Sitting in the car, I leaned curiously toward the window, almost pressing my face against the glass to look at the world outside. This was my first time traveling abroad, and everything felt so new that my heart beat a little faster. The unfamiliar streets, buildings in styles completely different from Alchimie, and foreign-language signs flashing past my eyes made me both excited and exhilarated.
But a moment later, a name suddenly crossed my mind.
Rose.
It seemed… she was also in the city of Ravenholm.
Surely it couldn't be that much of a coincidence, right?
The thought made me instinctively straighten my back. More than half of my initial excitement vanished at once, and I suddenly fell quiet.
Captian quickly noticed the change in me. He glanced at me several times, his deep eyes probing as if trying to read something, but he didn't ask.
Ten minutes later, the car stopped in front of the largest and most luxurious hotel in Ravenholm.
Brilliant lights spilled out from the hotel lobby, making the entire building look like a gilded ancient fortress, so magnificent that it forced people to look up. I couldn't help marveling inwardly. As expected of Captian: if he booked something, it had to be the best.
Sure enough, he had reserved the largest presidential suite.
The room was so spacious that I froze for a moment. The bed was enormous and plush, and beside it was a luxurious bathroom like a high-end spa. There was even a separate sitting room, it was practically a small apartment.
I stared around with wide eyes, curiously taking in every detail. Everything was perfect… except for one thing.
There was only one bed.
Not only that, the bed was covered with rose petals arranged into the shape of a heart.
My eyes widened, and I nearly spat blood.
Was this man insane?!
Did this mean that just by staying here for one day, I'd have to share a bed with Captian?
"Not satisfied?"
Captian seemed to read my thoughts. He deliberately leaned closer, his scorching breath brushing my ear, carrying a dangerous numbness.
My whole body trembled. I instinctively took half a step back and hurriedly forced a smile. "Satisfied extremely satisfied! This place is very luxurious."
The moment I finished speaking, I quickly moved away from him and bent down to unpack my suitcase.
I had brought a lot of things, truly like an ant moving house: toiletries, clothes, hangers, and most importantly, the small bag I always kept with me. Inside were my "lifesaving tools," something I never let out of my sight no matter where I was.
I bustled back and forth around the room like a busy bee, not daring to stop.
Captian simply stood there watching me, his gaze fixed on every small movement, as if he were addicted to the sight.
I knew the hotel could provide all these things, some could even be bought downstairs, but he said nothing. Perhaps, in his eyes, the way I busied myself arranging my belongings looked very much like someone truly living in his space.
Once I finished tidying up, my waist ached from exhaustion.
When I looked up, I realized Captian was still staring at me. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were so deep they were almost frightening.
I rubbed my waist and asked cautiously, "Mr. Captian, do you need me to unpack your luggage?"
"I didn't bring any." He sat cross-legged on the sofa, his tone casual.
I frowned. He didn't bring any? Then what would he wear?
"I can buy it." He curved his lips in a smile.
I suddenly understood and felt even more bewildered. Having money really did mean being able to act on a whim.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Ronan stood outside, saying dinner was ready and asking whether we would go down to eat.
The airplane food had long since been digested. I rubbed my stomach and looked at Captian nervously, my anticipation clearly written in my eyes.
That look… was downright lethal.
Captian clearly couldn't resist. In the end, he nodded.
I was so happy I clapped once, then immediately restrained myself and obediently walked beside him.
But once we reached the dining table, I instantly threw all caution to the wind and pulled out a chair, sitting down first.
As expected of a luxury hotel, the food was both delicate and beautiful. The aroma spread through the air, making it impossible not to swallow. Still, no matter how good it was, the flavor wasn't quite to my taste.
Holding my knife and fork, I tilted my head to look out the window.
Outside was an open-air pool. Under the lights, blond, blue-eyed women swam, their figures hot and full of vitality.
"Mr. Captian, what exactly did we come here to handle this time?" I tilted my head and asked curiously.
"Very curious?" He glanced at me.
I set down my cutlery and nodded honestly. "Very."
He was silent for a long time so long that I thought he wouldn't answer. Finally, he replied coolly, "To find a brand ambassador for a natural resort project. There's someone suitable here."
I paused slightly. Was there really no suitable person in Alchimie?
"Mr. Captian, couldn't you find a brand ambassador in Alchimie?" I asked while eating foie gras. "Did it have to be a foreigner?"
The moment the words left my mouth, I felt the temperature drop.
Captian's eyes turned fierce, as if I'd stepped on the Great Demon King's tail.
I instantly regretted it.
If I'd known, I wouldn't have asked so much.
Taking a deep breath, I hurriedly changed the subject. "Mr. Captian, the foie gras here is pretty good. Would you like to try it?"
I speared a piece of foie gras and brought it to his lips.
His gaze shifted from the foie gras to my hand, his mood visibly easing. He opened his mouth and ate it, his expression still indifferent.
I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Unnoticed by anyone, from a corner of the hotel, a pair of eyes silently followed our every move, then quickly disappeared into the crowd.
After finishing the meal, I leaned back in my chair and unconsciously rubbed my stomach. The fullness made my whole body slacken, fatigue surging in like an unannounced tide.
"I ate too much…" I exhaled softly, my voice turning gentle. "Mr. Captian, I'll go back to the room and rest first."
He looked at me and nodded. Just then, the phone in his hand vibrated.
With only a glance at the screen, his expression changed. He stood up and walked a few steps away from the table to take the call. I couldn't hear what the other party was saying, but I saw his back straighten, that familiar aura of someone who always controlled the situation quietly returning.
The call ended quickly.
"I have to go out," he said as he came back, his voice low. "If anything happens, find Ronan."
There were no further instructions. He turned and left, Hunter following closely behind. His tall figure gradually disappeared down the long corridor, leaving behind an emptiness that made my heart sink slightly for reasons I couldn't explain, a vague sense of unease crept in.
"Do you want to go out and have some fun, Sister-in-law?" Ronan asked, trying to break the silence.
I shook my head immediately, my eyelids heavy. "I've been flying for more than ten hours… I just want to sleep."
As I spoke, I yawned, drowsiness pulling me further from reality.
Ronan stopped at my door, still keeping a careful distance. "Get some good rest, Sister-in-law. If you need anything, call me, I'll be downstairs."
"Okay…" I replied, my voice so faint it nearly dissolved into the air.
The door closed.
I was left alone in the room.
I barely had time to think about anything else. After only a few steps, I collapsed straight onto the bed. The faint fragrance of rose petals drifted up, sweet enough to completely relax my nerves, too perfect, too quiet… quiet to the point of being frightening.
My consciousness sank quickly.
—
Ding-dong.
A doorbell rang.
I turned over and pulled a pillow over my ears.
Ding-dong... ding-dong...
The bell rang again, more urgent and insistent, as if determined not to let me continue sleeping.
I frowned and turned irritably, but the ringing didn't stop. It clung to my ears, repeating again and again, each sound hammering straight into my nerves.
Finally, I opened my eyes.
My head swam, my throat dry. I reached for the small bag by the bed out of instinct, I gripped it tightly, then dragged myself to the door.
Through the peephole, I saw a man in a hotel uniform standing outside.
I cracked the door open and rubbed my eyes. "What is it?"
"Do you require housekeeping service?" He lowered his head, the brim of his hat obscuring his face. His voice was low and flat, devoid of emotion.
My heart sank slightly.
At this hour?
"No need," I replied immediately, my hand already on the doorknob.
The very moment I was about to close the door...
Bang.
A rough hand suddenly jammed against the doorframe. The force was so strong that the door rebounded violently, slamming against the wall.
My heart lurched.
Before I could step back, a handkerchief was pressed tightly over my nose and mouth.
A pungent odor rushed straight into my lungs.
I struggled in panic, my fingernails clawing uselessly at the air, my mind going blank. But my strength drained frighteningly fast. My legs went limp, my ears rang, and the world before my eyes swayed, then went dark.
The last sound I heard… was the door slamming shut.
—
When consciousness returned, the first thing I felt was cold.
Cold seeping from my back, cold biting into my wrists, cold down to the bone.
I opened my eyes slowly. A blinding beam from an incandescent bulb shone straight down, making my vision swim. I had to squint for a long moment before I could see clearly.
I was tied up.
My hands and feet were bound tight, my body tossed into a narrow corner like discarded baggage. Around me were old wooden crates stacked high, cobwebs everywhere, and a heavy stench of damp mold flooding my nose.
I swallowed hard.
This wasn't a nightmare.
I… had been kidnapped.
Clang... The heavy iron door in front of me slowly opened. The screech of metal grinding was so piercing it made my heart constrict.
Several figures stepped inside.
The light behind them stretched their shadows long across the cold concrete floor. Among them, I recognized the man who had posed as a hotel employee.
He smiled.
A smile with no warmth at all.
"Mrs. Anderson," he said slowly, savoring each word. "You're finally awake."
Tilting his head, cruelty flashing in his eyes, he continued, "Don't worry. Mr. Captian… will be here to save you very soon."
My heart pounded violently.
But I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. Panic now would only make me die faster.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice hoarse but steady. "Why did you kidnap me?"
I already knew the answer.
They were targeting me, simply because I was Captian's wife.