Chapter 100 100

Chapter 100 100
Stefano sat alone in the vast study of his sprawling mansion, the heavy silence broken only by the faint ticking of an antique clock on the mantelpiece.

He held his phone in one hand, his thumb moving with deliberate precision as he dialed Yuki’s number again.

The call didn’t connect. Straight to voicemail once more.

Stefano lowered the phone slowly, staring at the glowing screen with narrowed eyes. A low, cold chuckle escaped his lips, echoing softly in the empty room.

“So she blocked me, huh?” he murmured to the shadows, his voice calm yet laced with a dangerous undercurrent. “My little princess is getting bold. Trying to shut me out like I’m just some insignificant nobody she can dismiss with a tap of her finger.”

He leaned back in the supple leather chair, tapping the edge of the phone rhythmically against his knee.

“You really think blocking my number will make me disappear? How adorably naive. You’re testing my patience now, princess. But I like it when you push back. It only makes the chase more thrilling. Makes the moment I finally claim you even sweeter.”

He opened her contact photo again, his thumb gently brushing over her smiling face on the screen as if he could touch her through the glass.

The image was from months ago—candid, innocent, captured without her knowledge.

“I’ve waited years for this.” He whispered, his voice dropping lower. “Watched you from the moment you were that quiet little girl in the orphanage. Followed every step after the Warrens took you in. Every move, every friend, every secret. And now you think you can run? No. You don’t get to decide when this ends. I do. You’ve always been mine.”

His phone buzzed with an incoming text. Stefano opened it without haste.

Ivy: Yuki plans to leave for New York the day after tomorrow.

He read the message slowly, absorbing every word. Then he laughed, a dark sound that filled the quiet study and sent a chill through the air. He shook his head, clearly amused by her futile plan.

“Running back to New York like that will solve her problems. How naive my princess still is. She has no idea how deep this goes.” he muttered, a predatory smile curling his lips.

Without hesitation, he tapped on Ivy’s contact and called her.

“Boss,”

“Find a way to bring Yuki to me tomorrow. I don’t care how you do it—use whatever leverage you need. Just get her to me.”

“Okay, boss,” Ivy replied quietly.

Stefano ended the call without another word. He set the phone down on the polished desk and leaned back in his chair, staring up at the ornate ceiling with a satisfied, dangerous smile playing on his face.

“Tomorrow, princess.” he whispered to the empty room. “You’re coming home to me. Where you belong.”

\---

Yuki and Ivy walked out of the movie theater together. The romantic comedy had been a decent distraction, lighthearted jokes and predictable twists that had pulled genuine laughter from Yuki a few times, even if her mind kept drifting back to Kade, Stefano, and the suffocating weight of her fears.

“That was actually funny,” Ivy said, swinging her car keys around her finger with forced cheer. “Especially that part where the guy kept messing up the dates. I really needed that laugh tonight.”

Yuki forced a small, weary smile as they headed toward the underground parking structure. “Yeah… it was good. Thanks for dragging me out. I really needed to get out of my room.”

Their footsteps echoed loudly in the near-empty space as they walked toward Ivy’s car parked in the back row. Only a handful of vehicles remained at this late hour, making the area feel isolated and cavernous.

They were almost at the car when several men stepped out silently from behind the thick pillars, surrounding them with practiced efficiency. The air grew thick with tension.

Yuki stopped dead in her tracks, her heart lurching violently.

Stefano emerged from the car parked just at the corner, hands casually tucked into his pockets, looking every bit as composed and immaculate as always. His presence alone seemed to suck the remaining warmth from the night air.

Ivy stopped walking.
“Boss,” she said flatly.

Yuki’s heart slammed against her ribs like a trapped bird. Confusion and betrayal crashed over her in waves.

“Ivy? Ivy, what the hell is this?! What’s going on?”

She spun around to run, but two large, powerful men grabbed her arms from behind, their grips like iron clamps holding her firmly in place. Yuki screamed, thrashing wildly against them, her voice echoing sharply off the concrete.

“Let go of me! Let me go! Ivy, what are you doing?! Ivy!”

The men dragged her forward despite her resistance until she stood directly in front of Stefano.

He reached out slowly and cupped her face with one hand, his thumb stroking across her lower lip with an almost tender, possessive touch.

Yuki jerked her head desperately, trying to pull away as hot tears spilled down her cheeks.

“Please… let me go,” She begged, her voice breaking with terror.

“What is the meaning of this?! I don’t want you. Just leave me alone. Please!”

Stefano’s thumb continued its slow, intimate caress, his dark eyes drinking in her fear and defiance with visible satisfaction.

“You blocked my number and planned to flee back to New York,” he said, his voice low and eerily controlled. “Don’t worry, princess. We’ll be leaving London soon enough. Together. You won’t have to run anymore.”

Yuki’s eyes widened in pure panic, her breathing coming in short, ragged gasps. “No! No, please! Ivy, help me! Ivy, please help me! Don’t do this!”

Ivy stood a few steps away, her gaze fixed on the ground for a long moment, shoulders tense.

“I’m sorry, Yuki.” Ivy said quietly, her voice barely audible over Yuki’s cries.

She turned and walked away toward her car. She entered and quick drove off.

Yuki screamed louder, thrashing violently against the men’s unyielding grip. “Ivy! Don’t leave me! Ivy! Come back! Please!”

Stefano watched her desperate struggle with a small, satisfied smile, as if her resistance only heightened his pleasure.

“Just take a nap, princess.” He said softly, almost soothingly.

He pulled a small white cloth from his pocket, doused with a sedative. He pressed it firmly over her nose and mouth. Yuki’s eyes went wide with raw terror.

She fought harder than ever.. kicking, twisting, screaming muffled cries into the cloth but her strength drained rapidly. Her limbs grew heavy, her vision blurred, and her body went limp within seconds.

Stefano caught her as she slumped forward, pulling her securely against his chest and holding her close, one arm wrapped possessively around her waist.

“Let’s go,” Stefano ordered calmly.

His men opened the back door of a sleek black SUV. Stefano carried Yuki inside with ease and settled into the seat, keeping her cradled against him.

The men climbed in after them. The doors closed with heavy, final thuds.

The car drove away smoothly, tires rolling up the ramp and disappearing into the dark London night, leaving the empty parking structure silent once more.