Thinking this through, Simone felt a little more at ease.


    After all, Leonard had weathered more than his share of storms-schemes, traps, betrayals. There was no way this was catching him off guard. All she had to do was make sure she stayed safe.


    She yed along. “Can I speak to my brother now?"


    The man dialed the number and waited. "Mr. Lerman? Your sister has something she wants to say to you." He pressed the phone to Simone''s ear.


    On the other end, Leonard immediately picked up on the tension. "Simone, who is this? What''s happening over there?"


    Simone rushed to exin, "Leonard, I''ve been kidnapped! He says you have half an hour to get here, or else—"


    Before she could finish, the man abruptly hung up.


    Simone stared, stunned. "I wasn''t finished! Why''d you hang up?"


    He shrugged. "Leaving things unsaid gets you the best results. What if your brother thinks it''s not a big deal if you lose your innocence? What if he decides not toe?"


    Simone''s eyes flickered with uncertainty.


    He might have a point. She and Leonard had both grown up in Solmaris, raised in the Western way. If she was still a virgin, it was only because no one had ever truly caught her eye. The men who tried-well, they never stood a chance. They weren''t worthy.


    When she met Joshua, before she even knew who he really was, she hadn''t been entirely opposed to the idea of something happening between them. Now, seeing Joshua as her other half, Simone wanted her first time to be with him and no one else. Until then, she refused to let any man touch her.


    Someone as perfect as Joshua deserved only the best this world had to offer.


    The call over, the man said, "Miss Lerman, get some rest. I''ll be back in thirty minutes."


    Half an hourter, the man returned, a look of feigned regret on his face.


    It had never urred to Simone that Leonard might actually note for her.


    "Miss Lerman, Leonard isn''t here."


    Simone went pale. "No... I don''t


    believe it! He''d never abandon meet


    You''re lying or maybe maybe the time isn''t up yet!"  s


    The man had no patience for her protests. He yanked off the blindfold covering her eyes.


    The sudden re made Simone wince, blinking against the harsh light. When her vision cleared, she saw a menacing bronze mask. The man infront of her wore a voice modtor and a ma?k, his imposing frame d in an impably tailored suit. Everything about his manner radiated elegance and wealth-he was no ordinary criminal.  s


    But Simone still couldn''t tell who he was.


    He pulled up the call log. "Miss Lerman, do you see? Thirty minutes have passed."


    Simone nced at the phone. Sure enough, half an hour had gone by.<fn6fb7> Content originallyes from FιndNovel</fn6fb7>


    She shook her head, refusing to ept it. "My brother must be here! You''re just saying he isn''t!"


    The man looked ready to say something else, but just then, a knock sounded at the door.


    An assistant stepped in. “Sir, someone from Mr. Lerman''s team is here."


    Simone''s eyes lit up. "I knew it! Leonard would never leave me behind!"


    She tried to sit up, struggling against her restraints. "Take me down there. I want to speak to him myself."


    The man turned to his assistant. "Did Leonarde in person?"


    "No, just his assistant."


    Shock flickered across Simone''s face. "No... no, that''s impossible! I don''t believe


    it!"


    The assistant continued,


    "Apparently, not long ago, Aurora


    Williams the heiress of the Williams family was also kidnapped. The


    whole city''s in lockdown, everyone''s searching for Aurora. Leonard is... spread thin at the moment...  s