Chapter 172

Max slipped into his pajamas and wandered over to the floor–to–ceiling windows. “Dad’s orders?

When?”

Whatever came through on the other end rendered him silent for a moment. “You handle it.”

After hanging up, he approached the bed and carefully tucked Brielle in, then turned and walked away.

Only when the bedroom door clicked shut did Brielle slowly open her eyes.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway, heading towards the study, it seemed.

She turned over, the name ‘Alivia‘ stirring unrest within her.

A self–deprecating smile crept across Brielle’s face. Was he about to meet with the Barnes girl? She gently patted her somewhat stifled chest, realizing she had no right to be jealous. Therefore, she had to manage her emotions well.

She couldn’t let him find out. She couldn’t let anyone find out.

The next morning, she was up at six.

She had planned to say goodbye to Max in person, but Patrick informed her he had gone to the office overnight to deal with paperwork.

A wave of disappointment crossed her eyes, but then she thought, maybe it was for the best.

The fluttering of her heart from last night lingered, and his business trip was the perfect chance to calm down.

She freshened up back at her apartment, grabbed her laptop and all her documents, and set off. Since she’s rushed for time, she missed Aubree’s text message.

Not until she was in the cab did she see Aubree’s message.

[Bri, did you hear? Sophia’s gone missing.]

Brielle frowned. Sophia missing?

[Are you sure? I thought she went to a banquet, right?]

No wonder the Rowlands didn’t hassle her last night. It was because Sophia had vanished. H ow could Sophia just disappear?

She hadn’t heard even a whisper.

The Rowlands said she definitely went to the banquet. The cops questioned a bunch of people. Some saw her, but after she went to talk to Lillian, she was gone.

Vanished after seeing Lillian? Could it be related to hel?

Knowing Lillian as she did. Brielle doubted she would leave such an obvious clue.

And Lillian had no reason to do this. Something else must have happened last night. Maybe someone was fishing in troubled waters.

Aubree sent another cautious message.

[Be safe. We don’t know who’s behind Sophia’s disappearance or who they’re really after. Keep yourself protected until things clear up.]

Brielle had a similar hunch, but it was still unclear which side was involved.

As she was about to exit the cab, her phone buzzed with a new message.

–[You’re next.]

Following the message was a photo.

In it, Sophia looked battered and collapsed on the ground, hands and feet bound, eyes covered with a thick black cloth, her body marred with lash marks.

She had vanished only for a night, yet she looked half–dead.

This was a threatening message from a kidnapper.

Brielle frowned and didn’t hesitate to contact last night’s police and forwarded the number.

The response from the police was swift.

“Ms. Brielle, it’s a burner phone, and the signal is intermittent, likely scrambling detection. This is professional work. Officers will be dispatched for your protection.”

Just as Brielle was about to inform them she was en route to a business trip, another buzz from the phone brought another message from the same number.

A photo, of her, standing outside the airport, less than a hundred meters away.

Brielle’s complexion turned grim, and she whispered to the police. “I’m being watched, right outside the airport. It’s crowded here, and they won’t make a move yet. I hope your people can.

get here fast.”

“Ms. Brielle, don’t worry, we’re on our way.”

Her heart raced as she hung up, then she positioned herself in the most visible location, standing still.

Guns were banned in the country. No one could take her life from a hundred meters away.

And anyone approaching her, she would vigilantly watch their next move.

Her phone rang again, another new message.

–[Leaving the country will only get you killed faster.]