"Mom, Dad, Kevin, what''s going on?" Karina ran into the house in a panic, only to find several burly men pinning Kevin to the floor.


    Another man was sprawled on the sofa, casually smoking a cigarette.


    Mr. White was standing in front of him, humbly begging him to let his son go. Mrs. White was slumped nearby, weeping uncontrobly as she watched Kevin being held down.


    "What are you doing? Let my brother go!" Karina lunged forward to protect her brother, but she was roughly pulled away by the men.


    Karina stumbled a few steps before falling to the ground. She already looked a mess, and now she looked even more pathetic.


    Mrs. White showed no concern for Karina''s fall. Instead, her eyes lit up as she looked at her daughter, then shouted to the man on the sofa, "She''s the one who signed the IOU! Get the money from her! She''s married into the Thompson family, the richest family in Istra! They have plenty of money! If you want money, take her! Just let my son go!"


    Karina sat on the floor, staring nkly at her mother as if she''d been struck dumb.


    The man on the sofa, clearly the leader, flicked his cigarette and waved a hand, signaling his men to release Kevin.


    After letting Kevin go, the men walked over to Karina, unceremoniously hauled her to her feet, and shoved her down onto a nearby sofa.


    "Mrs. Thompson. A pleasure to finally meet you," the man on the sofa said with a smirk, his gaze slimy and lecherous. He flicked his cigarette again, the ashnding perfectly on her dress.


    Two men held Karina down by her shoulders, pinning her in ce. Her face was deathly pale. "What... what do you want?"


    "Don''t get the wrong idea, Mrs. Thompson. We''re not bad people. We''re just here to collect a debt. You remember this IOU, don''t you? Debts must be paid. It''s only fair."


    The man slowly unfolded the IOU and shoved it in Karina''s face.


    Karina stared at the paper-the one her parents had forced her to sign for Kevin.


    "I... I don''t have that much money right now. Please, just give me some more time," Karina stammered.


    "How much time?" the man asked.


    "O-one week," Karina trembled, on the verge of tears.


    "Fine. One week it is," the man said, sounding surprisingly agreeable. He then gestured to his men.


    Two of his men grabbed Kevin again. Pinned to the floor once more, Kevin shrieked in terror.


    "Why are you grabbing my son again? Let him go!" Mrs. White cried, lunging at the men holding Kevin, only to be kicked to the ground.


    "We''re just going to have your son as our guest for a few days. Once Mrs Thompson has the money ready, we''ll return him in one piece.


    The man stood up from the sofa and held up one finger. "You have one week. If we don''t have the money in one week, I can''t guarantee your son will still be in one piece. Don''t me me hees back missing an arm or a leg."


    "You... you can''t touch my son! Let him go!" Mrs. White wailed hysterically, but could only watch as Kevin was dragged away.


    "Mom, Dad, help me! Please, help me!" Kevin cried, a blubbering mess, until he was shoved into a car that sped away, his voice fading into the distance.