ODDS OF LOVE - SEASON 14

Episode 25

                                                 Tuesday September 30, 2025

Ariel could hear her captor in the room she was being held. She could not see him because of the rough blindfold tied around her eyes but she could hear him. He sounded young. Not as young as her sons but around Max's age. Possibly. And , she detected an accent in his harsh deep voice. She would never forget that voice as long as she lived. Although , she thought with despair as she shivered on the bed with no clothes on and tied and gagged , who knew exactly how long that would be ? She was only forty one years old. Would she live to see forty two ? Would she ever see her sons again ? She wanted to cry but she wouldn't give this monster the satisfaction of seeing her weep. 

He had told her that he had asked for ransom. He had asked for a million dollars from Nicholas. She wanted to laugh. Yes. She knew that Nicholas had told her he was falling for her and she had responded in kind. She had not lied to him. Part of her did love Nicholas , the type of man she had always dreamed of meeting as a young girl but never thought she would. Yet she also loved a man who was not at all right for her. 

Too young at thirty one.

Already married.

Father of three young children he adored. 

And , he was a fervent Catholic. He deeply believed in God and thought what they were doing was a grave sin. He thought divorce was a sin that would damn his eternal soul to hell. Yes , Max came back to her so many times , and she gave into him all those times but ........ She was not going to be the reason he left his wife and children. If  she was rescued she would still choose Nicholas in spite of her growing feelings for Maxim. Because Nicholas was right in all the ways she had once thought Gordon was. But...... But..... Her eyes welled up with a sudden wave of tears against her will. But she wouldn't be rescued according to him. This man had told her in his cold cruel unfeeling voice that even if Nicholas paid the ransom she would still die. And the way he had promised to murder her had horrified her. 

( " They shall never discover any part of you , Mrs. Kendall. Such a pity. You are a great beauty.I assume that your gentleman friend shall miss you but then again a man like him can easily replace a mere woman. " )

She screamed behind the gag in her mouth , pulling hard at the thick ropes that bound her hands to the bed railing. She kept trying to scream. Certainly someone could hear her ! Where was she at ! She had to live ! For her sons ! Jeff ! Alan ! They had already their father. Alan could not walk...... They had no other family except her sister and who knew where she was now..... Who would be there for them....... Nicholas...... Max....... Please , dear God , Father art in heaven , hallowed be thy name ....... Help......

She heard his feet coming closer to her and her heart pounded harder in her chest. Her chest heaved up and down with each shallow breath in her body. Please. No. No. She didn't want to die...... Someone help.......

She felt him grab one of her hands and to her amazement she realized he was untying the rope from it. Hope flourished in her. Then it ceased rapidly as she wondered if it was time to die now. Then she felt a sharp pain in her hand , one of her fingers , and she began to scream once again behind the gag ;  this time in utter pain. What was he doing to her ! 

" In case the great man does not take me serious I shall send him a gift. Do not worry. I shall clean and bandage your hand for you. Would not want you to get an infection and pass away , would we ? " 

As he laughed hoarsely she felt something cool dripping on her hand. She got mad and balled up her free hand and punched out in the air. To her satisfaction she hit what she felt was skin and heard him grunt in surprise. 

Unfortunately afterwards he returned the favor by punching her in the face.

" Bitch , " he said before he spit in her face.