The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 1527 Cooperation

Hungry and thirsty, Melissa wearily laid on the floor. Her lips were dry, and she was desperate for water.

All of a sudden, the door flung open after it was kicked violently from the outside.

Melissa struggled to get up and looked at the visitor in great terror. She curled herself up in the corner, trembling like a homeless dog.

The man walked towards her and violently tore the tape from her lips, making her lips bleed.

"Let me out! Please, let me out!" Melissa started screaming hysterically as soon as she could speak. She had already gone crazy.

However, the man who worked for the usury company felt no remorse. He had seen so many people like that before. His expression remained cold as marble. He found Melissa's noise extremely annoying. "Shut up!" the man shouted. Melissa felt her eardrum almost get perforated with his loud voice.

His power intimidated Melissa. Like a deflated balloon, she collapsed at a corner silently and looked at the man with pleading eyes.

"Ms. Shen, save your energy and stop making those useless efforts. Debts should be paid. Until you have paid off your debts, you'll have to stay here. But I'm warning you, if you can't give us back that three million dollars within two days, we'll cut your limbs and throw you into the sea. You'll be nice food for the sharks!"

A cold grin crossed the man's face, making him even more dreadful. Melissa got goose bumps, feeling the creepiness in his demonic aura.

However, his words scared her more. She trembled with fear and her heart raced. His words continued to ring in her ears, terrifying her even more.

"No!" Melissa shook her head desperately as she tried to retreat from this man. However, she couldn't go any further because she was already cornered. She felt the cold walls on her back. The man snapped, "You have no choice!"

He watched Melissa's coward expression with great interest. She was like a nasty mouse cornered by merely his words. Killing her was as simple as stepping on an ant. He couldn't help but feel so powerful. Raising his hand to check the time, he said, "From now on, if nobody pays the money for you, you'll be dead! This is our rule."

A bloodthirsty smile crept on his face.

Melissa completely freaked out. She didn't dare to displease him, so she nodded numbly as if possessed by the devil.

"I promise, I will pay the money. Please, don't kill me. Please spare my life! Don't kill me!" Melissa knelt down and crawled forward in tears, dragging the man's trouser to plead. There was nothing more to lose. She had already given up her dignity and pride.

The man gripped her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

"If you behave well enough, we'll surely set you free. But if you dare play tricks on us, or cause us to loss the money, you'll die in the most miserable way," he threatened. He looked at Melissa like a venomous serpent.

Melissa replied stiffly like a zombie, "Yes, I promise I'll pay."

The man felt very satisfied with the effect he had on Melissa. He then left elatedly.

The door was shut closed heavily. Its sudden thud, which sounded like it came from hell, shocked Melissa.

After he left, Melissa's knees felt so weak that she collapsed on the floor. Her dull eyes stared at the dark wall, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her face was as white as a sheet.

Fear continuously haunted her. Melissa muttered incoherently in the darkness. Her hoarse sound was especially horrid.

After some time, Melissa regained logic. She realized that no matter what, she had to collect enough money to pay the usury. Her life was the top priority now. She was such a fool to be gambling. But there was no use regretting.

However, where in god's hand could she get so much money? She already lost all her savings in gambling.

Naturally, she thought of Charles.

She wanted to call Charles and ask him to pay for her salvation. She couldn't think of anyone else who was able to help her now.

Luckily, these people didn't take her cell phone. They threw it on the floor by her side. They might have thought that Melissa wouldn't dare to fool them or call the police to report them. It was true. Melissa smiled bitterly.

Melissa reached out and got her cell phone. She flipped to the contact page, hoping to call Charles, but then she froze.

Charles' serious and irritated face popped up in her mind. She recalled how Charles was annoyed at her, when she also lost all her money in a casino last time. He warned her that if she did it again, he would cut her off without a penny.

With trembling hands, Melissa hesitated as she couldn't make up her mind.

'Call him or don't call him?' she asked herself repeatedly. These two choices felt like it was tearing her apart.

Charles' solemn face and that of the fierce usury guy appeared alternately in her mind, and finally they overlapped.

At that moment, Melissa decided not to call Charles. If her life was really in danger, she would choose to call him. She was his mother, and she was sure that he wouldn't bear to see her die. Charles was her ace in the hole, so she wouldn't use him unless the situation called for her final card. After all, cutting off her money wasn't something she desired.

But now, she got another problem. If she wouldn't call Charles, who else could she turn to? Should she wait another two days?

Pulling out a strand of hair falling on her face, she kept thinking for a solution. She bit her dry lips, now bleeding. But she couldn't find any. Finally, she fell asleep in hunger and coldness.

Deep in the night, no stars were in sight. Only the full moon hung on the clear black sky. The air was thick and humid.

During that time, Holley was elated at the smooth progress of her plan. But to ensure the best results, she would need Leila's cooperation. Holley thought, 'Leila, I have created a good start for you. Don't fail me!'