?Chapter 1064:


    She had to throw him some bait.


    The initial funds sent with the email were withdrawable.


    If Jeff received the money, surely his suspicions would ease.


    After all, what scammer would invest so much upfront?


    Who would go that far to scam a struggling student?


    After leaving campus, Jeff headed straight to the bank. Sure enough, the money was there.


    He withdrew it, and the teller handed over a thick stack of crisp bills—more cash than he’d seen in a long time. He deposited the cash and checked his bnce.


    The bnce blinked back at him—five figures. Tens of thousands. Enough to cover his mom’s next round of meds.


    Outside the bank, he pulled out his phone and typed a quick message. “I’ll be there on Saturday. Thanks for the support.”


    He hit send, slipped the phone into his pocket, and looked up. The sun was dipping low, casting a warm glow over the street. For the first time in what felt like forever, Jeff let himself believe—just a little—that maybe things were finally starting to turn around.


    On Saturday, as instructed, Jeff showed up at an abandonedb way out in the old industrial district on the edge of town.


    As he stepped inside, the empty, run-down ce gave him the creeps. The confidence he’d felt just minutes ago started to fade.


    He was about to turn around and leave when a bunch of burly guys suddenly stepped out and blocked the exit.


    “Who the hell are you? What do you—”


    Before Jeff could finish, one of them swung a bat, connecting with his skull.


    The world spun, and everything went ck as Jeff crumpled to the floor, out cold.


    From the shadows, Nina walked out, wearing a stylish sundress like she was just out for a casual brunch.


    She looked down at Jeff and let out a soft, sarcastic snort.


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    “Nothing’s free, Jeff. Didn’t they teach you that in school?”


    shing a cold smile, she turned to the men behind her. “Take him.”


    Twelve hourster, Ste knew something was off.


    Jeff had been supposed to meet Professor Taylor that afternoon to go over their research, but he never showed—and his phone was dead.


    Worried, Professor Taylor tried calling everyone who might know where Jeff was.


    First his roommate, then the nurse at his mom’s hospital, and finally Ste.


    Jeff was always on time, totally focused on his work. He never just disappeared.


    As soon as Taylor told her Jeff was missing, Ste felt it in her gut—something was seriously wrong.


    She started making her own calls—reaching out to the nurse, Jeff’sb mates—anyone who might have seen him. But everyone said the same thing. They had no clue where he went.


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