CHAPTER 111: CHAPTER 111 FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE

Serena’s POV

I handed Derek’s phone back to him with trembling fingers, trying desperately to mask the panic coursing through my veins. Every move I made was under his watchful eye, that knife still glinting in the dim light. After weighing my options, I decided Maya was my best chance.

"I’m putting it on speaker," I explained calmly, dialing Maya’s number. "This is my business partner. She can transfer the money faster than anyone else."

Derek’s mouth twisted into an ugly smile as he inched the blade closer to my stomach. The message was clear - one wrong word and both my baby and I would pay the price.

Maya answered after two rings. "Serena? Everything okay?"

I kept my voice steady, choosing my words with extreme care. "Maya, I need to invest in a project right away. Can you transfer some money to an account I’m about to send you?"

The line went quiet for a moment. I could almost see her furrowed brow.

"This late at night? What kind of project is this? You never mentioned anything about a new investment."

"Just a small opportunity that came up," I replied smoothly, feeling Derek’s eyes boring into me. "I’ll explain all the details tomorrow. For now, I just need to send the initial payment."

Maya seemed to accept this, her voice relaxing. "Sure, how much do you need?"

I hesitated, calculating. "Five million."

"What?" Maya gasped. "That much for just an initial payment?"

Derek tensed beside me, his eyes narrowing dangerously. He jabbed the knife forward slightly, silently ordering me to fix this quickly.

"It’s actually not that much considering what’s at stake," I said, forcing a light laugh. "Trust me, what I’m getting in return is worth far more. Please, just transfer it now. I’ll send you the details."

"Okay," Maya finally agreed, her suspicion fading. "Send me the account info."

"Maya," I added, my mind racing ahead.

"Yes?"

"Don’t forget about the important client meeting tomorrow. I’m... I’m not feeling well, so I’ll be resting at home for a couple days. Don’t worry about me, just handle things at the studio."

I glanced at Derek, noting how his grip on the knife loosened slightly. The coded message was subtle, but I prayed Maya would catch that something was seriously wrong.

"Sure, take care of yourself," she replied, her tone unchanged.

"Get some rest yourself. I’ve got to go." I hung up quickly before she could ask any more questions that might trigger Derek’s suspicions.

I forwarded the account information Derek had shown me to Maya, then turned the phone screen toward him. "Satisfied? I’ll make sure this money is clean so you won’t have trouble using it. Once you let me go, I’ll send another payment as promised."

Derek’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Smart girl. But this isn’t enough."

My stomach dropped. "You’re going back on your word?"

"You’ve given me an opportunity I’d be stupid to waste," he said, sliding the knife back into his pocket. "Don’t worry, once I get the money and leave the country, I’ll let you go."

His eyes narrowed. "Just not right now."

The moment Derek opened the car door, I made my move. I wasn’t about to sit there and wait for him to kill me after getting his money. I bolted from the car, my pregnant body protesting with every step.

The cool night air burned my lungs as I ran, hearing Derek’s footsteps pounding behind me. I barely made it a few hundred feet before his hand grabbed my arm, yanking me backwards.

"You fucking bitch!" His open palm connected with my face, the sharp sting bringing tears to my eyes. "You don’t cooperate, don’t blame me for what happens next."

We stood on a deserted road, nothing but darkness surrounding us. No cars. No witnesses. No help.

In that moment, survival instinct took over. I lunged forward and sank my teeth into his forearm with all the strength I could muster, tasting the salt of his skin and feeling a surge of savage satisfaction when he howled in pain.

"Goddammit!" He jerked away, giving me the opening I needed.

I sprinted toward a small side road, disappearing into the darkness. My heart hammered against my ribs as I ran, one hand protectively over my belly. If I could just find somewhere to hide until morning...

But my pregnancy had slowed me down. Within moments, Derek was on me again, this time twisting my arms behind my back to prevent another attack.

"You’re gonna pay for that," he snarled, dragging me back toward the taxi despite my struggles.

By the time he forced me into the backseat again, I was gasping for breath, my energy spent. My cheek throbbed where he’d struck me, and despair was starting to set in.

"Fucking hell," Derek muttered, touching the bite mark on his arm. "Almost fell for your act. Should’ve just knocked you out from the beginning."

He slammed the car door shut and was about to climb into the driver’s seat when blinding headlights suddenly illuminated the area behind him. A car horn blared through the night.

Derek raised his arm to shield his eyes as a vehicle screeched to a halt just feet away. Before he could react, several men in black suits emerged, surrounding him instantly.

"Who the fuck are you people? Mind your own business!" Derek shouted.

His protest was cut short as the security team moved with professional efficiency. Within seconds, Derek was on the ground, restrained and groaning in pain.

I stumbled out of the taxi on shaky legs and almost collapsed before familiar arms caught me. The scent of Ryan’s cologne enveloped me as I fell against his chest.

Ryan’s eyes darkened dangerously as he took in my swollen cheek. Pure rage transformed his face into something almost unrecognizable.

"Take him away and get everything he knows," he ordered his men, his voice ice cold and deadly.

Ryan lifted me into his arms as if I weighed nothing, carrying me to his waiting car.

"Serena, are you okay?" he asked, his voice tight with concern as he gently placed me in the backseat. "The baby?"

"We’re both fine," I whispered, tears finally breaking free now that I was safe. "Thank you for coming... how did you know?"

"I have security watching over you," Ryan explained, brushing a strand of hair from my face with unexpected tenderness. "When they reported the taxi taking an unusual route and then going off-grid completely, I knew something was wrong immediately."

His jaw clenched. "If we hadn’t found you... if that bastard had taken you somewhere else..."

"But you did find me," I said weakly, reaching for his hand. My fingers trembled as they closed around his. "You came for us."

"Don’t talk anymore," Ryan said, his voice gentler than I’d ever heard it. "Just rest. You’re safe now."

As he placed me gently in the backseat, the adrenaline finally wore off, leaving behind nothing but exhaustion and fear.

I felt myself slipping into unconsciousness.

Then Darkness claimed me as I collapsed against Ryan’s chest.