?Chapter 159:


    The kidnappers secured Paige’s wrists behind her back, the coarse rope biting into her skin. Then, with calcted menace, they turned their attention to Vivien.


    “Please!” Paige pleaded, her voice quivering with mock panic. “She’s already injured—don’t hurt her anymore. I’m begging you.”


    Vivien’s face had gone pale. Her words tumbled out in a rush. “I’m Vivien Hudson. My brother Ran is the heir to the Hudson family. He’ll pay whatever you ask—just don’t hurt me. And don’t touch her either!” She jerked her chin toward Paige. “She’s his fiancée. Ask for double if you want—he’ll give it to you.”


    At that, the kidnappers traded greedy looks, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.


    “Well, well,” one of them drawled with a crooked grin. “Two golden tickets in one night? Looks like it’s our lucky day.”


    “Be good, sweetheart,” another chuckled darkly. “Behave, and maybe we won’t be so rough.”


    Vivien’s wrists were soon bound, and she was shoved down beside Paige. The ropes cut into her just as cruelly.


    Then, the leader’s cold gaze shifted to Elliana. He stepped forward slowly, every inch of him radiating threat. “Mrs. Evans,” he said, his voice like gravel. “Are you going to y nice and let us tie you up, or do I have to let the boys get rough with you?”


    “You really think you can pull that off?” Elliana sneered, her voiceced with scorn as she shot them a withering look.


    Then, without urgency, she let her eyes drift downward and slowly began rolling up her sleeves, each movement deliberate and unhurried. It had been too long since she’d had a proper fight, and her limbs ached for action. A warm-up with these pathetic guys might be just what she needed.


    But the second her gaze caught the glint of metal—ck, matte, unmistakably a handgun—being drawn from the leader’s coat, her fingers stilled in mid-roll. A gun? That possibility hadn’t crossed her mind. If it were just her, she’d charge in without blinking. Firearms didn’t scare her. Not in the hands of amateurs like these. But with Hailee by her side, overlooking her well-being was out of the question. Hailee, with no training and no instincts, had no way to dodge a bullet. Were tensions to boil over and a stray bullet to catch her, the result would be catastrophic.


    Elliana exhaled slowly and let her arms fall back to her sides. Her tone cooled to something measured but firm as she faced the leader directly. “Fine. I’ll go with you. But the girl behind me? She’s just a civilian. She’s not worth anything to you. Let her go.”


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    The leader sneered, his expression unreadable. “Sorry, Mrs. Evans. We can’t take any risks. Your friend’sing too.”


    With a curt wave of his hand, the leader barked at his men, “Take them!”


    A secondter, Elliana and Hailee were bound and shoved into the back of a ck van, tossed beside Paige and Vivien like cargo.


    Elliana didn’t resist. Not yet. She wasn’t reckless enough to make a move without knowing what they were dealing with. These men were efficient, coordinated, and well-armed—this wasn’t some small-time grab-and-run. Whoever had orchestrated this wasn’t just bold; they were powerful. And she was determined to find out who’d dared toe after her.


    Meanwhile, at the Royal Club, in avishly decorated private suite, Cole, An, Merlin, and Manley convened for a cash-based card game. Of the four, Manley was always the first to throw himself into these games—he relished every match and usually wrangled the others into joining.


    But tonight, the invitation hadn’te from Manley. Cole had been the one to call them together, a rare move that sent a ripple of surprise through the group.


    As soon as they got Cole’s message, everyone abandoned their ns and hurried over, unable to ignore the unusual summons. Despite the grand setting, a heavy tension hung in the air, making every breath feel thick and uneasy.


    Cole sat at the table, his jaw locked tight, eyes simmering with barely restrained anger. Each time he pped a card down, itnded with a sharp snap, his knuckles white from the force—one wrong move and he seemed on the brink of snapping.


    No one could shake the sense that Cole might leap up and hit someone without warning.


    A few of them eyed the door, tempted to slip out and corner one of Cole’s right-hand men—Myles, Aron, or Hugh—for an exnation, but Cole yed with such relentless focus that no one dared move.


    Outside, Myles, Aron, and Hugh hovered anxiously by the door, every muscle tense. The possibility of being called in by Cole was enough to make their stomachs twist. They’d rather face a firing squad. They could only thank their luck that Cole had chosen An, Merlin, and Manley for tonight’s game—those three had the money to lose, while the rest would be ruined in a single hand.


    Cole’s luck—or perhaps his menace—continued unchecked, cleaning everyone out again and again. Finally, after another punishing loss, Manley couldn’t take it anymore. He mmed his cards on the table and fixed Cole with a pointed stare. “Alright, Cole, what’s going on with you tonight? You’re ying like a man possessed. If something’s up, just say it—we might even be able to help.”


    An and Merlin paused, their attention sharpening with intrigue. Cole, usually the picture of cool restraint, seemed like a different man altogether. The unppable leader they knew had vanished, reced by someone bristling with barely contained frustration.


    Cole stayed silent, so Manley tried to break the tension with a forced grin. “What, don’t tell me a woman’s got you like this?”


    His attempt at humor backfired. Cole’s scowl deepened, and the mood in the room grew heavier.


    An and Merlin traded nces, silently agreeing—Manley had struck a nerve. This was indeed about a woman. But neither could recall a single time when a woman had ever thrown Cole so off bnce.


    Whoever she was, she clearly meant more to him than anyone else ever had.


    Then, all three instantly thought of Elliana.


    Manley, growing bolder, pressed on. “Let me guess—you and Elliana had another fight?”


    That did it. Cole’s patience snapped. He mmed his cards onto the table, his voice thunderous. “Don’t mention that woman’s name in front of me!”


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