As Lawrence entered the villa, he brought the cold with him.

Stephen poured a glass of water before sitting on the couch. With a chilly gaze, he instructed, “Spill it.”

Lowering his head, Lawrence carefully glanced at Stephen and responded, “James was involved in Susan’s kidnapping.”

After hearing that name, Stephen’s eyes narrowed. “You mean James Fullerton?”

Lawrence thought that his heart was about to leap out of his chest when he nodded.

James Fullerton was Caleb’s illegitimate son.

Stephen’s eyes were as dark as ink. “I heard that he’s in Arcton. I see that his influence has a far reach.”

Lawrence stood nervously to the side, not daring to breathe loudly.

“Since he’s made the first move, I have no reason to hold back. I heard he secured a big project in Arcton?”

“Yes, the discussions were wrapped up recently. James hasn’t only been gathering power in Arcton, but he’s been gathering followers in the smaller areas around there. He even built a personal base…”

Stephen’s lips curled into a smirk as he instructed, “Send him a welcome gift. Don’t allow that project of his to run smoothly.”

“Yes!” came Lawrence’s response.

“Who is James’ contact in the country?”

At this, he became hesitant, as reflected in his odd expression. He wasn’t quite sure how to deliver the news.

“Spit it out!” Stephen barked.

Lawrence closed his eyes and steeled his nerves. “From the information we have gathered so far, it could be… it could be Ms. Sanders…”

The gaze in Stephen’s eyes instantly became frigid as he narrowed his eyes. “Ms. Sanders?”

Lawrence’s gaze was somber. “Yes, Mr. Jacobson. That would be Ms. Jacqueline Sanders.”

Stephen’s expression was grim. “Is she tired of living?”

Lawrence could feel the frigidity radiating from those five words.

“Bring Jacqueline to me right now!”

“Understood!”

Over in James’ private villa in Arcton, the phone on the bedside cabinet rang for a long time. It would start ringing again after being

disconnected automatically, akin to a lingering curse.

The strap of the woman’s dress had slipped past her shoulders, coming to rest at the crook of her elbow.

“James… Your phone’s been going off for a long time. You’re not going to pick up?”

Her face was flushed red and her words were interspersed with heavy breaths.

James didn’t reply. Both amusement and desire danced in his passionate gaze as tiny, droplets of sweat

beaded across his forehead. He was already a roguishly handsome man, and now that he was caught in the throes of want, he looked even more attractive.

The woman was ensnared in his endless eyes, causing her breathing to turn ragged. The air in the room

breaths mingling as they

turned unbearably hot with net

surrendered themselves to their

passions.

…

Meanwhile, at the airport, Jacqueline’s calls had gone unanswered. As she watched the seconds ticking by, her anxiety spiked just as her heart became more hollow.

“Ms. Sanders, Mr. Fullerton isn’t answering his phone?” her bodyguard asked her.

With a pale complexion, Jacqueline answered in a shaky voice, “He might have given up on me. I’m nothing but a discarded pawn now.”