Chapter 239: Hope in the Darkness

Jasmine's POV

"They took him!" I screamed, struggling to break free from Marcus's arms. "Let me go! We have to save him!"

"Jasmine!" Marcus's voice was stern and firm. "You need to calm down. For Grace. Look at her."

His words were like a bucket of cold water poured over my head. I turned to look at the corner of the safe room, where Grace was curled up in Isabella's arms, her little face pale with fear, her big eyes filled with tears. She had just found her father, and now she had lost him again.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down, and walked toward my daughter. "It's okay, sweetheart. Dad will be fine. I promise."

"Did the bad people hurt him?" she asked quietly, her voice trembling.

I bit my lip, not knowing how to answer. Through the safe room's surveillance, we had seen everything—Louis being captured by Eva and her men, Alan's appearance, and the chaotic struggle that followed. In the end, Louis was struck on the head and carried away unconscious.

"Dad is very brave," I finally said, gently stroking her curly hair. "He'll come back. We'll bring him home."

Louis's father was at the other end of the safe room, his face as grim as iron. Seeing his son taken away just after returning home, his eyes flashed with a cold determination I had never seen before. "I'm going to find Heinrich Weiss."

"They might take Louis back to Switzerland," Marcus said. "Back to that island."

"No," I shook my head. "That's too far. They know we'd follow immediately. They'll take him somewhere nearby, somewhere they control."

Daniel, joining us via video link, nodded in agreement. "Weiss has properties in New York. I'm checking our intelligence on him now."

The safe room door opened, and Anthony walked in, his expression grave. "We have the situation under control. The intruders have retreated. Five security guards were injured, but none critically."

"Louis's blood?" his father asked, his voice tense.

"Shot in the shoulder, doesn't look fatal. But he lost quite a bit of blood when he was hit in the back of the head."

I closed my eyes, trying to suppress the fear inside. Louis had just returned to me after four years of separation and amnesia. I couldn't lose him again. Not after Grace had just met her father, only to lose him forever.

"Heinrich Weiss has an undisclosed property on Long Island," Daniel suddenly said, and we all turned toward the screen.

Marcus narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure?"

"Our intelligence indicates this is where he conducts private 'negotiations.' Unlike his other properties, there's almost no electronic security record of this place."

"That's where we need to look," I said, a new determination in my voice. "We need to make a plan."

"We?" Father turned to me. "Jasmine, you need to stay here with Grace."

"No," I shook my head firmly. "Louis is my husband. I've already lost him for four years. I won't sit on the sidelines waiting—I'm going to be part of rescuing him."

Father and Marcus exchanged a look, seeming to communicate silently. Finally, Marcus nodded. "We need everyone who can help. But you must promise to follow the plan and not take unnecessary risks."

"I promise," I said, then turned to Isabella. "Can you take care of Grace?"

Isabella nodded firmly. "With my life."

In the hours that followed, we quickly developed an action plan. Daniel's team provided detailed information about Weiss's property and possible defensive measures. Louis's father mobilized all his resources and contacts to ensure we had enough firepower. Marcus contacted our secret allies in law enforcement to ensure our operation wouldn't be interrupted.

"This is our best chance," Daniel said, pointing to the building's floor plan. "There's a service entrance on the east side with relatively weak security. Our people can infiltrate from there."

"Meanwhile, the main force will launch a feint attack from the front entrance," Father added. "To draw their attention."

I studied the floor plan carefully. "Who will I enter with?"

Marcus shook his head. "You're not entering the building, Jasmine. It's too dangerous."

"I understand Eva better than anyone here," I insisted. "She cares about what I think. We can use that."

"That's precisely why it's more dangerous," Daniel objected. "She sees you as a rival. She might shoot you on sight."

I couldn't accept being excluded from the operation. "I won't stand by. I won't lose Louis again without doing something."

Just as the argument was escalating, a message appeared on the monitoring screen. An encrypted video call request.

"Connect it," Marcus instructed, gesturing for us to remain quiet. "But don't let them see us."

The screen lit up, and Eva's face appeared. She looked tense and tired, with some dark room in the background.

"Mitchell family," she began, her voice tight. "I don't want to waste time. Louis is in my hands, safe for now."

"If you hurt him—" I couldn't help saying, but Marcus stopped me.

Eva's eyes scanned the screen, trying to locate me. "Ah, Jasmine. I knew you'd be involved. Listen, the situation is more complicated than you think. My father and Alan both want Louis dead. For different reasons, but with the same result."

"Why are you contacting us?" Marcus asked calmly.

"Because I love Louis," Eva answered directly. "I know he chose you, Jasmine, and his family. I accept that fact. But I won't let my father or Alan kill him."

We exchanged distrustful glances. This could very well be a trap.

"Where is Louis now?" Richard asked, his voice hard.

"In my father's estate, just as you suspected. They're discussing how to dispose of him. Alan wants to handle it personally, while my father thinks he should be used for more negotiations." Eva's gaze sharpened. "I give you three hours. After that, I can't control the situation anymore."

"What do you want in return?" Marcus asked directly.

Eva's expression grew complex. "I only want one thing—for Louis to live. As for me... I want a way out. To leave my father's sphere of influence, to disappear. A new identity, somewhere far enough from all this."

"Why should we trust you?" I questioned. "You held Louis captive for four years."