Half-Million Dollar Bait： Campus Belle’s Hell - Chapter 7: Chapter 7
You are reading Half-Million Dollar Bait： Campus Belle’s Hell, Chapter 7: Chapter 7. Read more chapters of Half-Million Dollar Bait： Campus Belle’s Hell.
I shook my head sharply, forcing the ridiculous thought away as reality came crashing back.
Margaret Lowell had just told me my price on the Dark Web had soared past half a million dollars.
Ethan came from a working-class family. He'd only been out of college for six months, barely scraping by as an intern. Where the hell would he get that kind of money to buy me back?
If he wasn't here to save me… then why was he standing among these criminals?
Had he lied to me this whole time? Was his "multinational internship" just a cover for trafficking women in Myanmar?
And that message—the one that lured me here—had it all been a setup?
I'd walked straight into a trap.
The realization hit me like a freight train, each thought more horrifying than the last.
This wasn't the tearful, romantic reunion I'd imagined. This was a nightmare.
I glared at Ethan, but his expression was chillingly blank as his gaze slid over me.
Then, with a smirk, he turned to Margaret. "Mrs. Lowell, this batch is a little thin, don't you think?"
Margaret sighed. "With the pandemic back home, fewer girls are traveling. Business is dry. But at least we got this one—the big boss's prize."
Ethan's eyes flicked back to me, a slow, dangerous smile curving his lips.
He moved closer, his fingers tilting my chin up as he clicked his tongue.
"Tsk. No wonder the boss wants her. Fresh, delicate… makes me want a taste myself."
"Get your hands off me!" I spat, my stomach twisting in disgust. The man I'd trusted most was the one who'd sold me.
Some stupid part of me had still hoped—that Ethan would realize something was wrong, that he'd bring the police crashing in to save us.
That these monsters would get what they deserved.
But the joke was on me.
Ethan was one of them.
The last shred of hope shattered, leaving me hollow.
Instead of guilt, all I saw in his eyes was cold amusement.
"Feisty," he mused, flashing me that infuriating grin. "Boss has good taste. I like it."
Then, with a lazy wave of his hand, he ordered, "Load them up."
Sophia and the others were shoved into the SUV beside me.
"Here's your cut—five-fifty." Ethan tossed a black duffel at Margaret.
She ripped it open, her greedy eyes lighting up at the stacks of crisp bills.
I knew exactly what that money was.
Half a million—for me.
The rest—for Sophia and the others.
After a quick count, Margaret beamed. "Send the boss my thanks."
Bound in the backseat, I wanted to vomit at her glee.
Ethan's smile never faltered. "If you want to thank him, do it in your next life."
Margaret froze. "What—?"
Ethan raised his hand.
Gunfire exploded.
In seconds, the air was thick with the coppery stench of blood.
Margaret and Batu Khan collapsed, lifeless.
Ethan's voice was ice. "Stealing from the boss? They should've known better."
To them, it was just another day. No remorse—just ruthless efficiency.
One of the men grabbed the duffel and tossed it back into the SUV.
Sophia and I sat frozen, the metallic tang of blood choking the air.
I slumped against the seat, trembling.
This wasn't a rescue.
This was hell.
Margaret Lowell had just told me my price on the Dark Web had soared past half a million dollars.
Ethan came from a working-class family. He'd only been out of college for six months, barely scraping by as an intern. Where the hell would he get that kind of money to buy me back?
If he wasn't here to save me… then why was he standing among these criminals?
Had he lied to me this whole time? Was his "multinational internship" just a cover for trafficking women in Myanmar?
And that message—the one that lured me here—had it all been a setup?
I'd walked straight into a trap.
The realization hit me like a freight train, each thought more horrifying than the last.
This wasn't the tearful, romantic reunion I'd imagined. This was a nightmare.
I glared at Ethan, but his expression was chillingly blank as his gaze slid over me.
Then, with a smirk, he turned to Margaret. "Mrs. Lowell, this batch is a little thin, don't you think?"
Margaret sighed. "With the pandemic back home, fewer girls are traveling. Business is dry. But at least we got this one—the big boss's prize."
Ethan's eyes flicked back to me, a slow, dangerous smile curving his lips.
He moved closer, his fingers tilting my chin up as he clicked his tongue.
"Tsk. No wonder the boss wants her. Fresh, delicate… makes me want a taste myself."
"Get your hands off me!" I spat, my stomach twisting in disgust. The man I'd trusted most was the one who'd sold me.
Some stupid part of me had still hoped—that Ethan would realize something was wrong, that he'd bring the police crashing in to save us.
That these monsters would get what they deserved.
But the joke was on me.
Ethan was one of them.
The last shred of hope shattered, leaving me hollow.
Instead of guilt, all I saw in his eyes was cold amusement.
"Feisty," he mused, flashing me that infuriating grin. "Boss has good taste. I like it."
Then, with a lazy wave of his hand, he ordered, "Load them up."
Sophia and the others were shoved into the SUV beside me.
"Here's your cut—five-fifty." Ethan tossed a black duffel at Margaret.
She ripped it open, her greedy eyes lighting up at the stacks of crisp bills.
I knew exactly what that money was.
Half a million—for me.
The rest—for Sophia and the others.
After a quick count, Margaret beamed. "Send the boss my thanks."
Bound in the backseat, I wanted to vomit at her glee.
Ethan's smile never faltered. "If you want to thank him, do it in your next life."
Margaret froze. "What—?"
Ethan raised his hand.
Gunfire exploded.
In seconds, the air was thick with the coppery stench of blood.
Margaret and Batu Khan collapsed, lifeless.
Ethan's voice was ice. "Stealing from the boss? They should've known better."
To them, it was just another day. No remorse—just ruthless efficiency.
One of the men grabbed the duffel and tossed it back into the SUV.
Sophia and I sat frozen, the metallic tang of blood choking the air.
I slumped against the seat, trembling.
This wasn't a rescue.
This was hell.
End of Half-Million Dollar Bait： Campus Belle’s Hell Chapter 7. Continue reading Chapter 8 or return to Half-Million Dollar Bait： Campus Belle’s Hell book page.