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Todos os capítulos de Ten Million and One Dollars: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 10

10 Capítulos

1

When the kidnappers shoved a gun into Elena's mouth and demanded ten million dollars from her husband, Elena had one thing to say.She told them, "Don't call him. He's busy. He won't care."They didn't listen.In the abandoned dockyard, the kidnapper called Julian's private number anyway and put him on speaker.The call connected. A symphony played in the background, along with a woman's flirtatious giggle."Julian, my zipper's stuck. Can you zip me up? Please?"It was Chloe.She was the younger sister of Julian's late mentor. He'd sworn to take care of her for the rest of her life.The kidnapper barked into the phone, "Mr. Vaughn, we have your wife. Get ten million dollars ready, or the next time you see her, she'll be a corpse."The line went quiet for two seconds. Then Chloe's soft voice came through. "Is Elena pranking us again? Julian, just the other day she threatened to hire people to stage something you'd regret if you took me to the gala tonight."Julian's voice followed, cold

2

Her ankle dislocated, Elena limped out of the dockyard one painful step at a time.It was early morning by the time she made it back to the apartment.Julian was at the kitchen island, frying eggs.Chloe cradled a mug of warm milk and gazed at him, her face glowing with happiness."Julian, your eggs are too runny. I want mine cooked all the way through.""So picky." Julian chuckled. "You're still recovering from your asthma attack. Go easy on cold drinks."How cozy.The sound of the door opening shattered the cozy scene.Julian took in her torn clothes, tangled hair, and the scratches all over her feet."So, had your fun? Took you three days to come crawling back."He tossed the spatula onto the counter, his face twisting with disgust."Dressed like that, what sob story are you trying to sell me this time?"You want everyone to think I abuse you?"Right on cue, Chloe stood up with a wounded look."Elena, I know you're upset, but you can't just disappear for three days to make a point.

3

"If the smell bothers you, Mr. Vaughn, I can sleep in the guest room."With that, she walked into the guest room, shut the door, and locked it.The moment the door closed, Elena's legs gave out, and she slid to the floor.The loan shark had already sent three texts demanding payment. One included an attachment.The attachment was a photo taken during the kidnapping, showing Elena covered in blood."Mrs. Vaughn, you have 18 hours left. If you don't pay up, every major news outlet will have this photo by tomorrow morning."Without hesitation, she sold the yellow diamond and put up the beach condo as collateral for another loan.She was still far short of the amount she needed.Elena peeled the gauze off her chest. The wound underneath was badly infected.She didn't make a sound. She didn't even dare go to the hospital.If she went to the hospital, the police would get involved, and Julian would learn the truth.After cleaning the wound, she applied her makeup flawlessly, covering every l

4

This was the money she'd used to buy back her life, scraped together one handout at a time.She'd paid it back bit by bit, with Julian's coldness, favoritism, and every handout he'd thrown her way.She didn't owe anyone anything anymore.Then Elena took out the divorce papers she'd prepared long ago.When Julian woke up, the other side of the bed was empty.Last night's preview was still vivid in his mind.He couldn't stop thinking about the way Elena had pulled her hand away."Sulking again."Julian smiled wryly.As far as he was concerned, Elena had gotten the painting she wanted. Now her pride had kicked in, and she was acting cold just to hold on to the last shred of her dignity.She'd accepted assets worth more than ten million dollars. That meant she'd accepted the rules of the game.He strolled leisurely out of the bedroom."Elena, make two cups of coffee. I have a meeting at ten this morning."His voice echoed through the empty living room.No smell of coffee. No toaster poppin

5

"A kidnapping?"Dread rose inside Julian, but he forced himself to stay calm."I think you have the wrong man. I don't know any criminals.""The wrong man?"One of the FBI agents scoffed and slammed a case file down on the coffee table.The file fell open, exposing a set of gruesome crime-scene photos.They showed a pillar stained with blood, cigarette butts and shell casings scattered across the floor, and a bloody drag mark several yards long."Four days ago, a highly dangerous gang abducted a victim in an underground parking garage."DNA testing confirmed that all the blood at the scene came from one person."Your wife. Elena."Julian's vision went dark. His ears rang."What... what did you say?"His voice shook."That's impossible... Four days ago, it was all an act. Chloe heard it herself. It was just a prank. She was just upset with me...""A prank?"The detective stared at him as if Julian had just told the most absurd joke imaginable. He couldn't hide his anger.He pulled out a

6

Julian looked up, murder in his eyes.He seized Chloe by the throat, lifted her clear off the floor, and slammed her into the bookshelf."Julian... let go... It's me, Chloe... I'm like a sister to you...""A sister?"Blood dripped from Julian's knuckles onto Chloe's designer dress."She was begging me for help, and you heard every word!"You made me think it was just another one of her pranks. You even laughed. How could you be so vicious?"One of the FBI agents stepped forward. "Ms. Bennett, we recovered another recording from one of the kidnappers we arrested."Before the kidnappers ever called Julian, you'd already received a text saying, 'We've got her.'"Then you played along with the kidnappers on the phone to cover up the truth."The handcuffs snapped shut around Chloe's wrists."You're under arrest for conspiracy to commit kidnapping."Chloe nearly fainted from fear. She threw her arms around Julian's leg and clung to him for dear life."Julian! I was wrong! I was just jealous

7

78 calls.78 names.Most of them had kicked Elena while she was down and mocked her as she begged for her life."Get the car."Time to pay these... old friends a visit."First stop: the home of David Kessler, a former senior executive.Years earlier, Elena had personally helped David break into investment banking and taught him everything he knew.But when she called begging for a loan, David claimed he was only following Julian's wishes and hung up on her.When Julian showed up with six bodyguards, David was in the middle of celebrating his latest promotion.The moment David saw Julian, who looked like death itself, his glass slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor."Mr. Vaughn? What are you doing here?""When Elena called you, how many seconds did it take you to hang up?"David broke out in a cold sweat."Julian, it was a misunderstanding! Chloe said you and Elena were just fighting... I was only trying to protect your reputation!""My reputation?"Julian threw a stack of do

8

Two years can change a person completely.The man who'd once been so proud and untouchable now looked sick and worn out.The moment Julian saw Elena, his hand clenched into a fist against his thigh.More than 700 days.He'd searched every city where she might have gone. He'd even prepared himself to spend the rest of his life never knowing where she'd ended up.And now she was sitting right across the table from him.She was alive. More than that, she was radiant.The other executives in the room felt the tension and held their breath.Lucas gave Julian a puzzled look and was about to introduce them, but Elena was already on her feet, perfectly composed.She wore a polished, professional smile.She held out her hand."Mr. Vaughn, nice to meet you. I'm Elena Shaffer, head of Shaffer Capital."Not Mrs. Vaughn.Elena Shaffer.Julian's eyes reddened.He took a deep breath and reached out to shake her hand.His grip was barely more than a touch.Cold. Like a stranger's.Julian swallowed har

9

Hands shaking, he took a faded wooden box from his bag and gently slid it across the conference table.The lid was open a crack. Inside lay the antique sapphire brooch, polished until it looked new.Its gold setting was spotless.Elena looked at the brooch for one second.Just one.Then she looked away as if it were nothing."I went to the pawnshop."It's the only thing your mother left you."Julian took a deep breath. Every word was a struggle."I bought everything back. I haven't touched a single thing in the apartment you owned before we got married."A tear slid down his cheek."Elena, I didn't come here to bother you. I'm not asking you to forgive me."I know what I've done is unforgivable. I don't deserve your forgiveness."I just couldn't leave the one thing you had left of your mother in a place like that."Please take it. Will you?"The air was heavy. Julian waited for her verdict.Even if she threw the box at him and cursed him out like she would have two years ago, he'd take

10

Elena looked at him, her expression unreadable."Surviving taught me one thing. The love of the dead and the guilt of the living are worth exactly the same. Nothing."Julian, I don't hate you."Because even hating you would take more energy than you're worth."Elena stepped into the elevator and turned to face him."Take care of yourself, Mr. Vaughn."Enjoy your ten billion dollars. I hope you live a very long life."The elevator doors slowly slid shut.Julian's outstretched hands dropped limply to his sides.His broken sobs echoed down the empty hallway....That evening, Elena stood by the lake in her coat.Lucas came over and handed her a freshly signed document."Everything's finalized, Elena." Lucas smiled broadly. "Everyone's putting together a celebration for you tonight."Elena took the document and let out a long breath.The gloom that had weighed on her for two years finally lifted in the evening breeze.This time, her fate was entirely in her own hands.A black car was parke

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