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Chapter 51: Desperate Measures–1
Chapter 51: Desperate Measures
(Connor’s POV)
“Threaten me? You think you’re worthy?” I sneered into the phone, cold contempt
seeping from every word.
At this moment, every trace of brotherly affection I once held for Vanessa Reed had frozen over, replaced by bitter revulsion. Memories flashed through my mind–how I once tolerated this foster sister purely out of pack duty.
After her lies and manipulations to turn me against Olivia, I deliberately distanced myself. The final blow came when I heard from Moonlaw Legal Services that Vanessa secretly pressured them to mistreat Olivia.
That discovery led me to have Frank Langley start a thorough investigation into her
activities.
Gritting my teeth, I vowed, “Vanessa, all the things you did to hurt Olivia… once I find every detail, I’ll settle the score one by one.”
Vanessa’s voice cracked with desperate sobs through the phone. “Con, do you really not care if I live or die? Why are you so heartless? Isn’t my life more important than a mere engagement ceremony?”
My heart remained cold as steel. “That act might work on other people, but with me,
it’s useless.”
Without another word, I hung up mercilessly. I immediately turned to Raymond Brooks, who stood nearby awaiting instructions.
“Find Vanessa. She claims to be on the rooftop. Mobilize security immediately,” I ordered, my voice leaving no room for questions.
Raymond nodded sharply. “Right away, sir.”
I decided the engagement would proceed as planned. I was certain Vanessa wouldn’t truly harm herself, but if she wasn’t found soon, she’d undoubtedly try to sabotage
today’s ceremony.
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I stared at the disconnected phone screen, frozen for a moment before a hysterical
rage took over. With a shriek, I hurled the phone at the wall, watching it shatter into
pieces.
My hands swept across the nearby table, sending everything crashing to the floor in a frenzy. Vases shattered, papers scattered, and still my rage wasn’t satisfied.
From the sofa across the hidden guest suite at the Rivers Family Northern Estate, Damon Redfern watched my meltdown with mocking amusement. His blood–red hair stood in stark contrast to his pale skin, a Cuban cigar clamped between his lips.
“Miss Reed, how come you’re so quick to lose your composure?” he taunted, lazily lighting his cigar. His eyes gleamed with ridicule as he exhaled a cloud of smoke.
I wanted to claw that smug expression off his face. Before I could respond, heavy
knocks pounded the door.
Vincent Black, the hulking bodyguard standing behind Damon, moved to open it. His
massive frame blocked my view momentarily.
“Boss, we couldn’t get the woman herself–the guards were too tight. But we grabbed
the little one,” Vincent announced.
He stepped aside, revealing a small struggling figure. My breath caught in my throat.
There was Grace Winters, held up like a doll, her hands bound behind her back with hemp ropes. Her legs kicked wildly in the air, her mouth sealed with black duct tape. Her terrified eyes brimmed with tears as she stared at me in confusion and fear.
Damon exhaled a smoke ring and spat out a single word: “Useless.”
He glanced at his watch and stood abruptly. “Let’s go, to the rooftop.”
He cast a disdainful look down at me, still collapsed on the floor sobbing. His tone turned chillingly sardonic.
“Miss Reed, I advise you–stop crying over Connor Rivers. If Maxwell Wilson finds out, your end will be miserable. Even Zachary Zhou won’t save you.”
A sinister smile curled his lips, like the devil himself. “Actually, Brother Zhou wouldn’t bother saving you anyway.”
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* Chapter 51 Desperate Me
With that, he turned and strode away, Vincent following with the struggling child. They ignored my despair completely.
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wiped my tears with trembling hands, staggered to my feet, and followed them out of the room. My eyes were hollow, my heart empty.
(Olivia’s POV)
In the brightly decorated hall downstairs, only twenty minutes remained before the
engagement festivities were set to begin. The air buzzed with excitement and
anticipation.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted near the entrance to the lounge. Natalie Winters
burst into the main hall, her face streaked with tears, her elegant makeup ruined.
“Grace is missing!” she cried, her voice breaking with panic. “I can’t find her
anywhere!”
My heart dropped like a stone. I rushed to Natalie’s side, gripping her shoulders to
steady her.
“What happened?” I demanded, trying to keep my voice calm.
Natalie’s words tumbled out between sobs. “We were just chatting in the lounge. Grace said she wanted to go play outside, so I let her… Now I can’t find her
anywhere!”
Katherine Rivers approached, her face a mask of composed concern. She placed a gentle hand on Natalie’s arm.
“Don’t worry,” she soothed. “All the guests here today are our friends and family. Grace is likely just playing somewhere in the vast estate. She won’t be in danger. We can check the surveillance footage.”
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Chapter 51: Desperate Measures–2
But Connor’s brow creased sharply as he joined us. His ice–blue eyes had darkened
with suspicion.
“My father’s already reviewing the security tapes,” I added anxiously. “Let’s split up
and search, and send more people to help.”
Suddenly, a collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Everyone’s heads whipped toward the giant electronic screen that dominated one wall of the hall.
Originally set to show engagement videos and photos of Connor and me, it now displayed a horrifying sight: Grace tied to a chair, screaming and sobbing helplessly.
“Daddy, Mommy, Sister, where are you?” she waited, her little face contorted with terror. “Wuu wuu, I want Mommy! Bad uncles took me, please save me!”
Natalie’s legs buckled beneath her, eyes rolling back as she nearly fainted. I rushed to steady her, my own heart pounding with fear.
Natalie sobbed uncontrollably against my shoulder. “Olivia… what do we do… If Grace
dies, I don’t want to live either…”
Despair and disbelief rippled through the gathered crowd. Murmurs of shock and horror filled the air as everyone stared at the screen in disbelief.
Katherine’s composed facade cracked slightly. “How could this happen? Everyone here is a trusted guest. How could someone kidnap Grace?”
Connor’s face darkened to a dangerous shade. “It was Vanessa. She just called me.”
The words hit me like a physical blow. “Vanessa?” I gasped, shock coursing through
My mind raced with implications. “Where is she? She’s coming after me! We must
find her now! Let me talk to her!”
As Connor took out his phone to call, the hall speakers suddenly crackled to life.
Vanessa’s voice, cold and clear, filled the space:
“Olivia Winters, if you want your sister alive, come to the rooftop.”
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I froze for half a heartbeat, the words sinking in. Then panic propelled me forward as I
bolted for the elevators.
Connor swiftly caught up and gripped my arm tightly. “Liv, don’t go. It’s dangerous!”
Tears trembled on my lashes as I turned to face him. “I have to! Vanessa is targeting
“First, we alert the police,” Connor insisted, his voice calm but forceful.
I struggled against his grip. “You call them, but don’t stop me! Every second I delay,
Grace’s danger grows. She’s innocent–she’s only targeted because of me. I won’t
watch her die because of me!”
My desperation cracked my voice as I fought fiercely to break free.
Connor’s grip tightened, his tone rising. “And you think risking your own life is
acceptable?”
Just then, Frank Langley rushed over breathlessly. His normally composed face was
flushed with urgency.
“Mr. Rivers, we’ve located Vanessa Reed and Grace Winters. They’re on the rooftop
along with two unknown men.”
“Only three people?” Connor’s eyes narrowed, wary of a trap.
“Yes, sir. Police are already on their way,” Frank confirmed with a quick nod.
Connor’s mind visibly raced as he issued swift orders. “Mobilize all our security to the
rooftop.”
He turned to me, his ice–blue eyes intense. “Liv, you must stay calm. Vanessa wants
you to walk into her trap. Promise me you won’t.”
My hands shook violently, terror flooding through me. “I…”
Before I could finish, shrill screams pierced the hall. Everyone’s gaze jerked to the
screen once more.
The image had changed. Now Vanessa pressed a gleaming silver dagger to Grace’s delicate neck. Her face was twisted into a chilling smile as she stared straight into
the camera.
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“Olivia Winters,” her voice dripped venom, “I give you five minutes. If you don’t come,
your sister will die in your place!”
Almost before the last syllable faded, I had broken free and was sprinting full speed
toward the rooftop.
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