Stolen Freedom

The roar of the luxury car's engine broke the eerie silence that had settled over the lifeless scene. Lei Xian sat comfortably in the back seat, her posture relaxed, almost regal, as if nothing had happened. Her crimson lips curved into a faint, sinister smile as the tinted window slid down. Outside, her subordinate stood, awaiting orders.

"Clean this mess," Lei Xian instructed coldly, her tone void of any emotion. "Take the girl… but leave no trace of either of them." She paused, eyes gleaming with a cruel satisfaction. "Oh, and bring me the landlord. I have unfinished business with her."

The subordinate bowed his head obediently. "Yes, Boss."

Meanwhile, Xin Yi clung to Hua Li's lifeless body, her arms wrapped tightly around her mother as though her sheer will could keep her alive. Her cries tore through the still air like a wounded animal's wail.

"Mom! Please, wake up…" Her voice trembled, broken by her hiccupping sobs. "Don't leave me… you promised we'd be together forever."

Tears streamed relentlessly down her pale face, her cheeks stained with dirt and grief. Her body shivered violently as she buried her face in Hua Li's blood-soaked clothes, inhaling the fading warmth of her mother's scent.

"Hey, kid, you need to come with us." A harsh voice shattered the moment.

Two men approached, their heavy boots crunching against the gravel. They grabbed Xin Yi by her arms, attempting to pry her away from Hua Li's body.

"No! Let me go! My mom needs me!" Xin Yi screamed, her voice hoarse from crying. She kicked and flailed, desperate to remain by her mother's side. Her fingers clawed at the ground, leaving deep trails in the dirt as they dragged her away. "Please! Don't leave her here alone!"

"Please! Please don't leave her! My mom needs me! She's alone…I need to be with her!"

The men didn't respond. Their expressions remained hard and unfeeling as they shoved Xin Yi into the back of a black van. She banged on the window, her hands trembling, her voice cracking with hopelessness.

"Mom… please…" she whispered, tears blinding her vision. The van door slammed shut with a cold finality.

****

Inside her luxurious car, Lei Xian hummed softly to herself, her head resting against the leather seat. A cruel smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. To her, today was a victory—just another step toward her ultimate goal.

Her subordinate knocked gently on the window, and she lazily slid it down. "Boss, the girl is in the van. Two men are cleaning up the body as you ordered."

"Good. Take the girl to the capital," she ordered smoothly, her voice carrying an unnerving calm. "Make sure you don't get in anyone's line of sight. I don't want any interference."

"Yes, Boss," the man replied, bowing his head before retreating to carry out her orders.

The glass slid back up, and Lei Xian sank deeper into the leather seat, one hand casually brushing back her perfectly styled hair. The car moved forward, leaving the scene of chaos behind.

 "Take me to the town where they lived. There's something I need to handle personally."

****

Inside the van, Xin Yi sat curled on the cold floor, hugging her knees tightly to her chest. Her sobs had turned into silent cries as her tear-streaked face buried into her arms. Her mother's lifeless body flashed before her eyes again and again.

They left her. Alone. Laying there like she was nothing.

Her mind screamed, but her voice refused to come out. When Lei Xian's men had grabbed her, torn her away from Hua Li's body, Xin Yi had fought with every ounce of strength she had left.

But they were merciless. Her cries fell on deaf ears as they forcefully threw her into the van and slammed the door shut.

Now, as the van rumbled forward, Xin Yi sat frozen, her sobs shaking her small body.

"Mom, I'm sorry…I'm so sorry," she whispered over and over, her voice cracking into the darkness.

Meanwhile, Lei Xian's car glided smoothly through the quiet roads as though the chaos had never happened. Humming softly, she closed her eyes, her expression a mask of serenity.

Nothing happened today. Nothing at all.

Her thoughts, however, were anything but serene. "My dear brother," she whispered under her breath. "The universe is on my side. Not only did I find the experiment, but the object itself fell into my lap. The day of reckoning has begun. I will show Father who the real heir of Yi Group is… you or me."

Her lips curled into a dangerous smile, a chill spreading through the car's confined space. Even the man in the driver's seat shifted uncomfortably, his hands gripping the wheel tighter as goosebumps prickled on his skin.

****

When they arrived at the small town, Lei Xian's car stopped in front of the modest two-story house. The house looked lonely, its windows dark, its silence profound—almost as if it mourned the tragedy that had unfolded there.

After a moment, a woman in her sixties approached. She was the landlord, her weathered face alight with curiosity and guarded suspicion. One of Lei Xian's men opened the door, motioning for her to step inside.

As she settled into the plush leather seat, the landlord looked at Lei Xian—a vision of wealth and authority in her designer clothes and diamond accessories. The landlord's gaze lingered on Lei Xian's rings, shoes, and the sleek interior of the car, betraying her greed.

"What do you want, young lady?" she asked cautiously, her voice trembling slightly under Lei Xian's cold stare.

Lei Xian tilted her head, her smirk sharp as a blade. "I want your house."

The landlord blinked in surprise. "What? "But there are two people living here…a mother and her daughter."

Lei Xian's smirk deepened. "Not anymore. From today, they don't exist in your house."

The landlord blinked in confusion. "I…I don't understand."

"I want your building," Lei Xian said smoothly. ..

The landlord hesitated, sensing something ominous in Lei Xian's demeanor. "Why should I sell it?"

Lei Xian leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "I'll pay you twice its market value."

The landlord's eyes widened. "Twice?!" she stammered. So much money… The greed flickered across her face before she could hide it.

" Lei Xian continued, her tone growing sharper. "If anyone comes tomorrow or the day after, asking about the mother and daughter…you will say you know nothing. They left without informing you. Understand?"

The landlord's smile faltered. "But why? Who are you?"

Lei Xian's eyes darkened dangerously. "Don't ask questions," she said, her voice a low warning that sent shivers through the woman.

The landlord swallowed hard. "O-okay, okay. I'll do as you say."

Lei Xian leaned back, gesturing to one of her men. They handed over a real estate contract and a sleek briefcase brimming with cash. The landlord's fingers shook as she signed, her eyes fixed on the money.

"Thank you," she said nervously.

Lei Xian's smile returned, slow and cruel. "Don't thank me. Because if you open your mouth to anyone…" She leaned in, her voice low and dripping with venom. "…all of this will turn into a nightmare. I will make your life a living hell."

The landlord's face paled instantly, the briefcase shaking in her hands. "I…I understand. I won't say anything."

Satisfied, Lei Xian waved her off. The landlord clutched the briefcase to her chest as she scurried from the car.

As the door shut, Lei Xian settled back into her seat, her expression serene. She gazed out at the fading light, a glint of triumph in her eyes.

She whispered to herself, a dangerous glint in her eyes, "Brother…prepare yourself to be defeated. The game has just begun."

The car rolled away, leaving nothing but silence behind....