Chapter 1 : Kidnapped

Chapter 1: Kidnapped

*Third Person: Beth’s POV*

As the unknown youngest daughter of Loger Russell, Beth never imagined that one day she would need to dress up as a waitress to get a chance to see her sister at her inauguration as CEO of Russell Group.

The ceremony was held at the Siston Hotel. In the lobby of the hotel, countless business people are waiting to witness the new phase of the Russell Group or find opportunities to discuss cooperation with its new leader.

The media set up their equipment early in the morning and prepared to be the first to cover the headlines in the pharmaceutical world. There were even government representatives in attendance in recognition of the Russell Group's contribution to curing blood diseases in the public over the years.

It was a big spectacle and security measures at the site were very strict. Countless people spontaneously rushed to celebrate the appointment of the new president of Russell Group, but they were stopped outside the hotel. The road was crowded with cars and horns kept sounding.

People who were not invited to the ceremony gathered on the road, waiting, perhaps for the chance to snap a picture of the young Russell Group CEO. Many people held banners with thank-you slogans and flowers. After all, the Russell Group had cured so many patients with blood diseases and brought hope to them and their loved ones.

Although their medicine is not cheap, nothing was more precious than life. Many people bowed in the direction of the hotel as if they had seen a god.

For the patients who escaped from the scythe of death and gained a precious new life, the Russell family was indeed a god-like existence, especially the founder Dr. Russell, a famous hematologist and medical award winner. Of course, his daughter Elisa Russell is also very good.

Although she was not a medical expert, she had just graduated from the most prestigious business school and was about to take over her father's company.

For these patients, the greatest thing Elisa did was to cooperate with the philanthropist Duke Owen to provide Russell Group medicine to the poor. Some of those recipents were even in the crowd with tears welling up in their eyes.

Beth lifted the curtains and secretly looked out. She was startled when she saw the dense crowd outside the hotel. She was dressed in a not-so-fitting waiter's uniform and stood in the corner of the lobby.

No one noticed her, and people were talking, waiting for the ceremony to begin, waiting for today's protagonist to enter.

Downstairs, the security guard of the Russell Group had cleared a road, waiting for Elisa's special car to drive in. The red carpet stretches from the hotel door to the podium in the lobby. On the podium, huge crystal lamps shone dazzlingly, refracting the lights to every corner of the hall while flowers and the aroma of wine fill the hall.

Flashlights flickered one after another, and attention was drawn to the podium. The hose was now on stage.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to today’s event! As we know, blood diseases have been a problem for mankind for hundreds of years. Countless lives have been claimed by blood-related diseases, and countless families have grieved the loss of their loved ones. But today, this puzzle that has plagued humanity for centuries has been solved.

Thanks to Russell Group drugs, people will no longer suffer from blood diseases or even lose their lives. Although the Russell Group has only been around for ten years, it has already brought countless blessings to humanity.

Today, we are honored to witness that the Russell Group is about to usher in its new President, and new phase.” The host took a step back and took the lead in applauding. “Let’s welcome Miss Elisa Russell!”

The audience applauded thunderously; people started cheering. The lights in the hall went out and only the crystal lamps on the podium still shone. Everyone held their breath, waiting for her to speak.

Beth subconsciously grabbed the curtains. The sweat in the palms of her hands left water stains on the curtains.

“Elisa, she is coming,” she murmured to herself in a low sweet voice. She was petite, and the slender waiter's uniform was too long for her.

She was fair-skinned, and the sunlight shone through the curtains on her fair face, showing a light blush. She was healthy and her brown eyes twinkled, like gentle stars. Her eyelashes were long, leaving shadows on her pale cyan eyelids.

She was visibly sleep-deprived. But this didn’t affect her spirit. In fact, she was very excited Her hands clenched into fists and wrinkled the curtains and her chest rose and fell slightly, showing the beautiful curves of her chest.

Her brown hair was tied into a braid at the back of her head, which made her look a little mature and her plump pink lips were like the first strawberries in spring.

“When did she come in?” she spoke to herself. “I didn’t see her car…”

Beth bit her lower lip nervously. When someone around her noticed her, she immediately lowered her head and hid herself in the shadows of the curtains.

She was small in stature and dressed ordinarily, and if she was not deliberately looked at, it would be difficult to attract attention. Although she was actually beautiful, this beauty was not aggressive.

She was like any ordinary girl you’d see on the street—not stunning at first glance, but very comfortable. They were like the morning wind, the afternoon sun, the wildflowers on the roadside, and the ripples on the lake—they were pleasing to the eye, but easily forgotten.

The applause stopped. A tall and sexy figure appeared on the podium. She wore light-colored professional clothes. She was beautiful and intimidating.

At first sight of her, people would be impressed by her aura and dare not give birth to contemptuous thoughts. But at the same time, her beautiful shadow was deeply imprinted in their minds.

This was a strong and beautiful woman. Although she was only twenty-two years old, Elisa had already achieved so much. Recently, she had graduated from a prestigious business school early, and was about to take the helm of the well-known public pharmaceutical company, Russell Group.

Elisa Russell was a business rival that many men feared, and although she was so beautiful, it was clear that her beauty was prickly.

She smiled before she spoke.

“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. It's an honor to meet you here. As you all know, we are selling a new medicine...”

Her firm words traveled through the microphone to every corner of the hall. People listened with bated breath, unable to take their eyes off her beautiful face.

But for Beth, even if she tried her best to stand on tiptoe, she couldn't get past the crowd's head and see Elisa on the podium. Her position was too far from the podium.

Although she tried her best to blend into the scene, it was clear that she underestimated the importance of the ceremony, and the waiters who had the opportunity to serve the guests sitting at the front were all designated.

The one Beth replaced was only in charge of the drinks on the periphery.

Beth stood on tiptoe and craned her neck so that she could only see the back of people's heads. She tried and tried, but failed, and almost twisted her ankle. The waiter's heels didn't suit her.

At least in the town where she lived before, people preferred to wear loose, comfortable shoes. She somewhat regretted that she changed her shoes in order to blend into the scene.

She frowned, fine sweat pouring up the tip of her nose. The sun shined on it, like gold shimmering. When she was anxious and nervous, she always sweat easily. She bit her lower lip harder.

She worked in the hotel for three months just for today. If she didn't talk to Elisa today, it would all be for nothing.

Beth appeared out of the shadow of the curtain and began to squeeze forward. Thanks to her petite stature and the pillars in the hotel lobby, it was not very difficult for her.

The perimeter of the hall was full of standing guests. Their attention was on Elisa's speech, and no one noticed the small changes around them.

However, at this moment, a loud gunshot sounded, and then the scene fell into complete darkness. The roar of the crystal lamp hitting the ground overshadowed everything. When people reacted, screams and fear spread like a plague among the population.

"It’s an attack!" someone shouted in honor.

Next, a constant stream of gunfire confirmed his words. In the darkness, the terrified crowd scattered like a tide. The safe passage was crowded with guests, but no one could go out immediately because of the scramble.

Many people cried out in pain from being hurt or trampled on. People in the center of the hall were fleeing, not caring who or what they stepped on.

But Beth was the exception in the crowd.

“Elisa!” Beth was pushed to the ground by the fleeing crowd. She smashed her teeth together and restrained her cry, but she couldn't help but call her sister's name.

The pillar in front of her saved her life and stopped her from being squeezed into meatloaf by the crazy crowd. Her hands and face were bruised and stomped on as gunfire continued to ring out as if to chase away the frightened crowd.

She struggled to her feet, holding on to the wall and hurrying against the tide of people toward the podium.

“Elisa, wait for me!” Beth shouted anxiously.

Tears hanging from the corners of her eyes, but they were from panic rather than the pain from the wounds on her body that kept increasing from the crowd pushing. Her petite body kept getting pushed down by the crowd and standing up again, holding onto the wall.

Her braid was torn apart and dragged messily behind her head like a handful of straw. One sleeve of her dress was ripped off. Her skirt fell, blocking her from walking, and she simply gritted her teeth and ripped it so that it only reached her thighs.

She squeezed forward with difficulty, the ill-fitting shoes making her heels red and swollen.

Her clear and gentle eyes were like an invisible flame. Again and again, she was pushed down, stepped on. And again and again, she stood up trembling. Her originally rosy complexion turned pale, and sweat wet her short hair and pinched her cheeks, making her look even more terrible.

Now, she was probably more like a badly made scarecrow, dressed in funny clothes.

Thankfully, however, she finally reached the edge of the podium.

“Elisa, I’m coming!” She gripped the edge of the podium with her sweaty hands.

Several abrasions on the back of the hand were penetrated by sweat, and they were painful and itchy.

But she began to push hard, the green tendons on the back of her hands bulged, the tips of her fingers turned white, and her arms trembled, supporting her body to climb onto the podium.

To separate guests, the podium was higher. This made Beth's climb quite difficult but she eventually made it.

She ended up standing barefoot on the dark, empty podium.

But neither the horrific gunfire nor the cursing and shouts of the crowd could take her attention. She only cared about one thing at the moment.

“Elisa, where are you?!” she called clearly.

No response.

Her expression became alarmed. She hurried towards the crystal chandelier that had been smashed on the podium. As if she had thought of something terrible, she bent over and squeezed into the narrow space under the broken crystal chandelier.

“Elisa!” she called.

However, at that moment, a masked black shadow covered her mouth and nose from behind her with his hand.

She struggled against it, but it was no use. She was falling into darkness, and there’d be no return.