afraid to approach the woman because a woman named Danica would hurt her if she disobeyed her.

Rita could only shake her head. She felt sorry for her because she seemed to have gone through the hardships of life. She was undeniably her niece because she looked like Daniela. She was also thin, so she was worried about her health.

Natasha's attempt to approach the tied up woman was thwarted when the door opened. She felt scared again when she saw Danica enter followed by another man.

"Take the gag off her mouth." Danica ordered Brando.

"You devil, how could you do this to me and my family? You are ungrateful!" Rita huffed and scolded Danica when the gag on her mouth was removed.

"You're the ungrateful one because despite the kindness I've shown you and your family, you've had the guts to believe that Nicole!"

"I d-don't know what you're talking about!" Rita denied and pretended to know nothing.

"I'm sorry, my dear, but you're not as good as me at pretending. When you asked me about what happened to you before, I knew you doubted my identity. Did you think I didn't see you when you followed me to the mall secretly? You even followed me to my condominium, so you can't fool me."

Rita was overwhelmed and there was nothing she could do even if she denied Danica's accusation against her.

"What do you need from me and you did this?"

"It's simple, I'm going to use you to permanently ruin Nicole's character in your family. I also need a huge amount to start again because I know I have no hope of getting married to your brother. I can't use you anymore to convince your brother to marry me, so I'd better just use you for something else." Danica grinned.

"You demon! I won't let you succeed in your dark plans!" Rita's eyes were filled with so much anger for Danica.

Danica's head turned and her eyes looked creepily at Rita. There was a demonic smile on her lips. "Let's see how brave you are."

Rita struggled from being tied to the chair when Danica approached her niece.

"You probably know her already. I know she's the reason you're following me. Be thankful and you still see her alive, unlike Nicole." Danica laughed when she saw Rita trying to break free.

"Don't involve her!" Rita shouted at her.

"If you want your dear niece to stay alive, follow everything I tell you." Danica softened her voice and brought the crying child closer to Rita.

"Don't be afraid, Aunt is here to save you." Rita tried to hold back the tears to look brave in front of her niece. She looked extremely afraid, so she wanted to give her the courage to fight although she was so young.

Natasha nodded at the woman and believed her even though she didn't know her. But she screamed loudly in pain when Danica pulled her hair.

"Danica, I beg you. Just hurt me and not the child!" She pleaded with her former friend.

"I'll hurt her if you don't obey me!" Danica glared and she brushed the blade of the knife into the girl's arm.

Rita felt sorry for her niece, who trembled with fear and looked at her with pleading eyes. "No, I'll do what you want. Don't hurt her anymore, please!"

"Very good!" Danica handed the child to Brando while smirking. "Tie her up and gag her so she doesn't make a noise."

No matter how much Rita begged Danica not to tie the child, she refused to listen. She was scared because Danica looked crazy. She didn't know that she could also hurt herself just to make a realistic drama. Her mouth was gagged again and Danica ordered them to tie her to the chair next to her. She can say that she could get the best actor award if she was just an actress.

A henchman held the camera and Brando stood in front of Danica. He was holding a knife and his face was covered with a mask, so that his face wouldn't be seen by those who will watch the video.

Rita was crying and shaking her head while watching what the man was doing to Danica. She can say that Danica was really dangerous because she can hurt herself just to make everyone believe in her drama. She knew that she was in the video and anyone who watched it would think that she and Danica were both captives of the man.

"Argh, that was a pain!" Danica moaned after the rope from her hand and foot were removed.

"That was a great plan, Ma'am. They'll surely believe you're just a victim too." Brando smirked and handed the wipes to her.

"Do it to her now so we're done." Danica firmly commanded the man.

Rita huffed again as the gag was removed from her mouth. She could do nothing but follow the script Danica said in order to protect her niece.

"Hasn't she contacted you yet?" Steven asked Xander in astonishment. He referred to his sister, who exchanged cars with him.

"Her phone is off." Xander answered as he shook his head. He planned to head home soon, he and Rita agreed to meet at the company so she could return his car.

"What's the reason she borrowed your car even though she has her own? She could have used mine."

"I don't know, she was in a hurry earlier and she said she had an important person to follow."

Steven thought and felt worried about his sister because her phone was turned off. His grandmother also called just a while ago and asked if he knew where Rita was.

"We better just wait for her at our house. Maybe she's already there." Steven invited him.

When Steven got home, Nicole was already there. He noticed she was restless. She was holding her phone and looked like she was waiting for a call.

"Steven!" Asuncion called loudly to her grandson when she received a call from a stranger.

"What's wrong, Grandma?" Steven asked worriedly. Even Xander also hurried to his grandmother.

The Madame's hands were shaking while holding the phone. Steven took it and looked at what was in the video.

"I have your sister and your fiancee now," the man in the video said, he then revealed the two women tied to chairs and with gags.

"Shit!" Xander cussed when he saw Rita's situation.

Steven tightened his grip on the phone. Nicole who was also close to them gasped and her eyes watered.

Steven quickly led his grandmother and they sat in the living room before they resumed watching the video.

"Speak up and tell them to give what I want!" the man commanded Danica. He pointed the knife at her neck.

"You won't get anything from me and don't expect them to grant your request because of me!" Danica said bravely to the man, but the fear was reflected in her eyes.

"You really want to get hurt first, huh?!"

Madame Asuncion covered her mouth when the man slapped Danica on the face. It was so strong that her lip bled.

"You beast, whoever ordered you to do this to us will pay dearly!" Danica screamed when the man pulled her hair.

Nicole clenched her fist while watching Danica's acting in the video. When the camera was focused on Rita, she almost held her breath.

"You say it if you don't want to be like that woman you're with!" The man turned angrily to Rita.

"I'm sorry, but this is all I can do to…"

"Quit your whining!" the man cut off what Rita wanted to say.

Nicole burst into tears as she watched Rita's meaningful gaze on the video. She knew that message was for her.

"Brother, Grandma," Rita's voice trembled. "I still don't want to die. Save Danica and me! Be careful because the snake is right in the house!"

The man quickly cut the video and obviously didn't want them to hear what else Rita wanted to say.

"Gag their mouths again and I don't want any noise!" The man ordered his companion before facing the camera.

"Three million per head of the two of them. I'll give you two hours to give the first amount in exchange for one of them. Don't make the mistake of bringing the police or inform them if you don't want them to die, especially your granddaughter!"

Asuncion rubbed her chest because it suddenly tightened. Steven quickly attended to her and helped her to calm down. He asked the maid to get his grandmother's medicine to relieve the tightness of her chest.

"What does Rita mean that the mastermind of all this is just around you?" Xander asked his friend confusedly.

There was no response from Steven, but his breathing became deep. He quickly stood up and called the bank to get the sufficient amount. He didn't want to waste time when his sister's life was at stake. Money was not important to him when it came to his loved ones.

"A call…" Asuncion was terrified as she handed the cell phone to her grandson.

"I'll give you the amount you want. But make sure you keep to the deal and don't hurt them anymore."

"You're easy to talk to." The man from the other line laughed.

"Tell me where I'm going to take the money and let my sister go!" Steven said and the anger was in his voice.

"Don't rush, I want to make sure you fulfill my condition. I will let you have your fiancee back first. I know your sister's life is more important to you, so I won't let her go that easily."

If Steven hadn't just held back, he might have crushed the phone he was holding out of anger. The kidnapper was smart, so he could do nothing but follow his wishes. His sister's life was in danger, so he had to redeem Danica first according to his condition.

"I'm coming too!" Nicole chased after Xander and Steven as they were about to go to the address the interlocutor said.

"It's dangerous, so just stay here and accompany the children and Grandma."

Nicole had no other option but to stay home. Everything had now become more complicated for her. She can't reveal Danica's true colors to Steven's family. Danica acted like a victim and she didn't want to think about it, but she can already read the course of Danica's plan. She will definitely point to her as the culprit and make her admit those crimes for the sake of Rita and her daughter.