Taken By My Fiancé's Uncle - Chapter 69: Chapter 69

After the violent shaking, the world fell into a sudden silence. Almost everyone was stunned, except for Eugene. He strode quickly toward the elevator, glaring at Isaac with a terrifying look. "What are you waiting for? Call for help now."
Everyone snapped out of their daze and scrambled to do their part, making phone calls, dialing emergency services, and requesting an ambulance.
Each of them distinctly felt Eugene's fury, as well as the hint of panic that leaked through his otherwise calm demeanor.
The elevator was stuck between two floors, its doors tightly shut, offering no glimpse of the inside.
Eugene took a deep breath and paused. "Lorraine, if you can hear me, knock on the elevator door."
Then he held his breath and waited. Time seemed to stretch out, dragging on for what felt like an eternity, though it was only a few seconds. His emotions surged wildly during that brief interval. But there was no sound.
Elsie was frightened and took a while to recover. She walked over to Eugene. "Don't worry. Even if something happens to her, she wouldn't dare to hold the Moore family accountable. My dad and I won't let her. Besides, who does she think she is—"
Midway through her sentence, Elsie's words died in her throat.
Eugene turned his head, his eyes cold and menacing, as if he would snap her neck if she uttered another word.
Elsie didn't know what she had said wrong, but she obediently shut her mouth. Inwardly, Elsie began to pray that Lorraine would die inside the elevator and never come out.
Eugene shifted his gaze back to the elevator, his large hand clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned pale. He stared at the door as if he could bore a hole through it.
Isaac had already made the calls to notify the rescue team and arranged for everyone he could to come over.
He turned back and, mustering his courage, said, "The emergency brake has already been activated. The likelihood of the elevator sliding down again is very low, Mr. Moore—"
"Very low?" Eugene turned to him, his tone more severe than Isaac had ever heard. "Doesn't mean it's impossible."
Isaac was left speechless, too intimidated to say another word.
Soon, the fire department arrived, and one of the firefighters approached with tools. "Excuse us, we need to force the door open."
Everyone else stepped back, but Eugene remained where he was, rolling up his sleeves and joining them in the effort.
He didn't mind the dirt on the ground, nor did he consider this a task beneath him. He worked with intense focus and dedication, completely oblivious to the astonished and shocked looks of the people behind him.
The elevator door was pried open just a crack, revealing pitch darkness inside. Without hesitation, he reached in. "Lorraine? Can you see my hand? Grab it."
"Mr. Moore, it's dangerous," the fire captain warned responsibly. "There's a high risk of a secondary accident. You really shouldn't put your arm in there. No one can guarantee your safety."
Eugene ignored the warning, his determination unwavering. He kept his arm extended, calling out her name over and over.
Elsie stood there, stunned. She took a deep breath and stared intently at the elevator door. Growing up, she had always had so much more than Lorraine—her parents' love, endless pocket money, countless Barbie dolls, and the attention of everyone around her.
While Elsie was busy attending various debutante parties, Lorraine was at home, scrubbing the floors. Elsie was like a princess, while Lorraine wasn't even considered a maid. Elsie had never her half-sister seriously and never thought she would become a stumbling block in her life.
But in this moment, Elsie felt a surge of intense emotions welling up inside her chest. She could barely control herself. And those emotions were jealousy, even hatred. 'It seems Lorraine is someone I must get rid of,' Elsie thought to herself.
Darkness twisted around her neck like a noose, and the air grew thinner and thinner. Lorraine tried desperately to move her fingers but found she had no strength left. Her mind was in chaos, and she couldn't hear anything through the elevator door.
It felt like she was back to a day from her childhood. During a meal, Lorraine had quietly a forkful of her favorite dish and put it on her plate. Zackery, upset about his business, had splashed hot soup all over her.
Zackery forbade her from crying and wouldn't let the servants take her to see a doctor. He just threw her into the storage room behind the Shaw residence.
Lorraine, a tiny bundle, curled up in the corner, crying her heart out, but no one came to see her, not a single person. She had no food, no water, and no light.
Lorraine's entire body was burning, and the burn on her arm felt like it was about to fall off. The searing pain was something she would never forget for the rest of her life.
She felt like she was dying, and all she had to do was strike a match to see her mother come and take her away to a place with no more pain.
That night, Lorraine couldn't remember how she had survived. Only the deepest sense of fear remained with her to this day.
From then on, Lorraine had no favorite things, no favorite colors, no favorite foods, and certainly no favorite people. Zackery had said she didn't deserve it, and only she knew the truth—she was too afraid.
Now, Lorraine was curled up in the corner of the elevator, her entire body drenched in cold sweat. She couldn't distinguish between dream and reality, only wishing for the darkness to end quickly.
'Faster, just a little faster,' Lorraine thought. Her vision was growing more and more blurry, and the feeling of dizziness deepened.
She couldn't think clearly, and her breathing became increasingly difficult. She longed for a box of matches, something to strike and bring her mother to take her away.
Finally, the elevator door was pried open wide enough. Eugene leaned in with most of his body. The fire captain wanted to caution him about safety again, but Isaac quietly pulled everyone back. "Give her some space. Let more fresh air in."
Eugene was almost hanging in mid-air. He took out his phone and turned it on. The faint light from the screen revealed a small, huddled figure in the corner below.
His heart felt like it was being squeezed, and his blood seemed to rush outward. He stretched his arm as far as he could, but still couldn't reach her. Controlling his voice, he spoke softly. "Lorraine, look up, look at me."
The air suddenly became fresher, and more oxygen filled her lungs. Lorraine's mind cleared a little. It was still pitch dark around her, dreamlike and surreal, and her hearing was muffled as if underwater.
But that voice slowly seeped into her brain, like a warm, soothing towel that instantly calmed all her fears. It was warm and incredibly reassuring.
Lorraine struggled to lift her head, trying to locate the source of the voice. The faint light was like a match.
She couldn't see the person's face, but she saw the hand reaching out to her—long fingers with elegant, defined knuckles. She stretched her arm as far as she could, and her right index finger barely managed to hook onto his pinky. But she held on.
The warmth of the touch penetrated her skin and spread throughout her body. Her heart settled. 'I'm not afraid anymore. Everything will be okay. I'm not afraid anymore,' she thought.
Her soft pinky clung tightly to his finger, a small gesture that made Eugene's heart, which had been hanging in mid-air, finally land.
Eugene didn't call her name again. Instead, he quietly held her fingertip. Her hand was so cold it was alarming. The workers had all arrived and were actively working to rescue her. Under Eugene's pressure, no one dared to slack off.
Soon, the elevator door was fully pried open, and the elevator car was pulled back up with ropes. Lorraine remained curled up, semi-conscious, her hair damp with cold sweat and sticking to her pale face.
Eugene released her hand, bent down, and lifted her into his arms. "Mr. Moore, the ambulance is waiting outside," Isaac whispered.
Eugene nodded, carefully wrapped Lorraine in the thin blanket Isaac handed him, and began to walk downstairs.
A crowd of people followed behind him, but he completely ignored them, including Elsie.
The elevator was unsafe, so they naturally took the stairs. Step by step, his arms remained steady, with no intention of putting her down.
In her daze, Lorraine felt as if she were walking on flat ground. The embrace was so warm. She instinctively stretched out her small hand and clutched tightly at his shirt, not daring to let go.
Eugene's steps paused as he looked down. Because of her action, the rigid lines on his strong, handsome face softened just a bit.
She nuzzled her face against his chest like a kitten, rubbing her sweat and tears onto his white shirt, burrowing deeper and clinging tighter. Clearly, Eugene's mood had improved significantly.
All the employees breathed a quiet sigh of relief. They had been through tough times these past two months. Now, although Eugene wasn't smiling, he was at least less cold. 'It looks like the dawn of victory is near,' they thought to themselves.
Eugene quietly looked at Lorraine for three seconds, then started to continue down the stairs. But she arched forward, let out a contented little sigh, and clung to him even tighter. "Mommy, have you come to get me?"
Eugene's steps faltered, and he looked exasperated. He wanted to throw the woman in his arms out the window. His face, which had just started to clear up, was instantly clouded over again.
The others didn't dare breathe, and even Isaac hung his head. Although he was laughing inside, his face remained composed.
Eugene's face turned completely cold. He freed one hand to gently wipe away the tears on her cheek and murmured, "Did you hit your head and go silly again? Still so stupid."
After scolding her, Eugene didn't feel any better. He just let out a soft sigh in his heart.