"Madam Riley, Master Adrian ordered us to send you back."
Before she could react, the two bodyguards stepped forward and grabbed her—one on each side—marching her straight out.
Riley blinked, stunned.
Isn't this a little too rough? I'm still a girl, you know!
They shoved her into the car, and the vehicle drove off without hesitation.
***
On the other end of the phone, Lucas stared at the single word she'd sent.
[Rye: Now.]
He fell into deep thought.
He could tell she meant right now…
But wasn't that a little too urgent?
Then something clicked.
Lucas suddenly let out a dramatic wail.
"Ahhh! Rye is rushing over because she's worried about me!"
He was practically moved to tears.
***
Meanwhile, Riley sat in the car, staring at the Yates Estate getting smaller in the distance, her heart screaming.
I just needed to change clothes and put on some makeup… why am I getting farther and farther away?!
Her brain spun rapidly, trying to figure out how to shake off the two bodyguards.
Then—
BANG!
The car jerked violently to a stop.
"What happened?" the man in the passenger seat asked.
"Looks like the rear tire blew."
The two bodyguards helped Riley out of the car and went to inspect the damage.
Riley's eyes flickered.
Now's my chance.
She casually edged toward the front of the car—
Then suddenly turned and slipped straight into the nearby woods.
***
By the time the replacement tire arrived, the two bodyguards turned around—
And froze.
"Where's Madam Riley?! Wasn't she just here?!"
Their faces drained of color.
They had been tasked with escorting her back—
And lost her halfway.
They didn't even want to imagine what kind of fury awaited them.
"Let's search nearby first," one of them said, swallowing hard. "Maybe she wandered into the woods."
They split up immediately.
But after nearly twenty minutes of searching—
Nothing.
Not even a shadow.
Cold sweat trickled down their backs.
Then, as if fate wanted to crush them further—
A phone rang.
And it was Adrian.
The two exchanged a terrified glance before answering.
"Sir…"
He had barely started speaking when Adrian's cold voice cut him off.
"Go to the crossroads at the foot of the mountain immediately. I'll send you a photo."
"Sir, Madam she—"
There was a brief pause on the other end.
Then his voice turned even colder.
"Find a café. Have her wait there. Go pick up the person at the crossroads first."
The call ended.
A photo followed.
A woman in a red dress.
The two guards let out shaky breaths, relief washing over them—Adrian still didn't know Riley was missing.
They didn't dare dwell on it.
They rushed back into the car and sped toward the crossroads.
As for Riley…
They would report it after picking up the woman in red.
***
Meanwhile, Riley had already slipped deep into the rainforest clearing.
After circling around several times, she finally made her way out.
She checked the time.
Almost noon.
But this was a mountain road in the outskirts—there wasn't a single taxi in sight.
Left with no choice, she called for a ride at a ridiculously high price.
Her heart ached at the cost.
This is so expensive…
On the way, she texted Lucas, telling him she was on her way and to have Mrs Hales moved into the sterilized room first.
This was life or death.
Lucas immediately dropped his usual carefree attitude and turned serious, directing everything remotely.
Through video, he monitored Mrs Hales's condition in real time, giving instructions.
Riley glanced down at her outfit.
Then, without hesitation, she made up an excuse and borrowed the driver's jacket, pulling it over herself.
Mask on.
Head lowered.
By the time the car approached the Yates Estate again, she looked like a completely different person.