Chapter 62
"Eve? Eve!"
Matthew shouted into the phone several times. The only response was suffocating silence.
His eyes darkened, his fingers tightening until he nearly crushed the screen.
The second time. This was the second time she'd been in danger right under his nose.
A wave of terror surged through him, so oppressive he could barely breathe.
He forced himself to calm down and immediately called his assistant.
"Thomas, trace two license plates right now." He rattled off the information Evelyn had given him at lightning speed. "Pull the street camera footage starting from the road down from the nursing home. Use every resource available. Don't miss a single detail."
"Yes, sir."
"Mobilize everyone," Matthew said, his tone heavy. "Turn the entire city upside down if you have to. Find her."
Thomas had worked for Mr. Perkins for years, but he'd never seen him this rattled.
"Understood," Thomas said. "I'll arrange it immediately."
Matthew hung up and made several more calls, activating every connection he had. Then he headed straight for the traffic management department. He had to find her as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, the black sedan didn't head toward the city center. Instead, it changed direction and eventually turned onto an inconspicuous side road.
Evelyn lay on her side in the back seat, hands bound behind her, eyes covered with a black cloth.
After what felt like an eternity, the car finally stopped. Evelyn's consciousness gradually returned.
After testing the ropes and finding them secure, she cautiously stayed still.
Someone opened the car door. She felt herself being dragged out and hoisted over a shoulder, her body hanging upside down. Still, she didn't move, maintaining the appearance of unconsciousness.
The person carrying her walked slowly, as if climbing a slope. The surroundings were eerily quiet—no traffic, no voices, not even dogs barking.
Evelyn's heart sank.
After about seven or eight minutes, she was carried into a room and placed on a sofa. Footsteps retreated, followed by the sound of a door closing.
Silence fell.
Evelyn waited a bit longer to make sure she was alone before moving slightly. Her vision was completely dark. The air carried a faint scent of incense.
She tried again to work her hands free from the ropes. They wouldn't budge.
Who was behind this? Marigold? Matthew's mother Emma? Or someone else entirely?
Evelyn thought calmly, running through names in her head, but came up empty.
The door creaked open. Someone entered, footsteps unhurried. Then a familiar perfume scent drifted over.
Evelyn's pupils contracted sharply as she suddenly remembered who wore that scent.
The person removed the blindfold. She squinted until her eyes adjusted and saw who stood before her.
Jack.
He stood there looking her up and down, his gaze carrying undisguised greed.
Evelyn's heart plummeted.
"Awake?" Jack smiled and bent down, bringing his face close to hers. "Miss Arden, we meet again."
Evelyn stared at him, her voice cold as ice. "Why did you kidnap me? Do you have any idea what Matthew will do to you when he finds out?"
Jack laughed, his expression a mix of disdain and malice.
"Scared?" He straightened up, looking down at her. "Of course I'm scared. But..." He paused. "He has to know it was me first."
He sat down in a nearby chair and crossed his legs.
"Miss Arden, I didn't want to resort to this. But you kept refusing me, so I had no choice."
Evelyn stared at him coldly without speaking.
Jack's gaze roamed over her face like he was admiring a trophy.
"Do you know what these past few days have been like for me?" he suddenly said, his tone self-mocking. "I tried everything to get close to you, sent you messages. And you? You wouldn't even look at me. That disgusted look in your eyes, like you were looking at something filthy."
The corner of Evelyn's mouth twitched. Filthy? That's exactly what he was.
"No woman has ever treated me this way," Jack continued, his voice dropping. "Never."
He stood up, walked over to Evelyn, and bent down to look directly into her eyes.
"These past few days, you've been all I can think about," he said. "Eyes open, eyes closed—it's always you."
Jack felt like he'd go mad if he didn't have her soon.
Evelyn turned her head away, avoiding his advancing face.
"So you kidnapped me?"
"I didn't want to," Jack straightened up. "But you just had to go to that remote nursing home. Even God is helping me. How could I pass up the opportunity?"
He smiled and grabbed Evelyn's chin, forcing her to look at him.
"Miss Arden, if you agree to be with me, I'll treat you well."
Evelyn stared at him and spat in his face.
The saliva landed on his cheek.
Jack froze. He raised his hand and wiped his face, but surprisingly didn't get angry. Instead, he laughed with an eerie confidence.
"Interesting," he said. "Very interesting."
He suddenly spun the chair Evelyn was sitting in around.
Evelyn's pupils contracted as she finally saw the full layout of the room.
The entire space was decorated like a love hotel. The bedsheets were an ambiguous rose-red, the lighting a suggestive dim yellow. Most disturbing of all, one entire wall was covered with various strange implements—handcuffs, whips, candles, and things she couldn't even name.
Cold sweat instantly broke out across Evelyn's back.
Jack stood behind her, savoring her reaction with satisfaction.
"What's wrong?" He leaned close to her ear, lowering his voice. "Matthew never used these things with you? What a shame. You've been missing out on so much pleasure."
He reached out and brushed her hair aside.
"Tonight," he said, drawing out each word, "I'm going to show you what real pleasure feels like."
Evelyn's stomach churned violently. Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting.
She couldn't control it anymore and vomited.
The contents of her stomach came up, splattering all over Jack.
Jack froze. He looked down at the mess on his clothes, his expression shifting from shock to disbelief.
He had a cleanliness obsession—a severe one.
His face flushed red, frustration nearly driving him mad. He wanted to lash out, but thinking about what he'd soon get from this woman, he held back.
"Someone get in here!" he shouted toward the door.
The door opened and four female bodyguards entered.
"Take her to wash up!" Jack pointed at Evelyn. "Scrub her clean from head to toe before bringing her back!"
"Tonight," Jack said with a cold sneer directed at Evelyn, "you'll become my woman."
The four bodyguards stepped forward, hauled Evelyn up, and dragged her out.