The sharp trill of Oliver Roberts’s phone echoed through his quiet study, pulling him out of a momentary reverie. He glanced at the screen and saw his mother’s name flashing.A faint frown creased his brow. It was rare for her to call him during this time of the day.“Hello, Mom?” he answered, his voice steady but laced with curiosity.“Oliver…” Her voice trembled, an uncharacteristic fear bleeding through. “Please, you need to come to the villa immediately. We need your help.”His heart skipped a beat. “What’s wrong? Are you and Dad okay?”“We’re fine, but… please, just hurry,” she said, her voice breaking slightly before the line disconnected.Oliver didn’t waste a second. Grabbing his keys, he headed straight to his car, his mind racing with questions. What could possibly have shaken his mother so deeply?When Oliver arrived at the villa, the familiar sight of the cozy house surrounded by well-manicured gardens did little to ease his growing anxiety. He stepped out of the car and r

Elena sat at a quaint cafe near the city center, the soft hum of chatter around her blending with the clinking of cutlery. Across from her, her friend Sophie stirred her iced tea, a mischievous glint in her eyes."You won't believe what I saw today," Sophie said, leaning forward.Elena smiled, raising an eyebrow."What now, Sophie? Another sale you couldn’t resist?"Sophie waved a hand dismissively."No, no. This is about Oliver."Elena froze for a moment, her heart skipping a beat.“Oliver? My Oliver?” she asked, trying to mask the slight nervousness in her voice.“Of course, your Oliver,” Sophie said with a teasing grin. “I was at the mall earlier and saw him at one of those fancy boutiques—you know, the kind that sells clothes you’d expect on a runway. He was buying women’s clothes.”Elena blinked, taken aback.“He was... buying women’s clothes?”Sophie nodded, sipping her tea dramatically. “And not just one or two pieces. He seemed pretty serious about it. I figured he must be pi

"Oliver, Mia's gone!" his father blurted out.Oliver's heart sank. "What do you mean, gone? What happened?""She left for the shopping center this morning with the maid, but the maid just returned, saying she lost track of Mia. She’s been missing since then! We’ve searched everywhere but can’t find her."Panic bubbled in Oliver's chest."Did she have her phone with her?""No," his father replied, his voice tinged with frustration. "You never got around to buying her one."Oliver cursed under his breath. How could he have overlooked something so crucial?Mia was vulnerable, especially considering the dangerous people she was hiding from. And one name immediately came to mind: Vance Carver.Oliver slammed his laptop shut and grabbed his jacket."I'll handle this. Stay at the villa and keep an eye on things. I'll find her."The drive to the underground gambling house—a known haunt for Vance Carver and his crew—was a blur.Oliver’s jaw was tight, his hands gripping the steering wheel as h

Vance leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled as he regarded Oliver with a calculating gaze."The game is simple, Roberts," he said, his voice as smooth as silk but laced with malice. "A little test of skill, nerve, and determination. You win, you walk out of here with Mia. You lose, well…" He shrugged casually. "Let’s just say you won’t be around to regret it."Oliver remained standing, his posture rigid and his jaw clenched."I don’t have time for your theatrics, Carver. Just tell me what you want."Vance smirked, clearly amused by Oliver's impatience."Straight to the point. I like that. Fine, here’s the deal: I’ve got a game room downstairs. Cards, dice, the works. You’ll play one round of poker against me. High stakes."Oliver frowned, suspicion flickering in his eyes."And if I win, Mia is free?"Vance nodded slowly."If you win, Mia is free to go. But if you lose, you belong to me. For as long as I see fit."The room fell silent, the gravity of Vance’s words settling lik

Elena checked the clock on the wall for the fourth time that night.It was almost midnight, and Oliver still hadn’t come home. She let out a frustrated sigh, pacing the living room in her oversized sweater. Her phone lay on the coffee table, screen dimmed from unanswered calls.She had tried calling him earlier, but his phone was off.A knot of worry twisted in her stomach, but it wasn’t just concern—it was suspicion. Yesterday, she’d heard a woman’s voice on the other end of his call before the line went dead.Then, her friend had casually mentioned seeing Oliver buying women’s clothes at the mall. When she’d asked him about it, half-jokingly, he’d brushed her off, saying he hadn’t bought anything for her.So who were the clothes for?The sound of the front door opening broke her thoughts.Elena spun around to see Oliver stepping inside, his face shadowed with exhaustion but calm as always. He was shrugging off his jacket when she marched toward him.“Oliver! Where have you been?” sh