$200,000. This amount lingered in Max's brain. Where the heck will I get that much money? Only a few people she knew might have that money. Peach, Sophie and maybe Han. Would they be willing to give up the money for Caroline's sake? That was another question. I have no other options. I have to at least try for Caroline.

She approached Peach. Peach laughed at her face and thought she was joking. "$200,000? Do you think I'm insane?"

"I told you. Caroline was kidnapped. It's the ransom that was set." Max's voice was filled with exasperation.

"I'm sorry, Max. I don't think you'll ever be able to pay me back if I lent you the money."

"If something happens to Caroline, I swear to god you will hear from me again." Max said before she left.

Then there was Sophie. Sophie agreed to lend Max the money if she and Caroline joined her maid service business for ten years.

"No, thank you." Max politely declined.

"What about five years?" Sophie asked. "Caroline's my friend too, you know."

I might have no other choice. "I'll get back to you, Sophie."

Last was Han. She approached him when they were closing the diner at night. As she arranged the chairs back to their place, she asked Han casually. "Han, can I borrow $200,000 from you?"

"Are you smoking weed?"

Not the time to be cracking jokes, Han. "Caroline was kidnapped."

"For realz?" Han eyed her carefully. "Okay, okay. I believe you. We should tell the cops."

Max shook her head. "We can't or they won't return Caroline." Her voice was now hoarse and dry. "If I don't bring the money tomorrow, I don't know what they'll do to her." She grabbed Han's hand and squeezed him tightly. "Han, please…you're my last hope. How would you feel if something bad happened to Caroline because we didn't pay the ransom?"

Han wrinkled his nose and replied: "I'd love to help but I don't have enough money."

"What? But you've operated this diner for more than five years now."

"I'm only operating it because it's my American dream of mine to own a diner where everyone knows your name. This diner is barely breaking even."

"But you're Korean, so you should have money saved up somewhere."

"That's racist but I'll let that slip for Caroline." He thought for a minute. "I can lend you money from my line of credit. I still have $50,000 available funds. But that's all I have left."

Max hugged her. "Thanks Han. That means a lot to me and Caroline. I still need to come up with the remaining $150,000." She sighed out loud. "If only I had a rich circle of friends…"

"What about that artist friend of yours? John?" Han asked innocently. "I see his name and face all over the tabloids so he must be a celebrity now."

Max's face lit up. "Johnny! Han, you're a genius!" Then she remembered the last time she saw him. He's my only choice. I have no one else to go to. You have to swallow your pride, Max.