RBCT Chapter 153 The Great Aries Who Was Set Up
Chapter 153 The Great Aries Who Was Set Up
Chapter 153 The Great Aries Who Was Set Up
Nicole Kidman had a dream in which she floated in a clear blue sea, the waters of Hawaii, the warm, salty water washing over her ankles before quietly receding.
She lay on the bright yellow air mattress, watching the cotton candy-like clouds slowly unfold in the sky, the sea breeze carrying the sweet fragrance of frangipani flowers, gently brushing against her bare shoulders.
This was the freedom she had always dreamed of, like breaking free from invisible shackles, every inch of her skin greedily breathing in the unrestrained air.
"Ugh—" Nicole suddenly opened her eyes, as if the pain from the crashing waves still lingered in her chest.
The clock in the corner was ticking regularly, its ivory face clearly pointing to ten o'clock, and its gilded hands gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
Years of acting experience have made her accustomed to controlling her expressions, but at this moment, the satisfaction in her eyes and brows was impossible to hide.
Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the lace curtains, casting dappled patterns of light on her pale neck.
As she looked up at the tissue he offered, she met his deep eyes.
Nicole's eyes churned with complex and ever-changing emotions in an instant. Regret entwined her heart like vines, confusion shrouded her thoughts like a thick fog, and coldness was her resistance to the man before her. Yet, hidden deep within, there was a hint of pleasure and satisfaction that she herself was unwilling to admit.
"I can sue you." Her voice was hoarse, like sandpaper scraping, but every word carried certainty.
Ernst raised an eyebrow, then suddenly chuckled, the mockery in his laughter piercing Nicole's heart like needles. "You won't."
He leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear, "You know this won't lead to anything."
It was a vulgar statement, but it was very realistic.
Although Nicole Kidman still had a lot of evidence in her body at this time, what does that prove?
Without video or audio recordings, the controllers of this media empire can make everyone aware of it even by spending money; it's a mutually agreeable arrangement.
In the end, the wisdom that led to her disgrace and ruin was her own.
She is portrayed as a Hollywood actress who is sexually frustrated and bites back.
"And," Ernst straightened up, slowly tying the belt of his silk robe, his tone slightly mocking, "you seem to have forgotten that I am the real victim."
Nicole's pupils suddenly contracted, and a hangover headache surged through her like a tidal wave. Fragments of her memories began to piece together, and memories flooded back.
I got on the bus last night, and then it was just a struggle.
"Stop the car and let me out, or I'll jump out."
Ernst hadn't expected this Australian Aries to be so fierce. After glancing at the scenery outside the car window, Ernst nodded and signaled Tom, who was driving, to stop the car.
The black sedan slowly pulled over to the side of the road, the sound of its tires screeching against the pavement particularly jarring. As Nicole opened the car door, she turned back and threw out a harsh remark, "I know what you're up to. I'm not one of those high-class Hollywood prostitutes."
Ernst didn't say anything, but watched with a smile as the car door closed.
Nicole Kidman secretly breathed a sigh of relief after seeing the car's taillights disappear.
But when she saw her surroundings clearly, her heart, which had just settled down, jumped into her throat again.
The dim streetlights flickered on and off, casting distorted and bizarre shadows of the roadside trees.
The garbage cans on the street emitted a sour, rotten smell, mixed with the odor of cheap alcohol and marijuana, which was nauseating when it entered the nostrils.
At the alleyway not far away, several figures moved about in the shadows, like hungry wolves eyeing their prey.
The words "slum" pierced my mind like an icicle.
This woman, a regular at Beverly Hills and accustomed to its glitz and glamour, never imagined she would set foot in such a place.
She hurriedly rummaged through her handbag for her phone, her fingertips trembling slightly with nervousness.
I must contact my agent as soon as possible and have him come and get me out of this awful place.
She didn't want to stay here for even a minute longer; she knew all too well the danger. If she were recognized, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Those paparazzi rack their brains just to capture some of her scandals, while the people living here will do anything for money.
They were stripped naked, photographed, and videotaped as threats, or even sent to some unknown underground world to be imprisoned and become someone else's plaything.
Countless terrifying thoughts churned in her mind, sending chills down her spine.
"Hey, little girl, are you trying to call for help?" Just as her fair little hand touched the dial button and was about to press it, a rough, grating voice suddenly came from behind her, like sandpaper scraping against glass, making Nicole's hair stand on end instantly.
She felt that the voice was full of malice and greed, just like the whispers of the demons in her nightmares.
She turned around stiffly and saw three men standing under the streetlights, staring at her. Their bare arms were covered with hideous tattoos, the cuffs of their jeans were stained with mud, and their eyes were like vultures eyeing their prey, making no attempt to hide their aggression and excitement.
Nicole Kidman involuntarily took two steps back, her high heels making a screeching sound on the gravel path.
"I can give you money." After a brief moment of panic, she forced herself to calm down and tried to keep her voice steady. "Lots and lots of money."
"Oh God!" a black man with green hair suddenly exclaimed, nudging the bald man next to him. "Boss, it's Nicole Kidman! Tom Cruise's wife."
The moment Nicole was recognized, she felt her blood freeze; everything was heading towards the worst possible outcome.
Her voice began to tremble, but she still made a last-ditch effort: "I told you, I can give you money."
She tried to lure them with money, saying, "Your only goal is money. You've kidnapped me, and now you'll be facing the police."
.
"How about a million dollars? I promise I won't call the police afterwards." She held her breath, waiting for the other party's response, her palms already soaked with cold sweat.
If Ernst were here, he would probably call her stupid without hesitation.
These petty thugs may have originally just wanted to extort a little money, but the words "one million dollars" and "police" undoubtedly ignited their greed, turning their path to survival into a dead end.
Sure enough, the bald gang leader grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "More than a million dollars, I'd like to taste the flavor of a top Hollywood actress first. Then all your wealth will be mine, won't it?"
He licked his lips, his eyes practically overflowing with desire. "Today I'll experience what high society feels like, and make all you high and mighty bitches submit to me."
He waved his hand. "Take him away."
The two henchmen immediately grinned maliciously and stepped forward. Nicole panicked this time and frantically increased her demands while retreating, "How about two million dollars? If you take me away, I won't let you succeed. I'd rather bite my tongue and die."
Her voice was shrill with fear: "Dead people aren't that valuable. You need to think this through."
The bald leader remained unmoved. He winked at his underling, "You've reminded me. Remember to gag her, tie her up tightly, and don't let this money-printing machine die."
"Don't worry, boss," Green Hair replied, then turned around and licked his lips, saying, "Boss, after you're done enjoying yourself, can I experience the allure of a Hollywood actress too?"
As they spoke, Green Hair reached out and tore at her evening gown, stuffing the torn fabric into her mouth, and her heart began to freeze.
A chilling fear overwhelmed Nicole; she could already see her tragic fate. She couldn't imagine what her life would hold.
In her despair, the first image that flashed through her mind was not her husband or her parents, but Ernst's sinister face.
It's all because of that bastard that my family broke up.
It's all because of that bastard that I've ended up like this.
It's all that bastard's fault ———.
She cursed in her heart over and over again, but she could really hear that familiar voice in her ears, deep and powerful, with an undeniable sense of oppression.
Ni thought she was hallucinating. When the voice sounded again, she turned her head sharply, tears instantly blurring her vision.
The frozen heart melted again, whimpering incessantly.
"You bastards, if you don't want to get shot, get the hell out of here." Ernst stood by the car not far away, and several bodyguards pulled out their pistols, the dark muzzles pointed directly at the three thugs.
The man who had been so arrogant just moments before now seemed to have lost all his backbone, obediently raising his hands.
"Good, a wise choice." Ernst walked over, untied Nicole Kidman's ropes, helped her into the car, and as he closed the door, he added, "I don't want to see them in this world again."
The car door shut out the outside world, allowing Nicole's tense nerves to gradually relax, and the grievances that had been building up for days finally erupted at this moment.
She buried her face in her knees and wept uncontrollably, her tears soaking the already ruined silk skirt.
"I want to see the sea," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "I want to get completely drunk."
Then, all the memories came together.
The moonlight on the beach, the salty sea breeze, the clinking of wine glasses, and—her passionate kiss that she took the initiative to give, culminating in their lovemaking in the wild.
Those unrestrained images flashed through her mind, making Nicole's cheeks instantly burn.
"How are those three doing?" She deliberately avoided Ernst's gaze, her voice barely audible, trying to change the subject.
"I think you'll never see them again in this world," Ernst said calmly, as if he were talking about something trivial.
"You killed them?" Nicole looked up abruptly, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
She never imagined that this man would go to such lengths for her.
Ernst didn't answer directly, but a meaningful smile appeared on his lips. "Get a good night's sleep."
Watching Ernst turn and leave, Nicole suddenly felt her eyes welling up with tears.
For the first time, she felt loved by someone other than her parents, something Tom Cruise had never given her.
Ernst, who had already arrived at the guest room, was on the phone, with the sleazy fat man Craig on the other end.
"Hey, Joe asked me to tell you that he really appreciates your generosity. He said it was an honor to be able to serve you. He'll be there whenever you need him again."
Ernst wouldn't care about the gratitude of some nobody; he didn't even open his eyes to look at the bald man last night.
He hung up the phone, took off his bathrobe, and went into the bathroom.