All Chapters of Green-Eyed Monster: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

My parents were smiling as they watched a preview for the live New Year's Eve musical gala on TV.When I turned my head, Ginnie Lane had leaned in so close that her face was almost in mine. "Zach, is that a yes or not?"I jumped, then realized I was no longer in that drafty tent. I was at home.My body was warm, and it was a feeling that I had missed.Only then did I realize I had regressed, and I had returned to the day our family discussed where to travel for the holiday season.When Ginnie saw me staring back blankly, she shoved me impatiently. "Zach, why aren't you saying anything? Home exchanges are so cool. They're really popular online now!"I looked into Ginnie's eager eyes and took a quiet breath.In my previous life, our whole family had frozen to death in the Northern Grasslands because of the home exchange she suggested. This time, I would not let the same tragedy happen again."No," I said.Ginnie froze, and her eyes instantly turned red.She turned to my parents

I backed Ginnie into the corner.With the surveillance footage right in front of her, she could no longer keep pretending. But what shocked me was that she looked offended instead."They're my friends. That's the online friend who does travel stuff," Ginnie declared loudly. "I promised him before that we would do a home exchange. Since I promised, I have to keep my word!"Her logic made me laugh. "Ginnie, are you insane? We already rejected the home exchange plan. What right did you have to give our passcode to someone behind our backs?""So what?" Ginnie rolled her eyes. "We're not at home, and the house would have been empty either way. What's wrong with letting them stay for a few days?"Dad was so angry that he rushed forward and raised his hand as if to slap her. But when he looked at her face, which looked so much like my uncle's, his hand stopped in midair. He lowered it with a tremble."Ginnie, have you lost your mind! That's our home, not a hotel! How could you just let

I didn't know how long I'd been unconscious. When I finally came to, my head was still spinning. Instinctively, I tried to raise a hand to rub my temples, but my arm wouldn't move.I lowered my head and saw that my wrists were tightly bound to the back of a chair with rope. Because the ropes slowed down my blood circulation, my fingertips had already gone cold. I also realized my feet were tied tightly.I looked around and realized we were still in the same hotel. My parents were on two chairs not far from me, their hands and feet also bound. Their heads hung low, and their breathing was faint. Clearly, they were still unconscious.When I saw that their chests were still rising and falling, my heart finally eased a little."You woke up faster than I expected, Zach." A familiar voice came from the corner.I turned my head around and saw Ginnie sitting on the couch.She put down her phone and walked up to me. "Ginnie..." My throat was painfully dry and hoarse, and I forced out a

"Get married?" I laughed softly."Oh, Ginnie. You're twenty-four this year. Why are you still as naive as a sixteen-year-old teenager? Do you really believe a word out of some punk's mouth? What are you going to build that marriage on? My family's inheritance, just so he can pay his gambling debts?"Ginnie's face changed slightly, and her eyes flickered. "What do you know? Hugh owes a little money, but he told me the truth. He only ended up owing twenty thousand dollars because a friend cheated him on a business venture."That little amount means nothing. Once I have the inheritance, I can easily help him pay it all off. He promised me that after the debt is paid, he would go straight and never gamble again.""Twenty thousand dollars?" I shook my head, my tone turning cold and firm. "Ginnie, you're too stupid. Do you really think he only owes two hundred thousand? I discovered your relationship long ago. I also knew that person you were dating was Hugh. I was worried about you at t

At the very last second, the door into the hotel was kicked open from outside. The entire door flew inward and slammed onto the floor, kicking up a cloud of dust.Several bodyguards wearing sunglasses rushed in.Before Hugh could even react, the leader had already locked his wrist and thrown him over his shoulder.There was a yell from Hugh, but before he could fight back, two other bodyguards had already rushed forward as they pinned him to the floor and zip-tied him.Ginnie sat on the floor with her hair in a mess, completely stunned as she stared at this sudden turn of events.The bodyguards quickly stepped forward and cut the ropes binding us. "My apologies, Mr. Lane. We were late."The captain of the bodyguards walked up to me and respectfully handed me a bottle of water.I waved a hand to indicate it was fine.After moving my stiff, purplish wrists, I forced my aching body to stand and went to check on my parents first. Although my parents were weak and frightened, they w