Chapter 72 Caroline is Missing
Just as the servant bent down to grab her, Caroline summoned the last of her strength and swung the concrete chunk at him with all her might.
A dull thud echoed through the darkness.
The makeshift weapon struck somewhere—she couldn't see where—and the servant grunted, his movement freezing instantly. The metallic scent of blood filled the cramped space.
"You goddamn bitch!" The servant's roar was low and brutal, thick with rage.
Humiliated and furious, he lunged forward and backhanded Caroline across the face with savage force.
Before she could even attempt to rise, another blow sent her sprawling.
Her ears rang violently. Her vision exploded with stars. Half her face went numb—so numb she couldn't even feel the pain anymore.
"Ungrateful whore," the servant spat, glaring down at Caroline's crumpled form with disgust.
He reached down and grabbed her by the collar, yanking her up and dragging her down the narrow passage without mercy.
The rough floor scraped against her body, tearing open her exposed skin in multiple places.
Unable to speak, she couldn't even moan. Her consciousness flickered in and out through the agony.
They moved through a dark, claustrophobic ventilation shaft. The servant shoved open the heavy iron cover at the end and climbed out first.
Above was a small courtyard in the back of the estate, used for storing refuse. High walls surrounded it, and piles of debris created natural barriers—perfectly hidden.
Beyond that lay a narrow service road, carved out specifically for waste removal.
At the end, a small gate opened directly onto the street behind the manor—convenient for loading garbage trucks without disturbing the main household.
Right now, Caroline was being treated like refuse.
The servant hauled her out of the shaft without care, dragging her toward the exit.
Outside the small gate, a black sedan waited in silence.
The moment they appeared, the rear door swung open. Two hulking men jumped out and strode forward quickly.
The servant shoved the barely conscious Caroline forward like discarded garbage, speaking rapidly to the two men in French.
Through her haze, Caroline stirred slightly.
She couldn't understand the words, but their vicious tone made their intentions crystal clear.
No…
A spark of awareness flared. In her desperation, Caroline found a final burst of strength and began thrashing wildly.
The next second, strong hands pinned her down. She was stuffed into the car without ceremony.
The instant the door slammed shut, a large hand in a black glove reached from behind and clamped over her nose and mouth. A sharp chemical smell invaded her senses.
"Mmph!" Her eyes flew wide with terror as she struggled frantically.
Behind her, a man's voice muttered impatiently.
Without hesitation, he raised his hand and struck the back of her neck hard.
Caroline's vision went black. She lost consciousness completely.
The lead doctor from the medical team checked his watch for the third time, irritation creasing his brow.
The elegant refreshments had long gone cold, untouched. No one had the appetite.
The agreed-upon hour had stretched to ninety minutes, yet there was still no movement from upstairs.
"Miss," the doctor finally said, turning to Celeste, who sat on the sofa leafing through a magazine. "Mrs. Hamilton is just taking a bath. Does it really require this long? We have other appointments, and Mr. Hamilton is expecting…"
"Please, be patient, Doctor." Celeste closed the magazine gracefully, offering a soothing smile.
The timing was about right.
"Caroline's… not in the best condition physically. She moves slowly, especially after being frightened. Let me go check on her, hurry her along."
She rose and headed for the stairs.
At Caroline's door, Celeste knocked gently. "Caroline? It's me, Celeste. Are you finished? The doctors are getting a bit anxious."
Silence. Not even the sound of running water.
Concern deepened on Celeste's face. She knocked again, raising her voice. "Caroline? Are you all right? I'm coming in, okay?"
Still no response.
She gripped the handle and turned it gently.
The door was unlocked. The room was empty.
The bed was slightly rumpled, the bathroom door stood open, toiletries arranged neatly—but Caroline was nowhere to be seen.
Celeste stumbled back a step, hand flying to her mouth. "Caroline! Caroline's gone!"
Her cry immediately drew the medical team from downstairs.
They rushed up to find the empty room, stunned into silence.
"What… what's going on?" The lead doctor's expression darkened. "Where is Mrs. Hamilton?"
"I—I don't know!" Celeste spun around, tears welling rapidly in her eyes, panic flooding her voice. "I came to get her, no one answered, I opened the door and she was just… gone! Where could she be? She's still so weak…"
Something seemed to strike her. She bolted from the room, calling down the hallway.
"Someone! Anyone! Help!"
Nearby maids rushed over immediately.
"Have you seen Caroline? She's missing!" Celeste grabbed one maid's arm, voice urgent.
"No, Miss, we haven't," the maids exchanged confused glances, shaking their heads.
"Mrs. Hamilton's been in her room this whole time. We didn't see her leave."
"That's impossible! The room is empty! Search everywhere—the gardens, the greenhouse, the storage rooms… don't miss a single corner!"
Celeste's voice cracked with what sounded like tears as she directed the panicking servants.
"Tell the butler immediately! And contact Alex right now!"
Ravenwood Manor descended into chaos over Caroline's disappearance.
Servants scattered in every direction, but no matter where they looked, there was no sign of Caroline.
Just as the situation spiraled further out of control, the door to the storage closet at the far end of the second-floor hallway suddenly burst open.
Everyone jumped, heads turning toward the sound.
A figure stumbled out and collapsed heavily onto the floor.
"Oh my God, all that blood!" The nearest maid rushed over.
The medical staff turned to look, freezing in shock.
The male servant's uniform was soaked dark across the chest and abdomen—clearly blood.
One hand pressed tight against his stomach, crimson seeping steadily between his fingers and dripping to the floor.
He lifted his head, face twisted with terror as he looked at the crowd.
"Help… help me! Mrs. Hamilton forced me… forced me to take her through the secret passage! She had a knife! When I refused, she… she stabbed me! She ran! Through the back courtyard passage—she's gone!"
Celeste, who had just reached the top of the stairs, whipped around. "What did you say?!"