**Chapter 507: My Wife Needs Me**
The bodyguard forcefully shook off the persistent crowd and barked, "Get lost! You''ve got the wrong person!" His voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a knife.
The driver, intrigued and slightly taken aback, leaned out of his window, scrutinizing the bodyguard with narrowed eyes. For a brief moment, they locked gazes, and the driver''s mouth opened as if to speak, but before he could utter a word, the bodyguard had already sprinted off in the opposite direction, urgency propelling him forward.
As he dashed away, he caught sight of Anneliese''s striking purple Maserati gliding out from the entrance of the pharmacy. It zipped past him, and in that fleeting moment, he caught a glimpse of her slender silhouette behind the wheel, her hair cascading elegantly over her shoulders. His heart raced, a mix of relief and anxiety flooding his senses.
He quickly made his way back to his own vehicle. The car that had obstructed his path remained parked, and its upants offered hurried apologies, further prolonging his dy. Time felt like it was slipping through his fingers like sand, and he could feel the weight of urgency pressing down on him.
Finally, when he turned to give chase, Anneliese''s Maserati had already vanished into the distance. Panic surged within him, but luck was on his side; he managed to trace her all the way back to Maple Bay. As he pulled into the familiar area, he spotted her car parked in its usual spot, a sense of relief washing over him. Surely, she must have gone upstairs by now.
But that relief was short-lived. An hourter, a figure he vaguely recognized burst from the elevator, panic etched across her face.
When the bodyguard recognized her as Jessica, Anneliese''s closest friend, his heart skipped a beat. Memories of the earlier encounter flooded back, and a cold sweat broke out across his brow. What had he missed?
He leaped out of his car and rushed toward her just as Jessica sprinted toward the Maserati, her worry palpable.
"I waited upstairs for Anneliese,” she exined breathlessly, her eyes wide with concern. "But when she didn''te back, I thought I should check downstairs."
Zaxton''s heart sank. Anneliese had left with her car keys, her vehicle still here, but she hadn''t returned-something was undoubtedly amiss.
Just as Jessica leaned in to peer through the window, Zaxton''s voice broke through the tension. “You''re Ms. Sweeting, right? I''m Zaxton Fawwaz, the bodyguard assigned to Mrs. Fullbuster. Has something happened to her?"
Jessica jumped at the sound of his voice, her initial surprise quickly morphing into anxiety. “You''re Annie''s bodyguard? Did you see where she went?"
"Didn''t Mrs. Fullbuster make it back home?" Zaxton asked, his voiceced with concern.
"No! She went to buy medicine and hasn''t returned for over an hour. Something must have happened to her!" Jessica''s voice trembled, and Zaxton felt a knot tighten in his stomach. Hisst shred of hope evaporated as he frantically dialed Jonathan''s number.
Silence greeted him. No answer.
Without wasting a moment, he called Zion next. The urgency in his voice was palpable as he waited for a response.
This time, the call connected almost immediately. Zion''s demeanor shifted drastically after just a few words. Without a second thought, he abandoned the high- ranking Serava officials he had been conversing with and dashed down the hall toward the banquet hall, his heart racing.
Aerolux Airways had just celebrated a significant milestone—their first sessful flight from Lunasia to Serava—and had secured two tourism partnership deals. Tonight''s event was meant to be a jubnt celebration.
As Zion burst into the banquet hall, he found Jonathan engaged in a conversation with Serava''s Minister of Tourism, maintaining a polite smile. Yet, Jonathan''s fingers tapped restlessly against his knee, revealing his distracted state.
He was calcting the time difference, eager to wrap things up so he could video call Anneliese before boarding his return flight to Lunasia. If this dragged on too long, she would likely be asleep by the time he could reach her.
Just then, Zion approached, urgency radiating from him.
Jonathan sensed the shift in the atmosphere and turned to face Zion, concern etching his features.
“Zaxton messed up and lost track of Mrs. Fullbuster. She''s missing," Zion reported, his voice low but intense.
Jonathan was already on his feet, snatching the phone from Zion''s hand. "I''m sorry, Mr. Harisson," he said swiftly to the minister, his words flowing smoothly in the local dialect. "My wife needs me. I must leave now."
Before the minister could register the gravity of the situation, Jonathan hurried out of the banquet hall, phone pressed firmly against his ear, anxiety coursing through him.
The minister was left pondering who could be so vital to thisposed young CEO, a mystery swirling in his mind.
Meanwhile, Anneliese jolted awake as a cold ssh of water hit her face, the shock sending her senses into overdrive. Hershes fluttered, droplets cascading down her cheeks.
In an instant, a hand yanked at her hair, and pain shot through her scalp, forcing her eyes wide open. She felt disoriented, weak, and a wave of nausea crashed over her.
It took a moment for her to focus, and when she did, she found Selina''s face looming above her, twisted with a mix of jealousy and sinister delight. "Anneliese, are you awake? I''ve been waiting for you to wake up," Selina said, her voice dripping with malice.
Anneliese remained silent, her mind racing as she quickly assessed her surroundings.
They were in a moving car, the darkness outside swallowing any hint of light. The ride was bumpy, indicating they were far from the city now. Her hands and feet were bound, leaving her utterly immobilized. Besides her and Selina, there was another man behind the wheel-the same man who had ambushed her outside the pharmacy.
A chill ran down her spine as she realized the depth of her predicament.