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    I adjusted my breathing and asked, "What do you want to know?"


    Although I asked this, my mind raced. "He''s been back for some time now and has said too much... You''ve got to tell me, what exactly do you want to know?"


    "Louis and Rory had a secret between them. What was it?" Kenzie said, her voice dripping with malice.


    "They..." I deliberately gasped loudly, buying myself some time. I knew As woulde to rescue me. My priority was to protect my children.


    "They... two of them had a... sizable sum of money..." Since that money was already in our hands, I thought it would be futile even if they knew.


    Kenziepletely released her grip and then shoved my head forward abruptly. My body plunged forward, but quick reflexes saved me as I grabbed onto the front seat, steadying myself.


    "What money? How much?" Kenzie seemed very interested.


    "The amount is significant, but I don''t know exactly." I yed coy with her. After all, everyone was interested in money matters.


    Of course, Kenzie wasn''t easily fooled. Suddenly, something hard struck my head, and I felt my vision darken momentarily. Then, a warm sensation trickled down my neck. "Stop ying games, bitch! Do you think you have a chance of getting out today?"


    A brief faintness left me disoriented, and my vision shed with various images inexplicably.


    In the haze, I reached out and pinched my leg hard, forcing myself to snap out of it. I feared losing consciousness would mean losing control over protecting my children.


    I was furious. I snapped back, shouting, "Kenzie, if youy a finger on me again, I''d rather not make it out today than let you have your way!"


    She red at me. "Speak. I''m talking about the project. Don''t beat around the bush!" Kenzie barked at me.


    The car suddenly swerved, and I lurched to the side.


    On either side of me sat two menacing men. With the sudden movement, I fell onto the man on my left, who leered and took advantage, groping me.


    I quickly got up, furious. "What are you doing?"


    "You little slut. Wait until we get there, I''ll have my way with you. I haven''t had a pregnant woman yet! Heh..."


    "Speak!" Kenzie roared behind me.


    I figured she must also be confident that As wouldn''t abandon me. So, she was racing against time. Their goal in kidnapping me was to exchange me for information from


    As.


    e


    "What do you want me to say?" I met Kenzie''s sinister gaze head-on, showing no signs of weakness.


    "The two surveyors said there were exploration maps drawn up back then. Where are they?" Suddenly, Kenzie raised the gun in her hand, pointing it at my head. "Tell me! Otherwise..."


    Her gun lowered to aim at my belly, a wicked smile ying on her lips. "How do you think it''ll feel to have a hole here?"


    "What maps? I..." I pretended to ponder. "I have no idea. What are you talking about?"


    Suddenly, Kenzie fired a shot


    upward. The gunshot echoed in the


    car, causing the vehicle to jerk


    violently. I screamed in fear, clutching my belly, feeling another violent movement inside.


    "Don''t provoke me!" She hissed, threatening me.


    "I really... truly don''t know. What maps? Where?" I continued to feign innocence.


    Just then, I heard the driver stammer, "Ma''am... t-there''s a car chasing us!"


    "Hold steady, keep driving forward!" Kenzie growled, peering outside. The driver continued in a panic, "No, that''s not it. T-There''s nobody on the road!"


    Kenzie and I instinctively looked outside, only to see the deserted road devoid of people or cars.


    I immediately understood—it was As!


    My nose tingled, and tears welled up in my eyes. He had to be blocking the road, indicating he had found out my whereabouts.


    Kenzie grabbed my hair, yanking my head back sharply. "Stay calm, keep driving. Chloe, tell me, where are the maps? Who has them?"