Chapter 956

Thalassa shot Bruce a look that could freeze hell itself, her body trembling with a blend of fear and revulsion.

When they were inside the house, he had been coy with his intentions. But now, in the stark light of the car’s interior, he had the audacity to speak his vile thoughts aloud.

The nerve! The absolute lack of decency!

She couldn’t let herself end up in the hands of someone like him. She had to find a way to escape.

The car wound down the serpentine mountain road, hugging the curves with a precarious familiarity.

Thalassa kept her gaze locked on the passing scenery and landmarks, memorizing them in case she got the chance to make a break for it.

Halfway through the drive, she spotted a castle-like structure perched atop a nearby peak. Her heart clenched. She recognized it-it was the Sinclair Winery, where she had once attended a charity gala with Ethan.

Could it be that her abduction had taken place near the Sinclair Winery? How could she possibly let the outside world know she had been kidnapped?

The sad truth hit her. If she disappeared, no one would come looking. Evelyn would surely assume she had gone to Royal Estates to be with the children, and those at the Royal Estates would think she had returned to Evelyn’s place.

If she died out here, her absence wouldn’t be noticed until it was too late.

She was on her own.

Thalassa’s hands were tied behind her back, and she struggled against the ropes, hoping to break free.

But all she managed to do was inflict more pain upon her already raw skin.

She watched Bruce cautiously from the corner of her eye, thankful that he seemed oblivious to her movements.

Today, she was wearing a white blouse and a knee-length black skirt with a slit up the side. She stealthily hiked up her skirt and managed to tear a strip of fabric from the slit, clenching it tight in her hands.

“Crack the window, will you? It’s stuffy in here,” she said, her voice a mixture of calm and fury, but inside, panic was taking hold.

Bruce glanced at her in the rear-view mirror. “What are you up to?”

“My hands are tied. What could I possibly do?” Thalassa spat back at him, her anger palpable.

Convinced she was harmless, Bruce rolled down the rear window halfway.

“This is a mountain road. One wrong move and you’ll hit a boulder. Keep your eyes on the road, will you?” she chided him as he kept glancing at the mirror.

“Afraid of dying, are we? I thought you were ready to bite your tongue and end it all just a while ago,”

Bruce mocked.

“It’s you who should be afraid. If you die, all your precious plans go up in smoke,” Thalassa retorted.

Bruce’s smile vanished, replaced by a cold, hard glare, and he didn’t reply. Instead, he focused on the road ahead. Driving on mountain roads required undivided attention; a single mistake could send the car tumbling down the steep slopes.

Seizing her chance, Thalassa shifted closer to the window and stretched her bound hands as far as she could, tossing the stolen strip of fabric out into the open air.

Meanwhile, Richard was driving Charlotte back to the Ravensong family estate. Traffic had been a nightmare, and the journey took far longer than expected.

As they neared the estate, Richard couldn’t resist commenting, “Charlotte, you know, giving Thalassa a lift wouldn’t have been a big deal. You should be more open-minded about these things.”

“You don’t understand, Richard. There’s a reason I didn’t want you to drive Thalassa,” Charlotte said smugly.

“And what’s that reason?” Richard inquired. “Could it be jealousy? Are you worried that if I gave her a ride, I might start to fancy her?”