Betrayed Spotlight
Chapter 23: The trap

Chapter 23: The trap

Zachary and Sarah spent the next three hours going over potential opportunities. Zachary had lined up several interviews with major magazines, a possible endorsement deal with a luxury brand, and most excitingly, an offer to record a duet with one of the country’s biggest male singers.

"This is incredible," Sarah said, looking through the proposals. "I can’t believe how much has changed in just a few days."

"That’s the power of the Liu name," Zachary said seriously. "But Sarah, you have to understand, this is just the beginning. You have real talent, and now you have the platform to show it. Don’t waste this opportunity."

Sarah nodded, feeling more determined than ever. "I won’t. I’m ready to work harder than I ever have before."

They spent the rest of the afternoon planning her comeback strategy as usual.

Zachary introduced her to his assistant, a young woman named Lisa who would help coordinate her schedule. They discussed wardrobe choices, interview talking points, and social media strategy.

By the time evening arrived, Sarah felt exhausted but exhilarated. She had forgotten how good it felt to talk about music, to plan for the future, to feel like her career was moving forward instead of falling apart.

"James and Mason should be here to pick me up soon," Sarah said, checking her phone as they wrapped up their meeting.

"James?" Zachary asked.

"Mason’s driver. Mason always comes to get me. James drives him." Sarah felt a warm flutter in her chest as she said it. Even though their marriage was contractual, Mason’s care for her safety felt genuine.

As if on cue, her phone rang. But instead of James, it was an unknown number.

"Hello?" Sarah answered cautiously.

"Sarah, my dear daughter." The voice made Sarah’s blood run cold. It was her father.

"What do you want?" Sarah asked, her voice becoming tense. Zachary noticed the change in her demeanor and looked concerned.

"Sarah, please come home. I’m sick. Very sick." Elliot’s voice was weak, and Sarah could hear him coughing violently. "I think... I think I’m dying."

Sarah felt her heart twist despite everything that had happened between them. "What’s wrong with you?"

"The doctors... they say it’s my heart. I’ve been having chest pains all day." Another round of harsh coughing followed. "Sarah, I know we’ve had our differences, but you’re still my daughter. Please, I need to see you before..."

The line went quiet except for his labored breathing.

Sarah closed her eyes, fighting with herself. After everything he had done to her – choosing Hannah over her, letting Diamond destroy her career, never standing up for her – she should hang up. But the thought of her father dying alone, even with Hannah and Amelia there, they wouldn’t even be concerned.

"Sarah?" Zachary asked softly. "Everything okay?"

Sarah covered the phone. "It’s my father. He says he’s dying."

Zachary frowned. "After everything he’s done to you?"

"I know," Sarah whispered. "But I can’t just let him die alone."

She uncovered the phone. "Where are you?"

"At home. At our Manor. Sarah, please hurry. I don’t know how much time I have left."

"I’ll be there," Sarah said reluctantly.

She hung up and immediately called Mason’s office, but Derek told her Mason was in an important meeting and couldn’t be disturbed. She tried calling James directly, but his phone went to voicemail.

"I have to go," Sarah told Zachary, grabbing her purse. "I’ll call Mason later to let him know where I am."

"Are you sure about this?" Zachary asked, standing up. "Something feels wrong about this."

"He’s my father," Sarah said, though she didn’t sound entirely convinced herself. "I have to at least try."

Zachary walked her downstairs and helped her get a taxi. "I can always lend you my car." he offered again.

"No, thanks." Sarah grinned.

"Fine. Call me if you need anything," he said as she got into the cab. "And be careful."

Sarah gave the driver the address of the Chen family’s Manor, then pulled her scarf up to cover most of her face. Ever since her fall from grace, she had learned to be careful about being recognized in public. Diamond Sound Entertainment had taken everything from her, her recording contract, her endorsement deals, even her car and apartment. The only reason she wasn’t completely broke was because of her marriage to Mason.

Even if her name was cleared, people still hated her.

The taxi ride to her childhood home took forty minutes through heavy traffic. Sarah spent the entire time thinking about what she would say to her father. Despite her anger at him, she didn’t want their last conversation to be filled with bitterness.

When they arrived, she got down and made her way to the door.

But as she walked up to the front door, she noticed something strange. All the lights were off except for a few on the upper floor.

She tried the front door and found it unlocked. "Hello?" she called out as she stepped inside. "Dad? Anyone?"

The house was eerily quiet. Usually, there were servants bustling around, or she could hear the television from the living room. But tonight, the manor felt abandoned.

Sarah made her way through the familiar hallways, her footsteps echoing in the silence. "Dad?" she called again, louder this time.

A young servant girl appeared from the kitchen, looking nervous and jumpy.

"Miss Sarah!" the girl said, clearly surprised to see her. "What are you doing here?"

"I’m here to see my father. He called me, said he was sick," Sarah explained. "Where is everyone?"

The servant girl looked around nervously. "Mr. Chen is in his bedroom upstairs. But Miss Sarah, maybe you should—"

"Where are Amelia and Hannah?" Sarah asked.

"They... they left this afternoon. Packed their bags and left."

Sarah felt a chill run down her spine. Why would they leave if her father was dying? "What happened? Why did they leave?"

The servant girl opened her mouth to answer, but then shook her head quickly. "I don’t know, Miss. You should go see Mr. Chen. He’s been asking for you."

Sarah climbed the stairs slowly, each step filling her with more dread. Something was very wrong here. The house felt too quiet, too empty. And why had Amelia and Hannah left so suddenly?

She reached her father’s bedroom door and knocked softly. "Dad? It’s Sarah."

"Come in," came a weak voice from inside.

Sarah opened the door and stepped into the dimly lit room. Her father was lying in bed, looking pale and frail. But what made her blood run cold was the man sitting in the chair next to the bed.

He was tall and thin, wearing an expensive suit, but something about him radiated danger. His eyes were cold and calculating, and when he smiled at Sarah, she felt every instinct in her body screaming at her to run.

But she forced herself to stay calm. She walked over to the bed and looked down at her father. "Dad, what’s wrong? What did the doctors say?"

"Your father is fine," the man said, his voice smooth but threatening. "At least for now."

Sarah turned to face him, trying to keep the fear out of her voice. "Who are you? What happened to my father?"

The man leaned back in his chair, studying her with obvious interest. "I’m Mr. Wang. I’m here about a business matter." He paused, his smile becoming more sinister. "Tell me, are you the replacement?"

"Replacement?" Sarah was completely confused. "What are you talking about?"

Mr. Wang sighed, as if he was dealing with a difficult child. "Let me explain the situation to you, Miss Chen. Your father and stepmother borrowed a very large sum of money from my organization six months ago."

Sarah’s heart started pounding. "What kind of organization?"

"Let’s just say we’re very good at getting our money back," Mr. Wang replied. "The problem is, your father can’t pay us back. The interest has been adding up, and now he owes us one million dollars."

Sarah’s legs nearly gave out. "One million? That’s impossible!"

"I’m afraid it’s very possible," Mr. Wang said calmly. "Your stepmother was quite fond of gambling, and your father was quite fond of bad business investments. When they couldn’t pay their debts, they came to us for help."

Sarah looked at her father, who wouldn’t meet her eyes. "Dad, is this true?"

Elliot nodded weakly. "I’m sorry, Sarah. I thought I could pay it back quickly, but everything went wrong."

"So here’s the arrangement we made," Mr. Wang continued. "Since your father couldn’t pay back the money, he agreed to give us one of his daughters instead. A beautiful young woman can work off a debt quite efficiently, if you understand my meaning. And his daughters are both famous. A bonus!"

Sarah felt sick to her stomach. "You’re talking about human trafficking."

"I prefer to think of it as debt collection," Mr. Wang said with a cold smile. "The original plan was to take Hannah. She’s young, pretty, very valuable. But it seems Hannah got wind of our arrangement and disappeared this afternoon."

Sarah stared at her father in horror. "You were going to give Hannah to these people?"

"I had no choice!" Elliot said desperately. "They were going to kill me!"

"So now," Mr. Wang said, standing up from his chair, "we have a problem. Hannah is gone, but the debt remains. Fortunately, you’re here."

Sarah backed toward the door, her heart racing. "I’m not going anywhere with you."

"I’m afraid you don’t have a choice," Mr. Wang said, pulling out his phone. "You see, your father signed a contract. One daughter in exchange for the debt. It doesn’t specify which daughter."

Sarah’s mind was spinning. Her father had called her here not to say goodbye, but to hand her over to loan sharks. The man who was supposed to protect her had sold her to save himself.

"You’re insane if you think I’m going with you," Sarah said, reaching for the door handle.

Mr. Wang smiled and pressed a button on his phone. Immediately, Sarah heard heavy footsteps on the stairs. "I was hoping you’d be reasonable, Miss Chen. But I came prepared for all possibilities."

Sarah’s blood ran cold as she realized the trap she had walked into. Her father had betrayed her in the worst possible way, and now she was trapped in a house with dangerous men who saw her as nothing more than a commodity.

She thought of Mason, probably wondering where she was right now. She thought of her phone in her purse, but the man was between her and any chance of escape.

"Please," she whispered, "there has to be another way."

Mr. Wang’s smile never wavered. "Oh, there is. You could always ask your rich husband to pay the debt. One million dollars should be pocket change for Mason Liu."

Sarah’s heart sank as she realized this had been the plan all along. They didn’t just want her, they also wanted Mason’s money. And they were willing to use her as bait to get it.