Chapter 297

Meanwhile, at the Chesire family’s Belmont Hills residence...

No sooner had Amber stepped out than Wanda quickly locked the living room’s security door, collapsed onto

the chilly mattress, and let the tears stream down her face..

She had spent the entire day and night in a state of high alert, cocooning herself in layers of caution. She even avoided the

safest taxis and endured a harrowing journey to Ol’ Mare-all to slip from Marcus’ deadly grip.

The phone rang.

“Kelvin.”

After a good cry, she fumbled for her phone and dialed Kelvin’s number. As soon as the call connected, a fresh

wave of tears broke free. “I’ve made it to Ol’ Mare, you don’t have to worry...”

Her words cut off abruptly as her voice seized up in terror.

At that very moment, in the presidential suite of the Zabaleta Ol’ Mare Seaside Grand Hotel, Kelvin was

sprawled on the floor, drenched in blood.

Marcus stood there, flanked by four hulking bodyguards, a phone in his hand and a cruel smirk on his lips. ”

Wanda, you thought you could just run off to Ol’ Mare and I'd be at a loss?

“You think you can just reject me? I'll have you know, no matter where you try to hide, I'll find you!”

Back in the Chesire living room, Wanda’s face was ashen, her body shaking uncontrollably with fear.

Marcus... Marcus had taken Kelvin!

“You're worried about Kelvin, huh? Don’t bother. Someone like him is beneath my notice!”

Marcus’ boot came crashing down on Kelvin’s arm as he taunted into the phone with a sinister laugh. “Wanda,

don’t say I didn’t give you a chance. Come back and play nice, and all will be forgiven. From here on out, I’ll

treat you like a queen!

“However, if you're going to be stubborn, I’ve got ways to drag you back. Don’t come crying when I’m not so

gentle then. With the Ledger family’s clout, snuffing out a little star like you is a piece of cake!”

Marcus’ laughter was cruel and unhinged as if he had Wanda right where he wanted her.

Wanda’s heart pounded with fear, and she could not bear to listen a second longer. She hung up and crumpled

onto the sofa, her tears flowing freely.

This was bad.

Kelvin was in Marcus’ clutches, and Marcus knew she was hiding out in Ol’ Mare. His threats were not empty

words.

The Ledger family ruled Zabaleta with an iron fist, feared by all. For someone like her, just a small-time

entertainer, they could squash her without a second thought.

+15 BONOS

“OP Mare... I have to get out of Ol’ Mare!”

Panic surged through her, and she could not waste a single moment. She threw on her thick black coat, hid behind her

sunglasses, and yanked open the security door of her apartment, desperate to escape Ol’ Mare.

However, as she swung the door open...

“Miss Briers?”

Outside in the hallway, Amber and Alexander were just about to step through the door when Wanda nearly

crashed into them. She instinctively stepped back, then offered a wistful smile. “I was just saying how Miss

Briers’ name rang a bell, but I couldn’t quite place it.

“You remember, right? I told you New Chesire Group is on the lookout for a new face to represent them. If

you're interested, I was hoping...”

Before he could finish, tears cascaded down Wanda’s cheeks.

What an incredible break that could be for her career in acting, to be the face of New Chesire. However, it was

a dream she had to let go of then. Marcus knew she was hiding out at Ol’ Mare. She had to get out of there,

fast.

“Miss Chesire, I’m so sorry!”

She whipped off her sunglasses, dabbed at her tears, and put them back on. Her voice was thick with emotion.

“I'm touched by your offer, but...I’m in a bind that I can’t talk about. Please don’t take it personally. I have to

leave OI’ Mare right away, and I can’t rent your house anymore. I apologize!”

With that, she spun on her heel and dashed for the stairs.

“Hold on.”

Alexander, who stood next to Amber, stepped forward and blocked Wanda’s path with a gentle smile. “Miss

Briers, if you really have to leave Ol’ Mare, let me at least arrange a ride for you.

“However, before you go, maybe you could tell us what’s got you so spooked?”

Arrange a ride...

Wanda froze in her tracks hesitantly before she shook her head, a look of despair washing over her. “I can’t drag you into this

mess. Forget the car service, I'll figure out my own way to get out of here.

“If anyone comes asking about me, could you... Could you just play dumb? Say you've never seen me before.

I'd owe you big time.”

Hmm. This sounded like she was in deep trouble.

Alexander and Amber locked eyes before giving a slow, decisive shake of their heads. “Miss Briers, with stakes like these, we

can’t in good conscience let you just walk away.

“If you were on the run from the law, Amber and I wouldn’t hide you. However, if you're in the crosshairs of

some bad guys, then...

+15 BONOS

“Agree to be the face of New Chesire, and I promise you, not a soul in Ol’ Mare, heck, not anyone in the whole world, will be able

to lay a finger on you.”