Chapter 235

Chapter 235
Lily's POV
Now that my identity was exposed, I planned to return to New York with William.
Unexpectedly, Nicholas released a statement on social media, promising not to interfere with my marriage or suppress my company anymore, and guaranteeing my freedom.
I could hardly believe it. I didn't trust that Nicholas would let me go so easily, but that seemed to be the case.
"It doesn't feel real."
William gently wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "When someone's wallet is threatened, they become remarkably rational."
I raised an eyebrow and posted another video, stating that as long as Nicholas didn't interfere with my life, I was willing to forgive him.
My fans were finally satisfied and agreed to leave the Spencer family alone.
This put an end to the whole controversy.
"Now we can finally relax," I sighed with relief. "At least we don't have to worry about Nicholas for now."
Lying on the sofa at the Sterling mansion, I carelessly tossed my phone aside and lazily leaned into William's embrace, not noticing he was in the middle of an online video conference.
I froze in embarrassment while the people on the other end of the video call erupted in commotion. "Oh my God, how mortifying!"
William cleared his throat, which snapped me back to reality, and I quickly fled the scene of my social disaster.
"Really, you could have warned me," I complained softly, my face burning.
Just imagining the expressions of those business partners on the other end of the video call made me want to crawl into a hole and disappear.
As I was wallowing in embarrassment, my phone dinged with a text message.
I picked it up and saw it was from Jackson: "Lily, there's something else I need to tell you. Could you meet me at the coffee shop?"
I was surprised that Jackson had come to New York.
I briefly explained to William.
"I'm going to meet Jackson. He says it's important," I told William.
William was organizing his meeting materials and replied without looking up: "Okay, be careful and come back soon."
I walked into the underground parking garage, suddenly feeling uneasy.
The garage was dimly lit, and my footsteps echoed in the empty space.
"Why does this feel strange?" I looked around cautiously and quickened my pace.
Suddenly, a hand reached out from the darkness and seized my wrist.
Before I could resist, the person pressed a cloth soaked with some chemical against my mouth and nose.
"Mmph—" I tried to struggle, but the person was too strong, and I couldn't break free.
The strong smell instantly made me lose consciousness. Before passing out, I heard a familiar voice: "Take her to my villa."
That voice belonged to James Alexander.
When I regained consciousness, I found myself tightly bound to a bed, unable to move my limbs.
The room was luxuriously decorated but cold, devoid of any warmth.
James stood nearby, silently watching me. His deep eyes sent a chill through me, as if he were admiring a perfect work of art.
"Lily, it's been a while," his voice remained gentle but carried a spine-chilling undertone.
I clenched my fists, but maintained a fearless façade: "James, I never thought you had this side to you. Are you so humiliated by my refusal to marry you that you've resorted to this?"
"Even at a time like this, Lily, you still have the mood to joke."
James shook his head. "I brought you here because I need your help, of course."
His smile was identical to his usual one, just with an added trace of cruelty.
"What kind of help?"
"You know, I had a first love. Jackson must have told you already, right?" James slowly approached the bed.
"Didn't your first love pass away long ago?" My gaze instantly became vigilant.
"Yes, she should have died by now." James's eyes grew distant. "Let me tell you a story."
I interrupted him directly: "What do you want? Just say it." I wasn't in the mood to hear his story.
James replied meaningfully: "Listen to me finish. Perhaps it will make your death a little more pleasant."
His words sent a chill through my heart.
"He's serious. He really intends to kill me."
James walked to the window, turning his back to me, his voice filled with nostalgia: "Three years ago, I met a girl. She was extraordinarily wonderful."
James narrated the story of his first love who had a blood disease: "She was a truly wonderful girl, just like you—confident, bright, and sunny, but without your craftiness. Yet someone like her got a blood disease. Her blood type was rare, and we could never find a suitable blood source. She was barely kept alive through continuous treatments."
As I listened to his story, my heart sank. "So this is why he kidnapped me?"
I immediately understood his intention: "So you want to sacrifice me to save her, is that it?" My voice turned cold.
James came forward and sat beside me, slowly leaning down, his eyes revealing cruel, eerie light: "Yes, I've looked for many people. Actually, when we first met on the plane—I'm sure you remember—I casually took a strand of your hair, just instinctively. I used your hair for DNA matching, and to my delight, discovered you're the perfect candidate."
"So he's had his eye on me from the beginning!"
A chill ran through me, but I maintained a calm exterior: "You're insane."
"To save her, what's wrong with being a little crazy?" James's gaze grew fanatical. "I can't let her die, absolutely not."
I tried to appeal to his conscience: "If you do this to me, aren't you afraid she'll hate you when she finds out?"
James remained composed: "If she hates me, so be it. My goal has always been to save her. Besides, once you're dead, no one will know."
He gently took my hand, and I realized my ring was gone. "Just now, I destroyed your ring and phone. Who were you planning to message?"
"This is bad. Without the ring, Lucas won't receive my distress signal."
I began to panic inside but remained outwardly calm: "James, you won't succeed. William will find me."
James laughed coldly: "By then, you'll already be dead. I sent you all those gifts during your stream—buying your life. It's a good deal, isn't it?"
Just then, James's phone rang.
He answered it, his brow gradually furrowing.
"What do you mean she's too thin? Can't perform the surgery immediately? Need to fatten her up first?"
The person on the other end seemed to be explaining something, and James's expression grew darker.
"Fine, I understand." He hung up and turned to me. "Looks like you have a few more days to live."
I seized this ray of hope: "Since we have to wait, why not let me move freely around the villa? What good does keeping me tied up do you?"
James flatly refused: "Impossible. You're too cunning. How could I let you move around freely?"
I threatened: "Then I'll go on a hunger strike. We'll see if you can wait until the surgery day."
James's gaze turned dangerous: "Do you know about foie gras? Delicious fatty liver—do you know how it's made? With a tube inserted into your stomach to force feed you. You can choose between a hunger strike or becoming like that."
"He's truly insane."
I knew threats wouldn't work, so I temporarily yielded: "Fine, I'll eat properly."
James nodded with satisfaction: "That's better."
"I'll have the housekeeper bring you food. Don't think about escaping. This villa is soundproof, and there's no other house for miles around."
Watching James leave, my heart filled with fear and despair.
"William, please find me. French foie gras is too terrifying."

William's POV
After finishing my meeting, I checked the time. It was already evening.
However, Lily hadn't returned.
I called Lily, but there was no answer.
Lily went to meet Jackson—it was impossible that her phone would be unreachable.
The only explanation was that Lily was in danger.
Realizing this, my first thought was that Nicholas was responsible.
I called Lucas. If something had happened to Lily, he would know. She had a ring that could send distress signals.
"Lucas, when was the last time you contacted Lily?" I asked urgently.
Lucas shook his head. "I sent a few messages this morning, but haven't been in touch since. Did something happen?"
"She said she was meeting Jackson, but now her phone is off, and I can't reach her."
"Have you asked Jackson?" Lucas suggested.
"I'll do that now."
I hung up. Lucas didn't know about Lily's situation. She might have fallen unconscious before she could send a message.
I anxiously dialed Jackson's number: "Jackson, is Lily with you?"
"No, I haven't seen her today," Jackson replied. "What's wrong?"
My face instantly turned ashen: "She said she received a text from you to meet at a coffee shop."
"I didn't send any text! I'm in Manhattan! Didn't you two return to New York?" Jackson's voice was filled with surprise.
I hung up, a terrible thought flashing through my mind: "It's James."
If it were Nicholas, Lily would be at the Spencer mansion, and Jackson would have told me.
At that moment, Lucas called back, and I shared my suspicion with him.
Lucas looked at me in surprise: "James Alexander? Why would it be him?"
"Intuition." William's gaze sharpened. "After Lily ran away from the engagement, he was too calm. That's not normal. And he sent her gifts worth 200 million during that stream!"
"Lucas, go check James's addresses immediately. All of them, including private properties. We need to move fast!"
"Understood!"
"I hope I'm wrong," I said softly, my eyes filled with worry and determination. "But if I'm right, James will pay."
After hanging up, I clenched my fists, my eyes filled with murderous intent.
"If James dares to harm Lily, I will never let him go."