“TWENTY million dollars.”
“Twenty million? Dollars? Are you out of your mind?!” Vivianne suddenly shouted when she realized what her husband intended to do. “No! That’s too much money! Just leave me here!”
“Shut up, lady,” Raul said in a deep voice, frowning as he seemed annoyed by Vivianne's yelling in a language he didn’t understand.
“Non maledire con mia moglie, Raul.” [Don’t curse at my wife.]
Beckett didn’t like the way Raul reprimanded his wife, especially the tone of his voice. He glared at Raul but quickly calmed himself.
“So, is this enough for you to buy guns from their organization?” Beckett asked, raising the diamond card. “You have collateral, and remember how I saved your ass when we were in elementary school?”
Unbeknownst to everyone, Raul and Beckett were not just acquaintances. They were classmates back in the day, and when someone tried to beat up Raul because he didn’t know how to fight, Beckett saved him. 
They became best friends somehow after that, until they decided to part ways. Raul created a mafia in Italy and offered Beckett to join, but he declined as he had to return to his country at that time.
“Bastard. You don’t need to shove it in my face.” Raul laughed before taking the card from Beckett’s hand. He handed it to one of his men nearby. “Take twenty million from this.”
“Si, Signore.” [Yes, Sir.]
The man left to withdraw the money from Beckett’s card. The process was quick, and the card was soon returned to Raul.
“Make sure the lady will bring the guns to us as soon as possible, and we’ll test the quality of those guns in a month,” Raul said, handing the card back to Beckett. “If nothing is broken, I’ll return your fifteen million. If there is, even just one, then say goodbye to your goddamn dollars.”
“Affare.” [Deal.]
Raul signaled the guards outside the cage to release Vivianne, and they complied. They opened the cage, and Vivianne quickly came out.
She positioned herself next to Beckett, wrapping both hands around his arm. Beckett averted his gaze but secretly smiled.
Raul noticed this and couldn’t help but laugh a little. He never thought he would see Beckett being so whipped like this. Back in high school, his friend did nothing but switch from one girl to another.
“You're lucky to have a husband like him, lady,” Raul said with a smile. Beckett may be a bastard at times, but he's one hell of a good man. He then looked at his men. “Escort them outside.”
The men nodded and guided Beckett and Vivianne out. They got on the motorboat afterwards. The ride back was silent because, besides the noise of the engine, they didn’t know what to say to each other.
Vivianne was immensely grateful that Beckett saved her from that place. It was hell but on a different level. Though she wasn’t beaten too badly because Raul quickly learned the rumor that she was Beckett’s wife, it didn’t lessen the fear in her heart.
But at the same time, she felt guilty. Because of her, Beckett lost twenty million. She knew he was extremely busy, yet he still went to the island to rescue her. If things had gone worse, they might have died together instead of surviving.
“We’re here,” Beckett said, bringing Vivianne back to reality. “Are you okay? Are you hurt somewhere?” He looked at his wife’s arms, which were covered in bruises and cuts. “We’ll go to the hospital after this.”
Vivianne nodded, too drained to argue. “Why will only fifteen million be returned to you if everything goes well? Didn’t you give twenty million?”
“Because that’s his share. That’s how it works here,” Beckett explained as he helped his wife off the motorboat. As they walked towards the car, he asked again, “How’s… your mom?”
“Still in a coma.” Vivianne sighed, looking down at the ground. “S-Sorry for taking out my anger on you that day. I just didn’t know how to feel, but that’s no excuse to lash out at you.”
“It’s fine.” Beckett smiled and opened the passenger seat door. “Hop in. I have something to tell you.”
Although curious, Vivianne got into the car, while Beckett went to the driver’s seat. “I’ll bring you to the hospital first—”
“Take me to the mansion instead. I need to get my things,” Vivianne interrupted.
Beckett frowned. “You’re leaving?”
“No, but I’m coming with you.” They looked at each other as Vivianne said this, but she quickly looked away to adjust her seatbelt. “After some time, I reflected on everything. I realized that Alfred might have something to do with this.”
“He does.” Beckett took a document from the compartment and handed it to her. “He’s making Ella drink something that gradually deteriorates her health, and it was something I couldn’t initially identify. That’s why the drug had side effects. I’m sorry.”
“No. Don’t apologize. This isn’t your fault.” Vivianne shook her head, gripping the document tightly. “Alfred’s greed is the reason behind all of this. He’s willing to do anything to get what he wants.”
Beckett nodded. “I don’t know what his plans are, but one thing’s for sure. He’s trying to kill your mother, slowly but surely.”
“And I need to stop that.” Vivianne looked at her husband, determination in her eyes. “Let’s do the plan again. Let’s save my mom… and destroy Alfred in one blow.”
Beckett smiled at her words. He leaned forward and kissed Vivianne on the lips. “That’s my girl.”
MEANWHILE, Alfred was at a warehouse reviewing documents. He had been smiling all day because several hours had passed without any call from Vivianne.
“They died,” he said with a smile. “Too bad Vivianne didn’t make it alive, but as long as Beckett Clainfer is dead, then every sacrifice was worth it.”
But, he was mistaken about everything.
The secretary knocked on Alfred's office door and reported, "They’re back in the City, and Ma’am Vivianne completed the mission. The Mafia from Italy bought guns from us, and our team is already preparing them."
"How did that happen?" Alfred asked in astonishment.
"From what I heard, Sir Beckett is friends with the leader of the Italian Mafia," the secretary explained. "He was previously recruited to be a member but declined, and now he can’t join because he’s already a member of Foedus."
"Fuck." Alfred cursed upon learning this. He didn’t expect that Beckett would have connections even with the Italian Mafia. "What about Ella? Is she still in the hospital and comatosed?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Tell our men to keep a close watch on her. She’s our only leverage against Vivianne," Alfred said, clenching his fist. "Vivianne won’t leave as long as I have her mother."
The secretary nodded and left to carry out the boss's orders. As soon as the door closed, Alfred could no longer contain himself. He threw all the documents on the floor in a fit of rage.
"Damn it, did you plan all this, Ylona?" he said through gritted teeth. "I won’t let myself be defeated. I've come this far, and I won’t lose this fucking game."