"Ms. Locke, no one has ever come out of the Nathor Palace alive," Ian said grimly. "I should have stopped my wife when she tried to test Danielle's standing with the Charrington family."
He and his wife had built everything from scratch, and during his worst days, she had stood by him. Their bond was deep, and his heart would remain uneasy until he could see her safe and sound.
"Grandpa, why don't I go to the Nathor Palace tomorrow to speak with David?" Cheryl suggested. "Surely, given our relationship, he wouldn't make things too difficult for me." It was the perfect opportunity for her to get closer to David.
Nina, sitting nearby, took a sip of coffee and said coolly, "Are you really going there to save them, or is this just an excuse to see someone?"
Having her intentions so plainly exposed, Cheryl got pissed but kept her smile intact. "Nina, what nonsense are you talking about? I only want to ease Grandpa's worries. I wouldn't want him fretting over such trivial matters."
Nina smirked and replied dismissively, "You know what you're up to, so drop the act." She couldn't stand Cheryl's hypocritical behaviorâit was insufferable.
"That's enough. We'll go with Cheryl's suggestion," Tim interrupted with a hint of displeasure. With the help of the butler, he rose and made his way upstairs.
"Thank you, Ms. Locke," Ian said gratefully. He was powerless against the sisters' feud; he only wished to bring his wife home safely.
Nina cast a sidelong glance at Cheryl. "Mr. Marker, you'd have better luck praying to God than counting on her," she said wryly.
Cheryl's smile stiffened at the thinly veiled jab. Her patience was wearing thin with Nina's provocation the entire night. 'The nerve of her,' she thought, her nails dug into her palms.
"You'd do well to mind your own business. Worry about yourself instead, Nina," Cheryl said pointedly, sipping her coffee before rising and walking out with Ian trailing behind her.
*****
At the Nathor Palace, a fleet of Rolls-Royces pulled up to the estate.
The butler stepped forward and opened the car door. "Mr. Charrington, dinner is ready," he said respectfully.
When Danielle entered the dining hall, she saw her favorite dishes laid out on the table, and warmth spread through her chest. Her stomach let out a loud growl at that moment, causing her face to flush with embarrassment.
David chuckled. "Let's eat."
He picked up a crab, carefully extracting the meat and piling it onto her plate. Without pause, he deboned a piece of fish and placed it in front of her.
He then ladled a bowl of soup and set it down for her before eating.
"This is way too muchâI can't finish it all," Danielle said, her cheeks puffed as she ate.
Standing to the side, the butler felt a sense of comfort as he took in the moment. The usually icy David was finally showing a softer side. It was a rare and heartwarming sight.
David was a man of few words, but he would open up more around Danielle. Throughout the meal, he continued attending to her, making sure she enjoyed her meal.
At that moment, Nathan rushed upstairs to the study with a stack of documents, only to return shortly after.
"Mr. Charrington, those two are locked in the basement. Polly might come here to demand her release," Nathan reported.
"Just make sure they stay alive," David replied in a chilling voice.
Nathan caught his drift. Not only would there be punishment, but it would be severe. Those who offended David always paid a heavy price. Nathan shuddered at the thought. 'They picked the wrong person to mess with.'
David looked at Danielle and said, "I'll take you home."
Danielle glanced at the time and realized it was getting late. "Alright," she replied with a nod.
*****
At Hillside Bay, Polly was wrecking the living room in a fit of rage, smashing everything in sight. What had once been a pristine space now looked as if it had been plundered.
Her bloodshot eyes burned with fury as she screamed, "That little bastard humiliated me in front of everyone! One day, I'll make him pay. He's nothing but an emotionless shell, and yet he thinks he can find a partner?
"I've been married into the Charrington family for decades, yet those two old fools have always looked down on me. If this is how they want to play, don't blame me forâ"
"Mom, enough. Do you even know what you're saying?" Sebastian's sharp voice cut through her tirade. He was lounging on the sofa, unmoved by her outburst. Only when her words threatened to cross a line did he intervene.
Polly froze at her son's words and slowly came to her senses. She realized how dangerously close she had come to saying something that could cause irreparable harm. If Logan and Tara caught wind of what she said, she would be finished.
"I got carried away," Polly replied after regaining her composure.
Sebastian looked at Polly and rebuked, "Don't say such things again unless you want to lose your place in this family."
Polly nodded before turning to the trembling servants cowering by the wall. She hissed, "If any of you dare utter a word of this, think carefully about what might happen to your loved ones."
Fear drained the color from the servants' faces. Working in an affluent household offered high wages, but it wasn't without its risks. Terrified, the maids stammered in unison, "We understand, Mrs. Charrington. We won't say a word."
"Stop standing around and clean this mess," Polly ordered sharply, regaining her usual poise as though she hadn't just exploded in anger.
"Sebastian, come to the study with me," Polly said.
In the study, Polly took a sip of coffee before asking, "Did you see Cheryl today?"
Sebastian's gaze was dark and inscrutable as he picked up on her meaning. "There wasn't a chance to act today," he said evenly. "But I'll find an opportunity."
"Your aunt is locked up in the Nathor Palace. Who knows how she's being tortured?" Polly said with a heavy sigh. She couldn't even enter the Nathor Palace herself. It seemed she had no choice but to seek help from Charrington Manor.
Although she hadn't attended the party, word had it that Logan and Tara were unlikely to side with her. She had to figure out how to save her sister as soon as possible. Her eyes flickered, and an idea began to take shape in her mind.
"Did you plan to kidnap Danielle? Were you planning to use her to threaten David into releasing Aunt Fiona?" Sebastian asked, his voice cold and unfeeling.
"I have considered it," Polly admitted without hesitation.
Polly was usually sharp and shrewd, but when it came to her family, she often lost her judgment. Logan and Tara were clearly fond of Danielle.
Targeting her now would be a reckless move.
"She's off-limitsâfor now, at least," Sebastian warned. "Grandpa and Grandma care about Danielle. Going after her now will only backfire on you. If you want to save Aunt Fiona, you'll have to seek their help."
Not A Small Town Girl (Danielle and David)
ï¤Chapter 177 Sebastian added, "Call Dad and ask him to go with you. He's their son, after all."
Polly figured Sebastian's words made sense. 'There's no use panicking at this point. That little jerk might seize this chance to humiliate me again,' she thought. 'He's just as unbearable as his dead mother. Sooner or later, I'll kick him out of the family for good.'
"Alright, you should get some rest," Polly said, glancing at her son before pulling out her phone to call Geoffrey.
*****