Chapter 3

The basement was a completely different world from the one above. Samantha did not expect to see such a scene in the Enchanted Nightclub.

It was pitch black. Samantha caught a glimpse of light out from the corner of her eye. Overjoyed, she ran toward it. When she got closer, she realized that someone was guarding the entrance.

The man had a crew cut and seemed to be aloof. Before Samantha could say a word, the man glanced at her and opened the door with a deadpan expression.

Nervously, Samantha walked in. It was brighter inside the room. A dim red light enveloped the entire space.

Samantha ignored her own fears and looked around in search of her parents. She finally found her parents huddled in a corner.

"Dad, Mom! Are you okay?" Samantha rushed over.

"Samantha, you need to leave." Evelyn Johnson, Samantha's mother, was sobbing. Her meticulous makeup was ruined by the tears streaming down her face. She pushed Samantha away urgently as she did not want her to be involved in this dangerous situation.

"Mom, I'm not leaving." Seeing her mother in such a disheveled state made Samantha's eyes well up with tears.

Biting her lip, Samantha turned to her father, Harry Duncan. He was lying on the ground unconscious. She sensed that something was amiss. "What's wrong with Dad?"

Evelyn was choking up as she said, "They forced us to repay our debt. Your father hit his head on the table."

Samantha checked on her father's condition anxiously and made a quick decision. "We need to take him to the hospital."

"They won't allow it," Evelyn said bitterly. She turned her vengeful gaze toward the middle of the room.

Following her mother's gaze, Samantha noticed a handsome man seated on the sofa.

He had deep crimson hair and a wily gaze that complemented his striking features. The man was sipping a glass of red wine leisurely.

Catching Samantha's eye, the man raised an eyebrow and winked at her. The expression on his face gave him the impression of someone sweet and innocent.

Nonetheless, he was the man who abducted her parents. This man was definitely not an ordinary person if he could command that many thugs.

Samantha was at a loss of what to do.

As she was lost in thought, the man suddenly spoke up, "Ms. Duncan, you seem very interested in me." He raised a teasing eyebrow at Samantha.

Samantha realized that she looked like she was staring blankly at his face while contemplating. She couldn't afford to be intimidated at this point.

Biting her lip, Samantha approached the man. She said, "Regardless of your demands, please allow me to take my father to the hospital first."

"Ms. Duncan, that is against the rules of the underworld!" the man said with a smile. His gaze was focused on the glass in his hand as he spoke indifferently, "Your father borrowed eight million dollars from us. Today is the final deadline for payment."

"Lies! He only borrowed three million!" Evelyn stood up and shouted in anger.

"Mom!" Samantha had to physically support her mother. She was also holding her mother back from acting recklessly.

They were in this man's territory. It would be rash to face him head-on.

"Three million dollars?" the man scoffed. "What do you think a loan shark is? We have everything in writing, and he failed to repay the loan on time. I don't have a choice."

The man ended his speech with a nonchalant shrug.

Evelyn had never encountered anyone so brazen. She was about to protest when Samantha restrained her. She signaled Evelyn with her eyes to not act rashly.

Samantha soothed her mother and took a deep breath. "Sir, please give me three days. I will definitely repay you the full eight million dollars."

Samantha didn't say a word about the three million dollars. She knew that these men were ruffians and that reasoning would be futile. Right now, the priority was to secure their safety.

"Ms. Duncan, I don't have the time," the man said indifferently, as if he were commenting on the weather.

He was being unreasonable. Samantha gritted her teeth in frustration. Before she could retort, the man's next statement silenced Samantha successfully. "That man on the floor has been lying there for some time."

There wasn't much time left to save her father.

Grinding her teeth, Samantha stared daggers at the man. "What do you want?"

He chuckled and gave her a sly look. "Ms. Duncan, you are quite straightforward. If you stay, they can leave."

Samantha was fully aware that the man was threatening her.

"Alright." Despite her fear, Samantha nodded firmly in agreement.

"Samantha, don't do it!" Evelyn cried out in anguish. Samantha held her hands and comforted her. "Mom, it's going to be okay."

"They're not human. They're all devils!" Evelyn pleaded.

The man ordered, "Send Mr. and Mrs. Duncan to the hospital." A group of men rushed in and ushered Samantha's parents out forcefully.

"No!" Evelyn's hoarse voice echoed as they were carried out of the room.