Chapter 457 Oliver SOLO: This Time, He Chose Sarah 2
The Abandoned Warehouse
Ellie sat bound to a chair, duct tape firmly sealed across her mouth, preventing her from speaking.
She wasn't stupid. The moment Sarah walked in, she understood the old man's intentions. He wanted to force Oliver to choose between her and Sarah. In the past, Ellie would have been confident Oliver would choose her, but now? She knew with absolute certainty he would choose Sarah.
Ellie struggled desperately against her restraints.
Sarah watched her with detached indifference. "It's useless. If he doesn't want to let you go, how could you possibly escape?"
Ellie's eyes widened with hatred. That old man was Sarah's biological father. Why had he captured her, Ellie? Even if she owed Sarah something, hadn't she already paid her debt with a leg and a womb? Why wouldn't they leave her alone?
Matthew's men began binding Sarah, careful not to be too rough, but ensuring the restraints were secure.
"I apologize, Ms. Moore," one said quietly.
Sarah's face remained expressionless as she gazed outside. The night was pitch black, and her biological father stood there, his aged eyes filled with cold indifference.
Sarah understood perfectly. His elaborate scheme was all for the Moore family—for Nicholas. She was insignificant to the Moore legacy.
She didn't beg for mercy, knowing full well his ruthlessness.
As the night deepened, she waited for Oliver's arrival.
Oliver had just arrived home when he received Matthew's call.
Sitting in his car, he listened to the low voice on the other end, "Mr. Windsor, it's been a while."
Oliver laughed dryly. "Mr. Moore, I doubt you called to reminisce."
Matthew chuckled. "I'm calling because an old friend of yours wants to meet—a woman named Ellie. I wonder if you still remember her? My daughter Sarah, being rather headstrong, has also gone to that desolate place. It's quite remote... if something unfortunate were to happen, well..."
Oliver's voice tightened. "What have you done to Sarah?"
"If you want to see her, come to the warehouse at the old industrial district. Remember! Come alone, Mr. Windsor. Otherwise..."
The line went dead, leaving only the dial tone pulsing like a countdown.
Oliver set down his phone and stared into the darkness, mechanically lighting a cigarette. The car door opened, and Nicole climbed in, softly calling, "Daddy."
Oliver's throat tightened. He bent down to stroke her head. "Daddy's going to pick up Mommy."
Nicole's eyes widened. "Where's Mommy?"
"Having coffee with friends," he replied hoarsely. "Be good."
He called Claire over to look after Nicole. "Mr. Windsor, where are you going so late?" she asked, concerned.
"To get Mrs. Windsor. We'll be back before dawn."
Reassured, Claire took Nicole. "Daddy's going to bring Mommy home!"
The tinted window rose slowly. Oliver glanced at the leather envelope beside him, his eyes cold.
He thought, 'Matthew, you've gone too far. And you've been too cruel to Sarah.
His expression hardened as he stepped on the accelerator. He was heading alone to meet the most powerful man in Evergreen City. After everything he'd been through, what danger hadn't he faced? He would bring Sarah home.
An hour later, Oliver's car came to a stop.
The night was dark and windy.
Matthew hadn't come personally. Two men in black led Oliver into the warehouse, where he immediately saw Sarah bound to a chair, looking somewhat disheveled.
Oliver's gaze softened with emotion. She didn't deserve this treatment. She was Matthew's own daughter who had saved Nicholas's life, yet she was still treated with such cruelty.
Their eyes met across the room. Tears welled in hers, but she didn't call out. She simply mouthed his name silently.
The warehouse contained over twenty armed men. Even with Oliver's fighting skills, he couldn't overcome so many, especially with Sarah and Ellie at risk. Ellie was kicking against the cement floor, her prosthetic leg detached, presenting a pitiful sight.
The lead man addressed Oliver respectfully. "Mr. Windsor, we have no personal grudge. We're simply doing a job. You can only take one woman with you."
Without further explanation, he signaled to his men. A projector flickered to life, displaying footage of Ellie being assaulted—the man's vulgarity, the woman's screams—the scenes were unbearable.
This was Oliver's greatest shame.
His fingers clenched, his facial muscles nearly distorted, but he managed a smile. "Matthew is ruthless. To humiliate me this way means he's leaving me no options."
"My apologies, Mr. Windsor," the man replied.
Meanwhile, Ellie's face was streaked with tears. She couldn't believe she had to face this again. Even though she now sold her body for a living, that night remained her lifelong nightmare.
Her eyes pleaded with Oliver, desperately hoping he would choose her.
Oliver looked at her quietly. There was compassion in his gaze—unavoidable for anyone with a shred of humanity—but if he wavered, he would be playing into Matthew's hands.
Matthew wanted him to choose Ellie. To break with Sarah.
He and Sarah had fought so hard to be together. Now, not just for Ellie but even if the whole world condemned him, he wouldn't flinch.
"Make your choice, Mr. Windsor," the man urged.
Instead, Oliver took the man's knife. The man tensed. "I advise caution, Mr. Windsor. There are over twenty of us here." He patted Oliver's side, feeling something long and heavy beneath his coat.
Oliver's expression remained unchanged, a faint smile playing on his lips. He approached Ellie, who thought he was coming to save her and made excited noises through her gag.
The knife sank into her abdomen.
Crimson blood flowed down, dripping onto the cement floor.
Ellie froze in shock.
Oliver gripped the back of her neck, leaning close to whisper, "Ellie, I'll repay my debt to you in the next life."
Her body convulsed. Her eyes widened as she recalled Oliver's words: "I never loved you. If I truly cared, would I have let those men touch you?"
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. She shook her head repeatedly, the pain robbing her of speech.
If she could speak, she would tell Oliver: "You don't owe me anything. This was my choice. Death is a release—I'm so tired. Every day with different men, enduring their touch and humiliation despite my disgust, just to survive."
In her pain, she would recall the past, her former glory. But it was all a dream.
When she woke in the middle of the night, there was only the broken wall, the rickety bed, and one despicable man after another.
'Oliver, I don't blame you!'
Ellie's body slowly collapsed, while the degrading footage continued to play.
The knife clattered to the floor.
"Can I take Sarah now?" Oliver asked, his voice distant.
Footsteps approached, followed by Matthew's voice, "You have stabbed Ellie, possibly fatally. I'm afraid you can't leave so easily now."
"Is that so?" Oliver laughed coldly.
He pulled a stack of photographs from his pocket, scattering them into the air like falling blossoms.
Each one was an explicit image of Nicholas and Azalea, in high-definition clarity.
The air in the warehouse froze.
No one dared look twice. They couldn't believe members of the Moore family could be so depraved, so wanton—Matthew's own grandson!
Oliver turned to face Matthew directly.
His voice was soft but chilling, "Is this enough for you to handle the aftermath? If not, I have more."