Addison was leading the way, carefully guiding the elderly woman. Just as she was about to step onto the stairs, she suddenly heard something from behind. Was that a shout? What's going on? She furrowed her brows and quickly glanced over her shoulder. A man was passing by with a medical record in his hand, appearing hurried as if he was heading for a follow-up appointment. Had she imagined it? "Doctor, is something wrong?" The crone asked, noticing Addison had stopped walking. Addison snapped out of her thoughts, shaking her head with a small smile. "Nothing. Shall we go inside?" The crone nodded and, leaning on her cane, continued forward. But Addison still felt uneasy, as though something wasn't quite right. She glanced behind her one last time. The man had gone, and now there was no one there. The only whisper came from the icy breeze, and it invited the dead leaves for a dance. Had she really imagined it? Shaking off the feeling, Addison helped the crone up the stairs and into the room. Meanwhile ... Virginia's scalp burned with pain as the man pulled her hair mercilessly. She struggled to tilt her head back, hoping to ease the sharp ache. "Let me go—" Virginia tried to scream, but all that came out were broken sobs. The man was growing impatient with her cries. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a hood, slamming it over Virginia's face with brutal force. He gripped her head tightly, forcing the hood over her."Shut up." "Stop talking, or I'll end it for you." The hood blocked out her sight, leaving her in complete darkness. All she could do was whimper, her fear making her body tremble. The man saw her finally quiet down and dragged her into a nearby alley. There, Samuel was already waiting. He had parked the car and was sharpening a knife, ready for Virginia's arrival. Virginia stumbled forward, dragged by her hair. The pain in her scalp had grown numb, but the terror still gripped her heart. Virginia's heart pounded in her chest as fear overtook her. Desperation fueled her efforts to break free, but the panic only made her voice crack as she screamed for help. She reached out with all her strength, pushing against the man's hand as she cried out. "Still making noise?" the man growled, irritation in his tone. He kicked Virginia hard in the stomach. She gasped and fell to the ground, barely able to breathe. "Well, look who finally showed up," Samuel remarked with a grin as his man dragged Virginia closer by her hair. He set down the knife he had been sharpening, leaping off the car to meet them. "We got her, boss," the man said as he pulled the struggling woman forward. Samuel nodded, pleased. "Let her go. You'll be rewarded." "Right away." The man's face brightened at the promise of a reward. Virginia's hair was finally released, but she was too weak to resist. She slumped, too drained to put up a fight. Samuel surveyed her as she lay there, her clothes stained with dirt. Her scarf was missing, probably lost during the struggle, and a large footprint marked her shirt. "Disgusting," Samuel muttered, looking down at her with contempt. Far worse than the poor.Virginia could hear the words, though her face was covered, her mouth muffled. Her teeth clenched as tears welled up in her eyes. Did he just call me ... disgusting? Samuel stood over her without a hint of sympathy. "What now, boss? Should we whoop her *ss for what she did to our bros?" someone asked. Samuel ran his finger along the knife's blade, watching it gleam in the sunlight. Despite his desire for action, his better judgment told him this wasn't the right place. "Take her to the car." "Yes, boss." Virginia was thrown into the car, her body limp and unresponsive. The moment the engine roared to life, she tried to move, her panic surging once more. Samuel was quick to act. His arm shot out, blocking her chest to stop any further movement. Virginia's mind raced. She tried to bite him, but the gag in her mouth made it impossible. Frustration boiled inside her, and then a plan formed. She reached down, pulling off her high-heeled shoe. Without thinking, she lunged at him, aiming for his face. She wanted to hurt him, to stop him, to do anything to fight back. But Samuel was too sharp. He saw through her attempt and tilted his head just in time, the heel missing its mark. Before she could try again, he snatched the shoe out of her hand. Virginia winced, the failure stinging, but she couldn't react fast enough. Now the shoe was in Samuel's hand.He gripped her chin and pressed the heel against her face. "I've heard these are expensive," he said, his voice full of mockery. "How much do they really cost?" His words dripped with cruelty. "Which is more valuable?" he sneered. "Your face, or these shoes?" The heel dug into her skin, the pressure unbearable. She could feel it inching closer to her face, ready to pierce her skin at any moment. "Please, no—" she begged, her voice trembling with fear. Samuel paid no attention to her pleas. He tightened his grip on her head and slapped her cheek with the heel. "Disgusting filth like you doesn't deserve shoes like these," he taunted. The heel pressed deeper, and Virginia gasped as pain shot through her. She felt the first drops of blood trickle down her face. "Please, no—" she whispered, her voice breaking. Her face, the one part of her that mattered the most to her, was in danger. She couldn't bear the thought of it being ruined. Tears mingled with blood as they streaked down her cheeks. For a moment, she felt as though everything was slipping away. Samuel looked at her, a slight smile curling on his lips. "You were so sure of yourself earlier." "Still so confident?" Virginia remained motionless, her silence almost oppressive. Samuel muttered a few more choice words, but there was no response. He grew bored, his interest slipping away. With a swift motion, he rolled down the window and tossed the high heel onto the sidewalk.The car moved on, the sound fading as it drove off into the distance. ... Addison had just finished the crone's check-up. As she had expected, there were significant concerns with her heart. Without wasting any time, she scheduled a surgical procedure for a few days from now. Once everything was in order, she exited the room. I wonder how Uncle's holding up ... He must be exhausted from caring for all those patients. Addison shook her head. She knew she had to help him. He'd probably miss lunch if she didn't. She walked toward the consultation area. Halfway there, something on the side of the road caught her eye ... a high heel? Addison blinked and rubbed her eyes. A high heel? Was she seeing things? She stepped closer for a better look. It was indeed a high heel—one that seemed to belong to an exclusive designer. What is it doing here? She scanned the area but saw no one nearby. Did someone throw it away? But who would discard such a valuable item? This is wasteful! Addison frowned, disbelief washing over her.