73 HER CRUEL FATE (1/2)

Hu Lei heard multiple people speaking around her in emotionless and controlled tones. She tried to open her eyes, but they felt swollen and heavy. She tried to move her arms or legs, but they felt bound and immobile. Her throat felt dry and hoarse. Even if she wanted to call out for help, she could not.

This feeling… it seemed that she had been sedated once again. She wanted to curse out at her luck which did not seem to be getting better. But what she could not fathom was how she had fallen into yet another trap. After the incident involving her father, she had become more vigilant.

She tried to recall what had occurred before she had ended up where she was at the moment. Nothing strange had happened as far as she could remember. She had spent the day as she always did. She had gone to the gym, flipped through some books and napped. When evening came, she had eaten before taking a shower and going to bed.

When had she been drugged? And how had she been taken away without realising?

Failing to come up with an answer, she could only assume that the lab had finally acquired or created a drug she could not detect. If it had been in her food, she would have been knocked out cold while sleeping. She would not even notice if people came into her room and dragged her out.

She tried to gather her strength. Right now, she did not know anything. But it did not take much consideration for her to understand that nothing good could be happening. If she was an enthusiast, she would assume that they had taken her out of the lab. However, she had always been pragmatic and never looked at anything through rose-coloured glasses.

If she was not in her room, she was definitely in trouble. With much effort, she began to wiggle on whatever surface she seemed strapped onto. The struggle was futile, but at least, she felt that there was nothing wrong with her body.

”Ah-Lei, do not worry. I won't let anything bad happen to you.” A familiar voice spoke to her in a soothing tone.

Unfortunately, this gentle voice did not ease her worry. She felt more apprehensive and tried to struggle even more. With difficulty, she finally opened her eyes into narrow slits. Everything seemed blurry, and the light was harsh on her eyes. There was no mistake. The man before her was her father.

She tried to open her mouth to ask what, why and where, but her dry lips and parched throat did not allow her to speak.

”This is the only way I can protect you.” Her father whispered gently. ”I was wrong to come here and even more so, to lure you here because of my selfishness. When we get out of here, I will be a good father.”

Hu Lei's painful eyes could not bear the blurry sight of her father. She could not. She closed her eyes, and a single drop of a tear came out of each eye. She did not feel anger or disappointment. She just felt tired and heartbroken.

In that moment, she felt her will to fight fade from her body. It was not that she did not want to leave and live. She just realised that it was futile to keep fighting if her father was not on her team. How could she win if the game was already rigged?