Reborn To Ruin Her Rivals - Chapter 56: Chapter 56

One of the guys stammered, "Boss, he... he just left like that?"
Seven glared at his clueless underling. "What else could we do? Didn't you see the real guns his guys were packing? Besides, he's with Sir Tiger's crew, we can't afford to mess with him."
One of the guys asked, "Then, what do we tell Melinda?"
"Just tell Melinda we passed the goods to our black market contacts. She'll get the payment once the deal's done."
Seven irritably ran his fingers through his hair. He thought, 'No way I'm getting myself into trouble over this.
'If Melinda finds out I got jacked by some black market thugs halfway through, how fucking humiliating would that be?
'My street cred would take a major hit.
'After that, who'd still dare come to me for business?'
Meanwhile,
In the car, Arielle quickly undid the white sack trapping Eve.
With a swift slash, she slit it open, and a small, frightened head popped out.
Eve stared at the unfamiliar woman before her, eyes wide with terror.
Just then, Ivanna's car pulled up.
The two vehicles stopped side by side for a mere ten seconds.
Ivanna got out and climbed into Arielle's car.
The moment Ivanna saw her daughter, her heart was torn between agony, rage, and helplessness.
All those emotions collided inside her, leaving her utterly overwhelmed.
Ivanna reached out to hold her daughter.
Perhaps her sudden movement startled Eve, who let out a piercing scream.
Ivanna instantly withdrew her hand and said, her voice trembling, "Eve, don't be afraid. It's Mommy. Mommy's here to save you. Don't be scared, baby, don't be scared."
Vanna seethed with rage, 'These heartless bastards have no shred of decency! I'll kill that bastard with my own hands.
'I swear, whoever hurt Eve will pay dearly for it!
'But right now, nothing matters more than soothing my daughter.'
Vanna took a few deep breaths, bent down gently, and whispered, "Mommy's taking you home."
She was too afraid to even say her daughter's name.
Eve visibly reacted when she heard the familiar voice.
'That voice... it sounds like the one deep in my memory. Like... Mommy...' she thought.
Her mom was always so gentle.
She used to hold her and sing lullabies, take her to the amusement park, sleep beside her at night, and always keep holding her hand.
But one day, her mommy was gone.
Only the cruel woman was left. She whipped her, screamed at her, and locked her in the basement. After every bath, the beatings would start all over again, and sometimes she would even burn her with cigarette butts.
Finally, Eve slowly raised her head and looked at the woman in front of her.
She thought, 'It's Mommy!'
In her memory, her mommy looked just like this, gentle and always smiling.
Vanna felt as if her heart were bleeding as she saw her daughter finally lift her head.
She thought, 'What have become of my little girl's face?
'How could Eve have changed so much?
'The once-soft, innocent cheeks are now gaunt and hollow, all traces of childhood gone.
'Her eyes, set deep in their sockets, are filled only with terror and panic.'
That vacant, numb expression sent a deathly chill straight to Vanna's core.
Vanna's hands trembled uncontrollably, and soon her whole body was shaking.
"We need to get back now," Arielle said, grabbing Vanna as she was about to break down. Leaning in, she whispered in her ear, "Hold it together."
They were still on the road. Eve was deeply traumatized, no simple words could heal such profound wounds.
Vanna steadied herself, her hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched into a tight fist.
Arielle scooted a little closer to Eve, then slowly reached out and gently took her tiny hand in hers.
She recalled those sunless days in North Iugra.
By then, Eve was already a woman in her twenties, perhaps after enduring so much torment, she no longer feared strangers.
She whispered cautiously, "Are you Arielle?"
But at that time, Arielle's tongue had been severed, so she couldn't speak. She could only nod desperately.
Arielle thought, 'Running into someone I know in a hellhole like this... I can't tell if it's more heartbreaking or comforting.'
Eve probably knew she wouldn't last long in their hands. She poured out everything, every last detail.
In that place, they were utterly powerless, just helpless prey waiting to be slaughtered.
Tears welled up behind Arielle's stoic mask.
'I thought my heart had long since turned to ice, nothing and no one could ever shake me again,' she thought.
It was a small mercy that the tragedy from her previous life had been cut short before it could unfold.
Arielle composed herself. When she reopened her eyes, all traces of vulnerability had vanished, her gaze now icy and ruthless, as if it could tear someone apart.
'I'll make them pay, whatever it takes,' she vowed coldly.
Half an hour later, the car finally left the dangerous black market district.
Logan handed Eve over to Arielle and Ivanna.
His first task was done. Now, he was off to take down Seven.
"Thank you, Mr. Calhoun. And tell Mr. Lowery my gratitude," Arielle said.
Logan nodded. "Just doing my job. The boss's word is law."
Vanna was shaking uncontrollably. She rubbed her numb hands together and reached out, her voice trembling, "Eve, come here, let Mommy hold you…"
The catatonic Eve finally stirred. Staring at that familiar face, her lips trembled.
She wondered, 'Is that… Mommy?
'She looks more haggard and thinner than I remember.'
Slowly, Eve reached out her small hand, her eyes brimming with desperate hope. Vanna grabbed it and pulled her into a fierce embrace.
The blank look in Eve's eyes finally shimmered with tears.
She thought, 'It smells like Mommy.'
Eve couldn't hold back any longer, she broke down, sobbing her heart out.
Clutching her sobbing daughter, Vanna trembled violently as they wept together.
She thought, 'I can barely recognize this broken child. Is this really my once bright, cheerful little girl? It feels like my heart is being ripped apart.'
Vanna clung to Eve, her voice breaking with sobs. "Eve, I'm so sorry. It's all Mommy's fault.
"Mommy lost you... I'm so sorry, sweetheart. Mommy's so, so sorry..."
She was so heartbroken she could barely speak, her voice choked with sobs she couldn't suppress.
Arielle drove in silence, listening to the heart-wrenching sobs from the back seat. In her arms, Eve clung tightly to her waist, as if afraid to ever let go.
They reunited at last.
An hour later, they arrived at Vanna's villa.
Vanna carried the sound-asleep Eve and gently laid her on the bed.
She tucked her in and left the lights on in the room, afraid her daughter might wake up scared. Then she sat quietly by the bedside, keeping vigil over her.
Arielle walked in, patted Vanna's shoulder, and nodded toward the door, signaling that she was heading home and leaving Vanna to spend time with Eve.
With that, Arielle quietly left the room.
As Arielle headed downstairs, she was surprised to see Vanna following right behind her.
"Don't bother seeing me out. Just have your driver take me," Arielle said, assuming Vanna was there to see her off.
Vanna wiped away her tears and forced a smile. "Don't flatter yourself. I need to stay with my daughter, I don't have time to see you off."
She paused, her voice hoarse and choked with emotion. "Arielle, thank you. Really, from the bottom of my heart. From now on, your problems are mine. Consider me your ride-or-die friend, that's a promise."
Arielle was about to say it wasn't necessary. To her, this was just a transaction, each getting what they wanted.
Vanna stared at her intently, then solemnly extended her right hand and declared, "I swear that from this day forward, Arielle is my sworn partner in life. We'll share both hardship and fortune. If I ever break this oath, may I be struck dead."
Arielle flinched, caught off guard by Vanna's vicious oath.
She thought coldly, 'I don't believe in oaths. Not anyone's.'
"I don't believe in oaths," Arielle said coolly, "You still haven't agreed to my terms. Stay with Eve tonight, I'll come for you tomorrow."
Back when they made the deal, it was agreed that Arielle would provide intel on Eve in exchange for one term.
Now that Eve had been found, Arielle still hadn't named her price.
"Alright, I'll wait for you," Vanna said with a gentle smile. Whatever the terms might be, she'd agree without hesitation.