Chapter 321The drive was long and quiet, the only sound coming from the engine and the occasional crunch of gravel beneath the tires. Eric stole glances at Gwen, who sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her arms crossed tightly against her chest. Her eyes were fixed on the road ahead, her jaw clenched as if she were holding back an ocean of emotions. After what felt like an eternity, Eric finally broke the silence."Gwen… are you sure about this?" His voice was gentle, almost pleading. "Going home right now won’t change anything."Gwen didn't turn to him. Her voice, when it finally came, was low and hard. "I need to feel like I'm doing something. I can't just sit around waiting for news, not knowing if my son is even alive out there."Eric tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "I get that, I do. But we need to be smart about this. You know James is going to confront Mr. Sterling, it appears he knows what's going on and now you’re planning to run around on your own. It’s risky. To
Chapter 322Mr. Sterling’s phone had jolted him awake, the harsh ring cutting through the stillness of the night. It was 3 AM. As he groggily answered, Morris’s voice came through. “She’s been taken, boss. Gwen’s at your house, outside of town,” Morris said.Mr. Sterling sat bolt upright in bed, his heart racing. “Are you sure?” he whispered, not wanting to wake his wife, although it was too late for that.Beside him, his wife stirred, the sudden movement and his whispering pulling her out of sleep. "Thomas, what’s happening?" she murmured, rubbing her eyes.Without answering, Mr. Sterling swung his legs out of bed and hurriedly pulled on a casual jacket. His movements were frantic but practiced—he had been in high-pressure situations before, though this one felt different, more personal. He could feel the anxiety gnawing at his insides.“Where are you going at this hour?” his wife asked, now sitting up, concern clear in her voice."Work," Sterling muttered tersely, not making eye co
Chapter 323“No, let her talk,” Mr. Sterling replied.Gwen wiped at her eyes, trying to calm herself, but the weight of everything that was happening—the threats, the uncertainty about her son—was too much. She glanced at Mr. Sterling, whose cold, unblinking stare made her feel even smaller. Finally, her voice cracked, "I haven’t told Eric anything about you. I swear, I—"Mr. Sterling cut her off sharply, "Don’t lie to me, Gwen. I can see it in your face." He leaned forward, his voice lowering dangerously. "I told you to keep the identity of my son a secret and keep him away from the public eye as I have a lot of enemies. Do you not know Eric is my enemy? You think you can betray me? After all I've done?"Her lip trembled again, and she shook her head, her voice trembling. "No... I wouldn’t. I... I just want my son back. I didn’t say anything—Eric only knows that Charles is in danger, that’s all. He doesn’t know who the father is."Mr. Sterling’s eyes narrowed, studying her for any si
Chapter 324That morning, Eric sat at his desk, the weight of the ongoing crisis pressing heavily on him. His office, typically a sanctuary of order and calm, now felt like a cage. Papers were scattered everywhere, but none of it mattered. His mind was too preoccupied with the kidnapping. **Why hasn’t the police made more progress?** he thought, running a hand through his hair in frustration. His fingers drummed against the desk as he wrestled with what to do next.Unable to take the suspense any longer, he picked up his phone and dialed the police for an update. His voice, usually measured and polite, carried an edge this time. "Look," he began the moment the officer on the other end answered. "It’s been days now, and my patience is running thin. What exactly is being done to find the boy?"The officer, whose calm voice only served to irritate Eric further, replied, "Sir, I understand your concern, but we’ve just picked up a lead.""A lead?" Eric repeated, eyebrows furrowing in disbe
Chapter 325Eric grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair, his mind racing, and rushed out of his office without bothering to wait for his driver. His hand shook slightly as he pulled the keys from his pocket and made his way to the underground garage. He headed straight to one of the company’s official cars, a sleek black Audi A8, parked near the exit. The car was polished, its tinted windows gleaming under the fluorescent lights of the garage. He swung the door open, threw his jacket onto the passenger seat, and slid behind the wheel. The leather seats were cold, and the interior smelled faintly of a new car scent. He fired up the engine, the hum of the motor a small comfort amidst the chaos in his head. Without wasting time, Eric drove the car out of the garage and onto the street, the sleek vehicle gliding effortlessly through traffic. His hands gripped the steering wheel a little too tightly, and his foot pressed the gas pedal harder than usual. As he sped through the city
Chapter 326The air outside Gwen’s home was heavy with tension as Eric stood with the police, feeling a deep sense of dread.He had called them and reported that Gwen was missing immediately after he called James.The officers had spread out, talking to the neighbors, gathering what little information they could. But so far, everything pointed to one grim conclusion—Gwen was missing, and no one seemed to have seen her for days.James and Gregor arrived, their faces grim with urgency. They had been working on something big since the previous night, following Mr. Sterling's every move, and now they were convinced they had stumbled upon a vital lead.As soon as they spotted Eric, James gestured for him to step away from the crowd of officers. Eric, confused but trusting James, walked over to the edge of the street where the two men stood."Eric," James began, his voice low and urgent, "We need to talk. This isn’t just about Gwen. I think we’re onto something huge. We believe we’ve found
Chapter 327One of the officers, a tall man with broad shoulders, strode towards them with a purposeful gait. He had a chiseled jawline, peppered with stubble, and his deep-set brown eyes were sharp, constantly scanning the surroundings. His police uniform was neatly pressed, and his polished boots clicked with each step on the pavement. His badge glistened under the evening sun as he adjusted the belt around his waist, which held his radio and holstered firearm. His expression was neutral, but there was a trace of suspicion in his gaze as he approached the group.When he reached them, he nodded, offering a brief but polite smile. “Evening, gentlemen,” he said in a low, professional tone. “I couldn’t help but notice the gathering over here. Is everything alright? Is something going on?”Eric, feeling the pressure of the situation and not wanting to raise any alarms, quickly forced a smile and waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, no. Everything’s fine, officer. Just talking things over wi
Chapter 328That same evening, Williams slipped into his car just as the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the city. He adjusted his navy-blue blazer, brushed a speck of lint off his dark jeans, and glanced at his reflection in the rearview mirror.His hair was slicked back, his face clean-shaven, and his expression serious. There was a quiet urgency about him tonight. He didn’t want to waste any time getting to Red Waters and sorting out thing before they escalated.As he drove through the city traffic, he mentally rehearsed what he’d say if anyone from Sasha’s gang cornered him and asked about their boss. The thought of them made him tighten his grip on the wheel. If they know, they’d really be angry about Sasha’s death, especially since he had been the one who convinced her to leave Red Waters. He’d have to tread carefully.By the time he pulled into the airport parking lot, twilight had settled in. Williams exited his car, buttoned his blazer, and strode into the a