Chapter 1 Capture Her

• Hazel's eyes widened in horror as time seemed to slow down around her. The joyous occasion had morphed into a nightmare. The purity of her white dress was marred by a sinister stain—a bloodstain. A surreal stillness settled over the church, shattered only by Hazel's piercing scream.
• "Rafael!"
• Her love, her would-be husband, stood before her, his white coat now a canvas of crimson. The world around her blurred as the reality of the situation dawned. The once joyous ceremony had morphed into a scene of unimaginable horror.
• "Ra-fael!"
• Hazel's lips trembled as she knelt beside him, her hands stained with the evidence of the tragedy. In her desperate attempt to comprehend the nightmare unfolding, she looked around and realized the brutality extended beyond Rafael. The priest, the congregation—everyone laid on the floor, victims of a senseless act of violence.
• Her white dress now echoed the crimson tragedy that had unfolded. The sacred space had become a blood-soaked tableau of despair. As Hazel clung to Rafael's motionless form, tears streamed down her face, merging with the blood that stained her trembling hands.
• "Rafael, open your eyes!" She pleaded, her voice choked with anguish.
• "Rafael, please!"
• The reality of the nightmare intensified as masked men approached, callously grabbing her by the shoulders. Anguish and confusion painted Hazel's face as she demanded answers.
• "What?”
• “What the fu*k did you guys do?" She cried out in disbelief.
• Tears blurred her vision as she grappled with the incomprehensible violence that had shattered the sanctity of her wedding day.
• "I will kill you; leave me!" Hazel's desperate cries reverberated through the shattered church, a haunting refrain of pain and anguish. The masked men, indifferent to her pleas, bound her eyes, gagged her mouth, and restrained her hands. The once-joyous ceremony had spiraled into a nightmare, and Hazel found herself trapped in a web of terror.
• "Rafael!"
• Blindfolded and muffled, Hazel struggled against her restraints, attempting to scream and break free from the nightmarish reality that had engulfed her. Tears streamed down her face, an unrelenting cascade of despair as she grappled with the disbelief that Rafael, her love, was now lost to this senseless act of violence.
• "No... No, it can't be. He can't leave me," Hazel's inner thoughts pleaded in desperate denial.
• In the span of a few agonizing minutes, Hazel's dreams were reduced to ashes.
• Meanwhile, in one of Francisco's remote resorts, far removed from the tragedy that unfolded, a stark contrast played out. Francisco, the orchestrator of the chaos, reveled at a party attended by his business partners and influential politicians. Unbeknownst to him, the echoes of a shattered ceremony resonated in the distance.
• Lilith, observing Francisco from the sidelines, sipped her drink. Her thoughts lingered on the recent rejection of her father's proposal by Francisco.
• Lilith had hesitated to attend the party, conflicted by the recent rejection of her father's proposal by Francisco. However, the sense of duty to her clan compelled her to face him, even if it meant enduring the discomfort of his presence.
• Upon encountering Francisco, her composure wavered, and the surge of emotions within her was palpable. Determined to mask her vulnerability, Lilith seized a glass of wine and downed it in a single gulp, her gaze locked onto Francisco.
• Summoning the courage to approach him, Lilith took a step forward, but their interaction was interrupted by a sudden call that demanded Francisco's attention. With a polite excuse, he excused himself and walked towards a secluded corner.
• In the privacy of the dimly lit corner, Francisco's expression shifted from the facade of calmness to a more focused demeanor.
• A phone call added an air of urgency to his features as he instructed, "Keep her there," before abruptly ending the call.
• "Francisco!" Lilith's voice called out to him, her tone revealing a slight intoxication from the drinks she had hastily consumed.
• "Lilith, did you drink again?"
• "Francisco!" Lilith repeated his name, her balance betraying her as she stumbled forward. Quick to react, Francisco reached out and caught her before she could fall.
• Mr. Kai, passing the scene, commented, "Oh, she is drunk," his eyes following the unfolding scenario with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.
• Francisco slightly smiled and answered, "Yes, my friend doesn't know when to stop. Please carry on, Mr. Kai. I think I should drive her home; her father is sick, and he might be thinking of her."
• Kai nodded.
• Max also joined at the same time.
• Francisco and Max exchanged glances; it seemed they talked about everything with one glance.
• “I will accompany you, sir; please come,” Max said.
• Upon returning Lilith to her home, Francisco reentered the mansion, finding that some guests had already departed. He continued to enjoy the remaining time with those who lingered, sharing moments of camaraderie.
• Gradually, the rest of the guests bid their farewells, leaving the grand mansion in a state of tranquil silence.
• As the last echoes of departing guests faded away, a palpable silence settled over the mansion. The air seemed charged with an unspoken anticipation, as if the mansion itself held its breath, sensing an imminent shift in the atmosphere.
• The sudden hush in the atmosphere within the mansion created an eerie stillness, as if the very air held its breath in anticipation. The question lingered unspoken, "Should I leave now?"
• Francisco's penetrating gaze fixed on the corridor, revealing a silent contemplation that hinted at something profound. Max sensed the gravity of the moment.
• Without uttering a word, he acknowledged the unspoken directive and left Francisco alone in the mansion.
• In that silence, Francisco moved with a purpose that echoed through the empty corridors. As if embodying an enigmatic force, he walked towards the corridor's end, his destination marked by the top door. A subtle tension hung in the air, and it became evident that Francisco harbored an unseen intensity beneath his calm exterior.
• Stopping in front of the door, Francisco withdrew his hand from his pocket and twisted the doorknob. The door creaked open, revealing a room steeped in shadow. As the dim light filtered in, it unveiled the occupant of the room.
• And his blue eyes met Hazel.