Daniel was incredulous that Felix had remained unconcerned for an entire day. It wasn't until his neighbor informed him that he considered contacting the police.With a heavy sigh, Daniel immediately reached for his phone to check for the missed calls from that day. As expected, there was one from an unknown number.He passed his phone to a colleague, saying, "Help me trace this number."His colleague appeared confused. "Are you certain this could be the abductor?""I'm not sure. Let's find out," Daniel replied.Sienna had been missing for a day. Since neither Felix nor Shelly had received any calls from the abductor, it seemed apparent that the target was Daniel.The police swiftly took the phone to the monitoring room, with Daniel bringing Felix along. Once there, they hooked up the phone to the equipment.Felix gazed at the large, complex instruments before him, unsure what they were for. He waited anxiously.Meanwhile, the police held their breath as they watched Daniel dia
Sienna fought back fiercely with all her strength, but eventually, she was brutally beaten. Just as she was about to be sexually assaulted by the savages, the sudden sound of gunfire rang out nearby.The air filled with the deafening echoes of shots. Afterward, an eerie silence descended and the smell of blood hung heavy in the air.Someone gently adjusted her clothes and fastened her buttons with care. Though she couldn't see them, she sensed the tenderness in their actions. Those warm hands softly wiped away her tears.A strange voice, altered by a voice changer, came. "Don't be afraid. Those scumbags are gone. Make some noise in a bit, and your boyfriend will come to save you."With that, the person made a call to Daniel.Sienna heard Daniel's voice but refrained from making a sound, fearing that his rescue attempt might lead him into danger.Unexpectedly, the person tore off the duct tape from her mouth and firmly pressed on her bruised and swollen body.Sienna cried out in
Those men tried to take advantage of Sienna, but Alex arrived just in time and killed them.Sienna buried her face in Daniel's chest. She was still trembling from the day's events.Daniel gently carried Sienna to the police car. As they passed the site of the explosion, she couldn't help but notice the gruesome scene. Police officers and forensic experts were swarming the area.Once they were in the car, Daniel started driving her to the hospital.Throughout the ride, Sienna's mind kept replaying what had happened. "Daniel, Alex didn't kill me. It didn't seem like he was targeting you, either. What is he really after?"Daniel's expression turned grim. "He's after Clement.""Clement?" Sienna gasped in shock. She thought for a moment, realizing that Clement must know too much. Alex couldn't risk him falling into police hands and had to silence him."Yes, if we hadn't brought Clement, they would've killed you. That's why we took him with us. They launched a missile at us."Our col
Daniel exited the ward and trailed behind Shelly as they headed downstairs and out of the hospital.When they reached the car, walking side by side, Shelly suddenly stepped ahead of him and got onto her knees.Daniel was shocked. He hurriedly helped her to her feet and asked with concern, "Mrs. Lawson, what's wrong?"Despite Daniel's efforts to help her up, Shelly remained on her knees. She cried inconsolably."Daniel, I'm kneeling to apologize to you. Please spare Sienna. I've already lost my husband. I can't bear to lose my daughter, too. How will I go on without her?"Daniel felt a crushing weight in his chest. It was as if his heart had been struck with a heavy blow. Sorrow clouded his eyes, and tears reddened them."Mrs. Lawson, I'll do everything to fulfill your request, whatever it may be. Please, stand as you speak."Shelly stood up and said, "Daniel! I want you to know that I do like you. But I can't ignore the fear that's been gnawing at me since you and Sienna started
Half an hour later, Sienna saw Shelly return to the ward, but Daniel was nowhere in sight. She felt a pang of disappointment.Shelly comforted her, explaining, "Daniel just got called in for an urgent task, so he went to the police station."Sienna managed a faint smile and let out a soft hum in response. She understood the demands of Daniel's job. Even so, the way he left without a word made her feel somewhat disheartened.Shelly smiled warmly as she unpacked the food. "I got your favorite ravioli for you.""Thanks, Mom," Sienna replied, sitting up and noticing Felix engrossed in a game on the couch.Sometimes, Sienna couldn't help but envy Felix. How could he remain so carefree and untouched by the weight of responsibility or pressure?Even on the most challenging days, he seemed to float through life without a worry in the world.Approaching Sienna with the ravioli, Shelly said softly, "Let me feed you.""It's okay," Sienna replied, mustering a helpless smile as she took the
Sienna's presence transformed the living room into a warm, vibrant space. Daniel's recent somber mood dissipated instantly and was replaced by a rush of emotion.With measured steps, he approached Sienna and sank to one knee before her. His reddened eyes bore into her with an intense desire. He couldn't hide his longing and affection.Sienna lay curled on her side. Her soft, silky hair cascaded over her delicate features. Her enchanting appearance ignited an overwhelming urge in Daniel to caress her and, most of all, to kiss her.He delicately brushed Sienna's stray hairs aside and tucked them behind her ear. His face inched closer to hers, eager to feel her lips against his.His eyes narrowed, his breath quickening, and his heart pounding faster with each passing moment. Yet, just as he was on the brink of kissing Sienna, he abruptly stopped.Clenching his fist tightly, Daniel fought against the overwhelming desire and resisted the temptation to kiss her.His heart shattered int
Sienna felt a heavy sadness in her heart, making her feel a bit suffocated. Seeing that it was already 10:30 pm, she didn't want to worry Shelly, so she reluctantly gathered her things and left.Before heading home, she sent a message to Daniel."Daniel, I made dinner for you, but you didn't come back to eat it. If you're hungry when you get home tonight, just heat it and have it as a late-night snack. I'm heading home now. Let's meet when you're free."Sienna rode her electric scooter home. When she got back, Daniel still hadn't replied to her.She felt a bit hurt. But she consoled herself by reminding herself to understand he was just busy with his work.Two weeks flew by. Daniel hadn't reached out to Sienna, nor had he come to see her.She often sent him messages, and although he occasionally replied, it was usually just to say he was busy before ending the conversation.Sienna also tried calling him, but he always cut the calls short, claiming he was swamped with work. She c
Daniel no longer asked about Sienna's well-being, showed any concern, or affectionately called her Sisi. He had become noticeably indifferent toward her over the past 20 days."What?" Sienna reached for the documents and flipped through them. She found a property transfer agreement. Continuing to flip through the papers, she stumbled upon a check for 20 million dollars.Confused, she asked, "Daniel, what are these for?"Daniel stayed composed, his demeanor as calm as water. "They're for you.""Why are you giving me money and a house?" Sienna's mind refused to entertain the possibilities. She trembled as she set the documents down on the table with care.Daniel reclined on the couch with his eyes fixed on Sienna, a depth of emotion within them. He couldn't bear to continue speaking.Though unsure if Sienna would feel heartbroken, he couldn't ignore the heavy burden of his heartache, which made finding the right words incredibly challenging.After a moment of silence, Daniel doubl