A Night of Desire

Skylar Hayes wandered aimlessly down the street, her mind consumed by Jean Jarvis’s words: "Her clothes were in tatters, a complete mess. It was obvious she’d been violated..."

The phone in her pocket kept ringing, but it was as if she couldn’t hear it.

There weren’t many people on the street. Seeing her stumbling about, they were a little frightened and gave her a wide berth. As a result, Skylar didn’t have to worry about bumping into anyone.

But while she didn’t bump into anyone, someone bumped into *her*.

The man ran into her from behind. Skylar was already unsteady on her feet, and the impact sent her sprawling to the ground.

The man who had run into her started cursing, then kicked Skylar as she lay on the ground.

Skylar subconsciously thought she was at fault and looked up to apologize. But when her gaze met the man’s face, she snapped back to her senses and lunged, grabbing onto his leg.

’It was him! The man who had kidnapped her all those years ago and ruined her life!’

"It’s you? I’ve finally caught you," Skylar said, scrambling to her feet and grabbing his arm to keep him from leaving. "Do you have any idea how much misery you caused me back then?"

The man was stunned by her. He struggled to pull his arm free, cursing, "What the hell are you talking about? Who hurt you? You crazy bitch!"

But Skylar held on to him for dear life. "You could have just kidnapped me for money! Why did you have to do *that* to me? Hurting me was one thing, but don’t you know you hurt my daughter, too? With a past like hers, how can she ever hold her head high?"

"You crazy bitch, what are you even saying? Who kidnapped you...?" The man, who had been in a hurry to get away, hadn’t been listening closely. But as he repeated her words, they suddenly registered.

He stared at Skylar, taking a closer look, and his heart lurched.

More than twenty years had passed, and Skylar’s appearance had changed, but he recognized her. It was the only kidnapping he’d ever committed in his life; this was the woman from back then.

’But I only held her for a few days. I didn’t do anything else to her. How could that have ruined her whole life? And what was all this about ruining her daughter? What did her daughter have to do with anything?’

"You crazy bitch, stop spouting nonsense! I don’t even know you! Kidnapping? Ruining your life? Let go of me!"

The man struggled as he spoke. Skylar, for all her effort, was no match for his strength. He wrenched his arm from her grasp and was about to shove her to the ground to be free of her.

Just then, a commanding voice rang out, "What do you think you’re doing? Stop!"

The man whipped his head around to see a tall man approaching. He instantly let her go, spun around, and fled.

Marcus Jarvis didn’t bother chasing after him. Instead, he pulled Skylar close, looking her over anxiously. "Skylar, are you all right?"

He had waited for her at home for a long time, and when she didn’t return, he decided to call her. He had tried again and again, but there was no answer.

He started to worry, so he drove to the supermarket to look for her.

He never expected to find her on the way, being accosted by some man. Thankfully, he arrived just in time; otherwise, who knows what might have happened.

Skylar’s gaze landed on Marcus Jarvis’s face. She grabbed his hand and pleaded, "Marcus, quick, go after him! Don’t let him get away!"

Marcus turned, but the man had already vanished.

Skylar saw it too—the man was gone. Despair washed over her face. ’I let that monster get away again!’