Chapter 80: Closing the Net

The Rosenberg Mansion, Dining Room

Leo had just finished dinner with Chloe.

Although Chloe wore light makeup, her bright blue eyes were still red and swollen, and the foundation at the corners of her eyes was smudged—clearly she had been crying many times.

"Chloe."

"Leo, I..."

Chloe tried to explain something, but Leo cut her off.

Without another word, he bent down, slipping one arm under her knees and the other behind her back, scooping her up in his arms.

"Ah!"

Chloe cried out in surprise, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Leo..."

Her cheeks flushed instantly as she tried to wriggle free.

"Don't move."

Leo commanded in a low voice, carrying her in long strides toward the bedroom.

"Bang!"

Leo kicked the bedroom door open, carried Chloe inside, then closed the door behind them.

"Click."

The door locked.

He gently laid Chloe on the soft bed.

"Leo..."

Chloe bit her lip, head down, not daring to look at him.

"Lift your head."

Leo's voice was soft but left no room for refusal.

Chloe trembled as she raised her head.

Her swollen eyes were full of hurt and anxiety.

Leo reached out, gently stroking her cheek.

"How many times have you been crying?"

His voice was soft, edged with heartbreak.

"I... I didn't..."

Chloe tried to deny it.

But when she saw those deep eyes of Leo's, she finally couldn't hold back anymore.

"Woo..."

She threw herself into Leo's arms, her tears spilling over all at once.

"I was so scared... so scared you wouldn't come back..."

She sobbed, "Every night I had nightmares... dreaming you got hurt in Miami... dreaming you were killed..."

"I was so scared... scared I'd never see you again..."

"Just like Luke... he promised to come back... but then..."

At this point, Chloe was crying uncontrollably.

Leo held her silently, gently patting her back.

After a long while.

He reached out, gripping Chloe's chin and forcing her to look up at him.

"Chloe, listen."

Leo's voice was low and firm, "I'm not Luke."

"I'm Reaper."

"No one in this world can kill me."

"So..."

He leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers.

"Don't cry anymore."

"But I... mmph..."

Before Chloe could finish, Leo kissed her forcefully.

The kiss was dominant, carrying an undeniable possessiveness.

Chloe's eyes widened, then slowly closed, letting Leo take what he wanted.

After a long moment.

Their lips parted.

Chloe leaned against Leo, breathless, her cheeks flushed.

"Remember that?"

Leo asked in a low voice.

"Mm..."

Chloe responded softly, the worry in her eyes finally fading, replaced by pure happiness.

"Good girl."

Leo kissed her forehead gently, "Rest well at home. I still have things to handle."

"Okay."

Chloe nodded obediently.

One hour later.

The Vanderbilt Mansion.

Leo's Maybach pulled up at the entrance.

The butler respectfully led him into the living room.

Sophia sat on the sofa, elegantly sipping coffee.

Seeing Leo enter, she set down her cup, a charming smile playing at her lips.

"You're here?"

"Yes."

Leo sat across from her, "Where's Rhys?"

"Upstairs."

Sophia stood, her heels clicking as she walked to Leo's side, "These past few days, he's been keeping in touch with Elena just like you said, acting like a crazy guy under house arrest who wants to escape and find his girlfriend."

"Well done."

Leo nodded.

Just then.

Rhys came down from upstairs.

He looked much more haggard these past few days, his eyes bloodshot.

But there was no trace of his former innocence in them now—only a deep, simmering hatred.

"Mr. Ashford."

Rhys walked up to Leo and bowed deeply, "These past few days, I've been doing exactly what you said. Elena... she should completely believe me now."

"Good."

Leo studied him, "Tell me what you did."

"I..."

Rhys took a deep breath, "I messaged her every day, saying my sister was against us being together and had me under house arrest. I said I missed her so much, that I had to escape and find her. She... she always replied, comforting me, telling me to be patient a few more days."

At this point, Rhys's fists clenched tight.

"I really want to... go and strangle her right now..."

"Hold it in."

Leo said coolly, "A hunter has to be patient before he pulls the trigger."

"I understand."

Rhys gritted his teeth.

"Now..."

Leo stood and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. "It's time to draw the net closed."

"Now, call her. Tell her... tonight, while the guards were changing shifts, you escaped from the estate. Have her come pick you up."

Rhys's whole body shook.

"I... I understand."

He pulled out his phone, took a deep breath, and dialed Elena's number.

The phone rang three times.

"Hello? Rhys?"

Elena's gentle voice came through the receiver.

But to Rhys, it sounded like a viper's hiss.

"Elena..."

Rhys lowered his voice, deliberately making himself sound excited, "I... I escaped..."

"What?"

Elena's voice changed instantly, "What did you say? You escaped?"

"Yes..."

Rhys pretended to pant heavily, "I took advantage of the guard shift change and climbed over the back wall of the estate... Elena, I miss you so much... I couldn't take it anymore... Where am I? Can I come find you?"

Silence on the other end for a few seconds.

Then Elena's gentle voice came again.

"Rhys, don't panic. Where are you now?"

"I'm... I'm at the cafe on Fifth Avenue... the one where we first met..."

Rhys followed Leo's earlier instructions word for word.

"Okay, wait for me there."

Elena's voice remained gentle, "Don't go anywhere, I'll come get you right away."

"Okay!"

Rhys deliberately sounded excited, "Elena, I'll wait for you!"

The call ended.

Rhys put down his phone and collapsed on the sofa.

"She... she agreed..."

He said, trembling.

Sophia walked over to Rhys and gently embraced him.

"You've worked hard."

"No..."

Rhys shook his head, his eyes full of hatred, "As long as that bitch pays the price... I'll do anything."

Leo pulled out his phone and called Olivia.

"The target took the bait."

He said coolly, "Proceed as planned."

"Yes!"

Olivia responded immediately.

Leo hung up and turned to look at Rhys.

"Get ready to go. It's time to show that woman... what despair really feels like."

---Meanwhile.

Lower Manhattan, inside an apartment.

Elena hung up the phone, the gentle smile vanishing from her face in an instant, replaced by cold indifference.

She picked up another encrypted phone and dialed a number.

"Hello."

A raspy voice came from the other end.

"The target escaped." Elena said coldly, "He's at that cafe on Fifth Avenue."

"Excellent."

The voice said with satisfaction, "Given the situation, we can't afford to wait any longer. Remember, capture him alive. We need him to pressure Sophia into handing over the Vanderbilt family's core assets."

"Understood."

Elena hung up.

She walked to the closet, pulled out a black tactical suit, and quickly changed into it.

Then she pulled out a black weapons case from under the bed and opened it.

Inside were various weapons neatly arranged: suppressed pistol, folding knife, tranquilizer darts...

She expertly concealed the weapons in various places on her body.

Finally, she adjusted her hair in the mirror.

The woman in the mirror was cold, professional, deadly.

"Rhys Vanderbilt..."

A cruel smile played at her lips, "Thanks for walking right into my hands so quickly. After the mission's over... I'll kill you with my own hands."

With that, she pushed open the door and disappeared into the night.

Fifth Avenue, that quiet cafe.

Rhys sat by the window, holding a cup of coffee that had long gone cold.

His gaze was directed outside, but his eyes were full of hatred.

Soon.

A familiar figure appeared at the cafe entrance.

Elena wore a beige trench coat, her golden hair casually draped over her shoulders.

She pushed open the door, a gentle smile on her face.

"Rhys!"

She hurried over to Rhys and reached out to hug him.

"Elena..."

Rhys stood up, also opening his arms.

The two embraced tightly.