Before Elias could answer , the kidnapper dragged the knife across my cheek , drawing a thin line of blood . " No talking ! Choose , Mr Hayes ! " The blade moved to Amelia's face . " Choose , or this pretty face gets ruined too . " Amelia roared a string of curses at Elias , then threatened , " Elias Hayes , if anything happens to me or Kristin , I will personally see to it that your family goes bankrupt . " Pearl , sensing the rising tension , started to wail . Seraphina was still crying , " Elias , save me ! " " Everyone shut up ! " the kidnapper yelled . " You have five seconds , Hayes . " " Five . " " Four . " " Three . " " Two . " " One . " " Wait ! " Elias yelled . " I choose ... " Chapter 2 Chapter 2 " I choose ... neither of them ." 11.48 " Your logic is flawed , " Elias said , looking the kidnapper dead in the eye . " You said you want to kill the woman I love most as revenge . But if I choose one , you're going to let her live and kill the other two , who are presumably less important to me . That defeats your purpose . Logically, you should kill the one I choose . That would be real revenge . " The kidnapper was completely thrown , actually pausing to consider the logic . Seraphina's sobs hitched , her tear - streaked face now looking almost comical . " Shut up ! " the kidnapper finally snapped , recovering . " Since you won't choose , I'll just kill them all ! " He raised the knife to plunge it into my neck . " Kristin ! " Elias screamed . At that exact moment , the doors burst open . " Police ! Nobody move ! " The kidnappers " instantly released us and tried to flee , but they were quickly apprehended . Seraphina stood frozen , her face a mask of disbelief . " Elias , how could you call the police ? That's not how it's supposed to happen in the novels ! You were supposed to choose me ! " One of the kidnappers , now in handcuffs , pointed at her . " It was all her idea ! She hired us ! We're just actors ! She said we just had to play along , and she'd pay us a hundred thousand ! She said she was Mrs. Hayes , and if anything went wrong , she'd take care of it ! I thought it was some weird rich people game ! If I knew the cops would be involved , I never would have agreed ! " All eyes turned to Seraphina . Her face went deathly white . " You're lying ! " she shrieked . " I don't know you ! You're the one with a gru- dge against Elias ! You wanted to make him suffer ! " " Lady , what are you talking about ? " the actor replied . " I'm a movie extra from out of town ! What kind of grudge could I possibly have with a man like Mr. Hayes ? " " You ... you're his business rival ! He bankrupted your company ! You hate him ! "