James turned, opened the car door, and sat inside.


    Yet, he didn''t start the car immediately, instead, he slowly rotated his phone in his hand.


    Although he could tell Nick''s words were deliberate earlier, something about them felt off.


    Pondering, James reopened his phone, looked up Mirabe''s number, and called her.


    The phone connected quickly, but no one answered. It wasn''t until thest ring that James hung up.


    It was already past eight in the evening. Where could Mira be? She wasn''t responding to messages, not answering calls, even Nick had no clue.


    James felt puzzled and finally looked up at the vi before starting the car and driving away.


    An hour after he got home, James picked up his phone to call again.


    This time, the call wasn''t unanswered; after two rings, it was abruptly hung up.


    James frowned, his gaze falling on the phone screen; right then, a message popped up.


    It was from an unknown number, the content was an address.


    Identical to the message he had deleted earlier.


    Seeing this message, a slight heaviness settled in James''s heart.


    The call with Mirabe had just been disconnected when he received this address again, clearly, it wasn''t just a coincidence.


    Mulling over it, he dialed the number that had sent the message.


    The call was answered after just one ring, but the other person didn''t speak first. James, holding his phone, his eyes deep and cold, stayed silent for half a minute before he finally spoke, "Where is she?"


    Perhaps it was his initiative to speak that prompted a reaction from the other end, a light chuckle followed by a casual remark, "I thought James could keep his cool."


    James''s eyes narrowed slightly. Not


    many people had his private number, and the way this person addressed him made it clear they knew him. Moreover, by the tone... it was highly likely that Mirabe was in their hands.


    But before he could say anything else, the person on the phone continued.


    "I''ve already sent you the address.


    The girl''s fate is in James''s hands now. I''ll give you twenty minutes. If you don''t show up in twenty minutes, it will be goodbye."


    was a pause, "Oh, and I pres here


    I not to


    have an audience, James, you figure it out."


    With that, the call ended.


    Hearing the dial tone, the murderous intent in James''s eyes couldn''t be concealed. He stood up and strode outside.


    **


    Meanwhile, Ben ended the call, a cold smirk ying at the corners of his mouth. He nced at the gunshot wound still bleeding on his left arm, seemingly numb to it, not paying it much mind.


    Then he lowered his head and made another call, ordering his men to be ready in the shadows before heading to the basement.


    He pressed the lock on the door, and soon, it swung open automatically.


    Ben walked in.


    Right then, Lisa was leaning against the metallic bed, trying to wake Mirabe, who was lying on the bed in aa. Seeing Ben walk in again, her grip on Mirabe''s arm unconsciously tightened, heregs trembling uncontrobly.


    Despite her fear, she stood in front of the bed, her eyes firmly fixed on Ben, "Ben, don''te any closer."


    Ben''s gaze swept over Lisa indifferently, scoffing lightly as if he hadn''t heard her, and continued walking towards the metallic bed.


    Seeing this, Lisa grabbed a metal tray that was nearby and threw it at Ben.