<h4>Chapter 397: Chapter 397 Dangerous Reunion</h4>


    Cecilia’s pov


    I froze for a second.


    Cassian was supposed to be at the g.


    Then I realized they had Grandma and Martha.


    Maybe Cassian got one of those messages as well.


    If that was true... wouldn’t Sebastian already know ?


    While those thoughts spun in my head, Tang had already texted back : [ What the hell is going on over there ? ]


    A few secondster, a video came through.


    The video was blurry and dark. It showed four or five people walking up a sloped path. The camera was shaking a little, like someone had filmed it while running.


    Cassian stood out in his dark suit, and next to him was a woman in a red dress. It was Poppy.


    Tang squinted. "This woman looks familiar. "


    "That’s Poppy, Zane’s sister, "I said right away.


    "They don’t look like hostages, "I said, my voice dropping as I studied the clip again. "I think they’re using Martha to control them. "


    Tang frowned, reying the footage. "But why send you to the sanatorium rooftop while Cassian heads for the restaurant ? If they wanted a trap, he’s the tougher one to catch. Why tip him off at all ? "


    The question made my pulse jump.


    If both Cassian and I were being lured to different ces, someone was ying a much bigger game.


    I felt sweat bead along my hairline. "It doesn’t make sense. "


    "Cecilia, don’t panic, "Tang said, keeping his tone even. "We don’t know what’s happening on Cassian’s side. Maybe this is part of the same setup. "


    I nodded, forcing myself to breathe slower.


    He was right. Everything we knew was just guesswork.


    We only had our side of the story, and we had no idea what Cassian was dealing with.


    "Two minutes and eight seconds, "Tang said suddenly, checking the timer.


    My stomach dropped.


    "Then what are we waiting for ? "I grabbed his sleeve. "Go, go, go ! "


    Only two minutes left before the fiveminute deadline.


    Tang handed me his phone to handle the messages while he drove.


    I typed quickly : [ Are you near the restaurant ? ]


    [ Yes. ]


    [ They’re inside. We’reing. Count how many people they have. ]


    [ Okay. ]


    Just as I set the phone down, another notification popped up.


    I nced at the screen and froze.


    It was from Sebastian.


    Sebastian : [ Where’s Cece right now ? ]


    My brain went into overdrive. I typed back fast : [ She’s taking a shower. ]


    Sebastian : [ Taking a shower ? That’s oddly specific. Are you in her room ? ]


    I forced myself to stay calm.


    [ She said she was showering and then going to bed, so I stepped out for a bit. ]


    As soon as I hit send, the cart slowed to a stop.


    When I looked up, we were parked near a small restroom building.


    From here, we could already see the restaurant’s back entrance through the trees.


    "We’re going from here ? "I asked, already scanning the area.


    Tang didn’t answer.


    When he stayed silent, I turned to him. "Tang ? "


    He rubbed his forehead, his voice low. "Cecilia, you need to stay here. Hide in the restroom until I say it’s safe. It’s too risky for you toe with me. "


    I hesitated. "...Alright. "


    I stepped out of the cart and walked into the restroom.


    For a moment, I hated how useless I felt. I had no training, no way to fight. Going with him would only slow him down.


    "Stay hidden, "Tang called after me.


    "I will, "I said, ncing back. "Just be careful. "


    Tang drove off toward the restaurant.


    Inside the restroom, I quickly checked the stalls and windows, making sure I had an escape route. Then I locked myself in one of the stalls, forcing myself to breathe quietly and wait.


    Time dragged on, every second stretching longer than thest.


    Outside, a leaky faucet dripped into the mop sink, the sound steady and relentless until it matched the rhythm of my heartbeat.


    After what felt like forever, almost twenty minutes, my phone finally buzzed with a message :


    [ Cassian’s getting the twodies out now. Don’t move. ]


    The tension that had been strangling me suddenly loosened.


    I let out a shaky breath, my hands trembling as I typed back : [ Ok. ]


    A few momentster, footsteps echoed outside.


    I didn’t move right away. Caution overrode relief.


    Only when I heard a familiar voice calling softly, "Cece ? Cece ? "did I push the door open.


    It was my grandmother.


    She stepped in unsteadily, her hands still trembling.


    All the fear and restraint I’d bottled up finally broke.


    Tears blurred my vision as I rushed forward and threw my arms around her. "Grandma ! "


    "I’m fine, dear, "Helena murmured, her hand moving gently up and down my back. "Don’t cry, sweetheart. I’m alright. "


    I pulled back, scanning her from head to toe. "Did they hurt you ? Are you hurt anywhere ? "


    She shook her head. "No one hit me. I’m not hurt. Silly girl, I told you not toe. Why did you ? "


    I stared at her, voice trembling but firm. "How could I not ? You’re my grandmother. I couldn’t just sit there and do nothing. You’d do the same for me. "


    Helena sighed, brushing away the strands of hair sticking to my wet cheeks.


    "Such a foolish, stubborn child, "she whispered.


    She knew me too well. She’d practically raised me, and she understood that once I made up my mind, there was no stopping me.


    As we spoke, the door opened again.


    Members of the Locke family stepped inside.


    Martha’s eyes darted between Helena and me, her expression a mix of disbelief and confusion.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!