Chapter 7 The Delayed Savior

• Jojo's head was pounding as she tried to remember what had happened. The van had gotten her somewhere far away, and she had tried to flee into the reeds as the men were preoccupied. Her endeavor to summon help was a failure, and she was quickly overpowered and knocked out.
• "What's our plans now?" one of the men asked.
• "We're supposed to escort her into the mountains to be sold, but she's a beauty. Why don't we enjoy ourselves before the handover?" the other man replied.
• "Good idea!" the first man agreed.
• Hearing their evil intentions, Jojo jolted back to reality, panicking. Tied up and powerless, she gathered her courage and opened her eyes to see the taller one taking his clothes off and approaching her while grinning like a pervert.
• "Why allow the villagers to have you when we can entertain ourselves first? Obey, and I'll take off the gag," he said.
• Jojo held her terror back and pretended to comply, disguising her terror with a naughty demeanor. As he came closer, she snatched the chance to chomp on his ear hard before pushing him off. However, her bound feet gave way, and she was quickly overwhelmed and pulled backward. Tears welled up in her eyes as she prepared to face her bleak future.
• "Sorry, baby. I could not save you," she thought, bracing herself for the worst before a familiar-sounding voice broke the quiet.
• "Asher, disarm and bind them!"
• "Sure, sir!" Asher responded.
• Jojo's eyes widened disbelievingly as Shawn came in with his chilling mask, though she was now comforted by his presence.
• "Can you stand?" Shawn asked, kneeling beside her.
• "No," she replied, clinging to him, tears pouring out and dirtying his shirt as she looked for reassurance within his embrace. "Why were you late, Mr. Lawson? A moment longer, and I could have been in great danger!"
• "Jojo Grant." Shawn fought to balance reprimanding and comforting her. "You've destroyed two outfits in one day!"
• "Sorry." Her tears streamed down her cheeks; Jojo looked like she had survived indescribable horrors in her bruised, battered, and messed-up state.
• Even Shawn showed a rare expression of concern, eventually telling Asher to lend him his jacket so he could bundle her inside and keep her warm.
• "Just end yourself in such situations next time," Shawn advised cruelly.
• "Huh?" Jojo asked.
• "Someone defiling you will be like you betraying me, and I will make sure you suffer terrible outcomes," Shawn warned, approaching her menacingly. "I'm obsessed about cleanliness, after all."
• "We aren't really married..." Jojo babbled unthinkingly, quickly realized they were not alone, and covered her mouth while glaring at Shawn resentfully.
• "Mr. Lawson, please take that scary mask off before talking. Don't you feel stuffed with it on?" She stretched her hand out to remove his mask, but he snatched her wrist before she could touch it and dragged it away hard.
• Their faces were suddenly inches apart, making Jojo's breath catch in her throat. "I…I was merely teasing..."
• "Stop inconveniencing me." Shawn snapped, snatching back his mask. "Do that again, and you will rue it."
• He gestured for Asher to take the two men away and shot Jojo an expression of disgust, but she was carried like a princess before she could decipher the meaning behind it. She involuntarily grabbed Shawn's neck so she would not fall.
• Jojo goggled at the lavish insides of the Rolls-Royce and asked Asher, "Mr. Everhart, is this car extremely costly? Does it cost several hundred thousand? It's so comfy I'll get my grandma one after getting my divorce settlement."
• "Miss Grant, you probably have to include two more zeroes..."
• "That expensive? It isn't even plated with gold!" Jojo clicked her tongue in disbelief.
• Meanwhile, Shawn was done briefing Rupert, who was insistent about talking to Jojo to confirm she was safe. Shawn grudgingly gave Jojo his phone just to turn and see her acting like she was in a completely new environment.
• Did she have any sixth sense? She was almost assaulted but was still so unworried…
• "I'm okay, Grandpa" comforted Jojo. "With your condition, please don't panic about me... I guess somebody someone thought I was gorgeous and tried something! Fortunately, I have Mr... I have a husband to save me."
• "How relieving. I was so concerned after hearing of your kidnapping..." Rupert's concern was palpable even through the line, warming Jojo's heart. She realized that people still truly cared about her, and tears welled up in her eyes. After some reassurances, she disconnected the call and gave Shawn his phone back.
• He looked down scrutinizingly at her with some remorse. "About to break down again? I won't fall for it!"
• "Leave me alone," Jojo argued, emotions messed up from Rupert's trust in her, her and Shawn's conspiring to trick him, and her pregnancy.
• As the Rolls-Royce stopped before a magnificent villa, Jojo stared in disbelief with an open mouth before turning to Shawn with wide, astonished eyes.
• "You will live with me in the Lawson residence as per Grandpa's instruction. Make sure never to inconvenience me!" Shawn commanded.