**Chapter 506: Swapped Within Seconds**


    "Just wait here for me. I''ll handle this myself," Anneliese insisted, her voice firm yetced with concern.


    Jessica, her eyebrows knitting together in worry, replied, "How can I possibly let you go alone? It''s alreadyte-"


    "Don''t worry about it. There''s a 24-hour pharmacy just outside our neighborhood. I''ll be back in no time. Grandma can''t be left alone right now, and I''d just fret about her if we both went out together," Anneliese reassured her, determination shining in her eyes.


    The recent snowfall was still fresh in Anneliese''s mind. Although the white nket had melted away, she knew the ground could have refrozen overnight, making it treacherous. If Jessica was indeed pregnant, thest thing Anneliese wanted was for her to slip and injure herself.


    Jessica, feeling the weight of Anneliese''s words, reluctantly relented. "Fine. Even if I am pregnant, it''s not like we can''t manage a baby. I''ve still got five hundred million just sitting around with no purpose! Go on, I''ll be right here,” she said, a hint of a smile breaking through her earlier worry.


    Anneliese reached out, yfully pinching Jessica''s pouty face before heading out the door, her heart heavy yet resolute.


    However, thirty minutes ticked by, and Anneliese still hadn''t returned. Jessica''s anxiety grew as she tried calling her friend''s phone, but the call went unanswered. Perhaps the pharmacy had closed early for the holiday, she thought, or maybe Anneliese simply hadn''t heard her ringing.


    Time dragged on, and after another thirty minutes of waiting, Jessica felt a knot tightening in her stomach.


    Meanwhile, Anneliese had started her car and driven straight to a nearby pharmacy, the cold air biting at her cheeks as she stepped out. The sky had darkened significantly, and with New Year''s Eve approaching, most shops had shuttered early, leaving the streets eerily quiet.


    The pharmacy, however, was still bright and weing, its entrance adorned with festive string lights that twinkled like stars against the backdrop of the night.


    As Anneliese entered the store, she noticed a young man behind the counter, his attention glued to a video game, headphones snugly over his ears.


    "Hold the line, hold the line! We''ve got this damn it! Who let that noob in?" he muttered, frustration evident in his voice.


    It was Anneliese''s first foray into purchasing a pregnancy test. She hesitated, wanting to ask the cashier where to find it, but seeing him so engrossed in his game, she decided to navigate the store on her own.


    Forget it, I''ll find it myself, she thought, determination fueling her steps.


    Suddenly, the door chimed again, and the cashier half-heartedly greeted the neer. A man d in a ck down jacket and a cap entered, apanied by a woman dressed in a striking red coat.


    Anneliese caught a glimpse of them out of the corner of her eye as they made their way to another aisle, but she paid them no mind.


    After searching for a few moments and still finding no sign of the pregnancy tests, she turned to explore another aisle. Just as she rounded the corner, she collided with the man who had just walked in.


    "Oh, I''m so sorry-" she began, instinctively stepping aside to apologize, but before she could finish her sentence, the man lunged at her.


    Caughtpletely off guard, Anneliese didn''t even have time to scream. A powerful arm wrapped around her neck, yanking her toward a dark corner of the store.


    Panic surged through her as she fought with every ounce of strength, but the disparity in their power was overwhelming. Desperate, she attempted to kick over a nearby shelf to create a ruckus, but the man swiftly pressed a damp cloth with a sharp chemical scent over her mouth and nose.


    Her body weakened almost instantly, the world around her fading into a disorienting darkness.


    In a swift motion, the man exchanged Anneliese''s coat for the red one worn by the woman who had entered with him. He then hoisted her into his arms, cradling her against his shoulder, concealing her as he made his way to the counter.


    "Keep the change," he tossed a few bills onto the counter with a casual air.


    Finally, the cashier looked up, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of a heavily bundled man tenderly holding a woman, murmuring softly, “Just hang on. Once we''re in the car and you take these painkillers, you''ll feel better soon."


    The clerk''s memory flickered back to the earlier woman who had entered, followed by the couple. Seeing the man with the woman in red and a box of ibuprofen, he naturally assumed they were the same pair.


    "Damn, even rich guys know how to treat their women well," the cashier remarked, stuffing the cash into his pocket with a grin. "How''s an average guy supposed topete when the stakes are this high?"


    He chuckled to himself, feeling pleased with the unexpected tip. It was rare these days for anyone to pay in cash, let alone with such a generous gratuity.


    Across the street, a sleek ck car sat parked under a streetlight, its presence almost ominous in the stillness of the night. The moment Anneliese had stepped out of her own car earlier, a tall figure had emerged from this vehicle, his sharp gaze fixed intently on the pharmacy''s entrance.


    This man was one of the bodyguards Jonathan had discreetly assigned to ensure Anneliese''s safety. As he observed two figures following her into the store, a sense of urgency propelled him forward.


    However, just as he stepped off the curb, a car sped past, its high beams blinding him momentarily, forcing him to halt in his tracks.


    He stepped back, frowning in frustration.


    In a surprising turn, that same car suddenly mmed to a halt, reversed, and came


    to a stop right in front of him, blocking his path once more.


    The driver''s window slid down halfway, and a jovial face leaned over, grinning widely. "Gaston! When did you get back? Come on, let''s hit the bar! This here''s my high school buddy-just call him Gaston. Come on, let''s get him in the car!" Before the bodyguard could even process the situation, the back doors swung open, and two men jumped out, their faces beaming with enthusiasm.


    "Great to meet you, Gaston!" one of them eximed.


    "Gaston, you''ve got to drink with us tonight. No excuses!" the other chimed in, their excitement palpable.