Chapter 174 Astrid Imprisoned

Chapter 174 Astrid Imprisoned

Silas returned home and found no sign of Astrid anywhere - not in the living room, bedroom, or garden outside. When he asked the servants if she had come back, they said they thought they saw her staying in the study the whole time without coming out.

A bad feeling rose in Silas's heart as he hurried toward the study.

He saw her standing by the bookshelf, holding something in her hand, staring at it intently.

"Astrid, let me explain." Silas spoke urgently, striding toward her.

Astrid slowly turned around, her calm eyes gradually turning cold as she looked at him expressionlessly.

"Explain what? How you deceived me?" The moment Astrid saw him, anger surged through her heart.

"No." Silas felt somewhat powerless.

"I've been searching for this gemstone all along, and it turns out it was right here in my own home." As Astrid spoke, her eyes began to well up.

"It was you who bribed Byron, wasn't it?" Astrid held the gemstone, walking toward Silas step by step, as if getting closer would let her see into his heart and understand why he had hidden this from her.

Silas opened his mouth but didn't know how to answer.

Seeing him at a loss for words, Astrid let out a cold laugh.

How she wished Silas could tell her confidently that she had it wrong, that Oliver was the one who deceived her.

"Listen to me, I wanted to tell you all along, but so many things have happened recently, I just couldn't find the right time." Silas looked at Astrid sincerely.

"The right time?" Astrid looked at him in utter disappointment as he made excuses, repeating the question. "If I hadn't seen this gemstone today, you never planned to tell me at all!"

She had spent so much effort to find the gemstone, to figure out what really happened between Marigold and Lillian back then, traveling to Azurewind City, contacting people on the dark web to help her investigate - Silas knew all of this perfectly well.

Sure enough, the Montgomery family were all heartless.

"It's not like that, Astrid, trust me." Silas didn't know how to explain. Seeing her in pain made him feel terrible too.

He reached out, wanting to hold Astrid in his arms.

Astrid pushed him away forcefully, left the study, and went upstairs to the bedroom.

She didn't know how many more secrets Silas was keeping from her.

Fear and uncertainty flooded through Astrid's entire body. Only one thought filled her mind - leave him, go anywhere!

Silas was calculating and cunning - she was no match for him at all!

Astrid began packing frantically. Silas, who had followed close behind her, watched her movements and grabbed her wrist firmly.

"Don't do this! I told you, when the time is right, I'll give you a complete explanation!" Silas watched her frantic state, his heart feeling like it was being squeezed painfully.

"Then explain now." Astrid stopped what she was doing and looked at him angrily.

Silas's lips moved. "I... actually..."

He couldn't get a single syllable out for the longest time.

Astrid knew he was just stalling for time and turned to continue packing.

Silas blocked her from taking important items.

Faced with the absolute difference in strength, Astrid gave up struggling. She didn't want any of it anymore. With determination on her face, she walked toward the door.

"Astrid!" Silas panicked. Before she could react, he pulled her into his arms and threw her onto the bed.

No matter how much Astrid struggled, he could pin her down completely.

"No matter what happens, you must stay by my side!" Silas warned.

After saying this, he felt his tone was too harsh and leaned down to kiss her.

Astrid turned her face away, rejecting him with disgust. "Don't touch me!"

"Fine, I won't touch you, but from now on, you can only stay here. You're not allowed to go anywhere." Silas instructed calmly.

Astrid nodded perfunctorily.

Silas, highly alert, held her hand and sat at the head of the bed, helping to straighten her clothes.

Neither of them spoke. When the servants came to call them for dinner, Silas said they'd go later.

They remained in this standoff until late at night. Astrid pretended to be compliant and went to wash up first.

She planned to leave after Silas fell asleep.

While she was bathing, Silas took out his phone and sent a message. By the time she came out, dinner had been moved to the bedroom.

Astrid claimed she had no appetite and went to bed first.

Silas also lay down beside her.

There was a person's width of distance between them.

Astrid lay completely still until she heard Silas's even breathing. Only then did she carefully get up and, without even putting on proper clothes, opened the door.

"Astrid, come back to bed with me."

Astrid turned to see that Silas had somehow already sat up.

"Are you coming back yourself, or should I carry you back?" Silas's tone was harsh.

Astrid knew she had angered him. She returned to bed and angrily pulled the covers over herself. Silas's body pressed against her from behind, encircling her in his arms.

The familiar scent, the warm embrace - in her drowsy state, Astrid felt Silas release her. She opened her eyes to find that Silas was indeed gone.

Astrid got dressed and went downstairs.

"Mrs. Montgomery, Mr. Montgomery left without breakfast. I've been keeping yours warm - I'll get it for you now." The servant turned toward the kitchen.

Astrid ignored this and walked straight toward the door, where a pair of hands blocked her way.

"I'm sorry, without Mr. Montgomery's permission, you cannot leave." Two bodyguards stood at the entrance.

Astrid looked around in surprise. Not just at the door - there were guards stationed at regular intervals throughout the garden as well.

Left with no choice, she stepped back and returned to her room, closing the door.

Astrid was imprisoned. The servants prepared three meals a day for her with varying dishes.

Silas went to work and came home on schedule, watching movies with her and taking walks in the garden.

At first, Astrid thought Silas would only confine her for a while, and that if she behaved well, he would remove the guards.

As time passed, Astrid increasingly felt she couldn't keep waiting. She took out her phone and contacted the foreign forces Rolf had left for her.

They had already received word from Rolf that Astrid was their new leader.

Soon, Silas received news from abroad - a force that had been dormant for over twenty years had recently become active again, and people were starting to speculate whether something unusual was happening.

Astrid continued to act obediently in the villa.

One day, an unexpected visitor arrived - Oliver.

Astrid changed her cold attitude and welcomed him in, hoping to find a way to escape through him.

The two chatted briefly.

Oliver casually mentioned that things had been quite unstable abroad recently.

"Astrid, I know who's behind those people." As Oliver said this, his gaze rested on Astrid.