Maria felt her body shiver uncontrollably as Vespera spoke. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing louder than the last in her ears. She was hanging on Oliver's every word, waiting for his response.Oliver looked at Vespera and motioned for her to rise. "As for her father," he said, shaking his head, "his fate will be sealed by my own hands, not anyone else's."Oliver turned to Maria, locking eyes with her as he spoke. "Within a few minutes or maybe an hour, your father will be under my control. Just wait and see," he declared confidently.Meanwhile, back in Boston Hills, Arshad Khan rushed through the airport. He had just stepped out of his car, and his entourage hurriedly followed him, some carrying bags and all eager to clear security checks. They were all on a tight schedule.In a secure room inside the airport, Alice stood before a screen that displayed live surveillance footage from various parts of the terminal. A light smile crossed her lips as she saw Arshad Khan
The frown on Arshad's face vanished hearing that. Intrigued and slightly appeased by the offer, he nodded. "Very well."Alice, standing in front of a bank of monitors, watched as Arshad and his men were led away by the airport staff member. She couldn't help but smile. The first phase of "Operation Delayed Comfort" was a success.She reached for the intercom, pressing a button to open a secure line. "Phase one complete. Move to Phase Two," she whispered, satisfaction tinged in her voice.As she watched Arshad and his crew disappear into the plush confines of the VIP lounge on one of her monitors, she thought to herself, "So far, so good."The lounge door closed behind them, and Alice could only imagine Arshad's surprise when he would eventually realize that this delay was far more than a minor inconvenience. Arshad Khan settled into a plush leather chair inside the luxurious VIP lounge. Despite the unexpected delay, the comforts around him—fine wines, gourmet snacks, and a serene atm
"I told you that the lady's offer to enter this exclusive lounge was too good to be true."The PA was shocked because Arshad didn't say anything, but he dared not speak back. Realizing they were trapped, Arshad ordered his men to break the door. They tried kicking down the doors, but they wouldn't budge. In a last-ditch effort, they took off their belts, wrapping them around their faces in makeshift masks, hoping to filter out the sedative. Some even attempted to break the newly-installed "air purifiers," but it was too late.While they struggled, the PA felt his legs giving way, the room spinning around him. "Sir, I can't...," he stuttered, collapsing onto a nearby couch.Arshad's vision began to blur. His last sight was of his men falling, one by one, into unconsciousness. Despite his efforts to fight it off, the sedative was too potent."Whoever did this," he thought as he succumbed, "won't get away with it." But then, darkness overtook him.Alice watched on her screen as each man
Maria began to sweat, her eyes filling with panic. "Wh... Wha... What are you going to do with my dad?" she stammered."What do you expect? Kill him, of course," Oliver replied, his face emotionless.In a desperate move, Maria fell to the ground, her forehead touching Oliver's shoe. "Please don't do that, don't kill my dad. Question him; I'm sure he knows nothing about your dad's death."With his foot, Oliver lifted her forehead up, a frown settling on his face. "Why do you think so?" he questioned."I have a feeling he knows nothing about it, please don't harm him," Maria pleaded.Oliver chuckled. "Fine, you'll follow me to Canada. I'll question him right in front of you, and if I find out he's involved, I'll behead him before your eyes."Maria trembled but nodded. "I'll follow you everywhere," she agreed.Oliver then turned his attention to Vespera. "You won't come to Canada with me; you'll stay here to secretly protect my mom. Inform me if anything happens.""As you wish, Master.
Still shaking with joy, Abigail pulled back the rubber cover to reveal a magnificent pool. It was a breathtaking sight: an infinity pool that seemed to merge with the horizon, equipped with underwater lights and surrounded by luxuriously designed tiles.Throwing her arms in the air, Abigail exclaimed, "Oh, the beauty of it all! My son-in-law really knows how to live! Oliver, you are truly a blessing!" She seemed to be composing a spontaneous speech, her voice trembling with emotion. "I've never seen anything like this. I'm so happy for my daughter, and I'm so grateful to be part of this family!" She paused to catch her breath, but her eyes never stopped sparkling. "God bless you, Oliver, for you have made me feel like a queen in a castle!"Abigail finally took a seat by the poolside, still unable to wipe the wide grin off her face. "I must say, this is beyond anything I could have ever dreamed of. It's like a piece of heaven right here on Earth!"Zelda even though had a frown, watch
Zelda grinned, "That's the library and office, Mom.""A library too? Oliver is really something else, isn't he?" Abigail said, eyes twinkling with amazement.Before she could be answered, she noticed another set of doors. "Oh, what's behind those?"Zelda explained, "Those lead to the outdoor patio and the gardens.""I must see it! Lead the way!" Abigail insisted. And when she stepped onto the patio and looked at the gardens that could rival any botanical garden, she was left speechless for the first time that day.Finally finding her voice, she said, "I never knew heaven could be a place on Earth. Oliver has truly outdone himself."Her eyes then caught the view beyond the gardens—a beautiful vista overlooking the city. "Oh, and you can see the city from here! This place has everything!"Filled with emotion, Abigail turned to Zelda, "Your life here is something out of a fairytale, and I can't thank Oliver enough for giving this to you—and to us, really. I couldn't have imagined anythin
With a nod, one of her men picked up a bucket filled with water and began to splash it over the faces of the unconscious men. Slowly, groans and murmurs filled the room as Arshad and his men began to rouse, their eyes flickering open to find themselves in unfamiliar territory. As Arshad and his men regained consciousness, their eyes met Alice's cold gaze. Confusion and a tinge of fear crossed their faces as they took in their unfamiliar surroundings. Arshad tried to speak, but his mouth was dry and his words came out as a croak. "What is the meaning of this?" he finally managed to say, struggling to his feet.Alice leaned back in her chair, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. "Welcome, Mr. Khan. You're in a place where you'll answer some very important questions," she said, her tone icy and controlled.Arshad looked around, trying to assess the situation. His men seemed equally bewildered, glancing at one another as if seeking some unspoken guidance. He then looked back at
At that time, Oliver was cruising along the road when his phone began to ring. Recognizing it was Alice, he connected the call to his car's Bluetooth system. "Alice, what happened?" he inquired."Master, Arshad wants to speak to you, that's why I called," Alice responded.A grin spread across Oliver's face. "Put him on," he commanded.Arshad's frantic voice came through the speakers. "Hello, who are you and why did you capture me? Please have your people release me, I'll pay anything. I have to get to New York; my daughter is in trouble.""Mr. Arshad, don't worry. Since you've come here, everything is under control," Oliver calmly replied.A frown crept across Arshad's face; the voice sounded oddly familiar. "Why does your voice sound familiar? What exactly is 'under control'?"Oliver chuckled. "Ah, you might recognize my voice because I'm the one who called you to come to New York. But don't fret, I'll come meet you myself.""Gasp!" Arshad's voice wavered. The realization struck hi