After listening to the n, Mrs. Jasper Sr. frowned. “It’s still too risky. You’re the only heir of the Jasper family. I won’t allow you to throw yourself into danger <b>like </b>this.”
“She’s right, Sean! You can’t go,” Vivian added quickly. “We should just call the police and let them handle it. If you go, <b>Joseph </b>Ford won’t let you walk
out alive!”
Sean’s expression darkened. His eyes turned sharp, filled with warning “1 said -no police.”
“I’m just worried about you, Sean…” Vivian’s voice trembled, her eyes starting to tear up. She sounded hurt, part acting, but not entirely. <b>The </b>worry on her face was real. She genuinely feared he wouldn’t make it back.
Sean didn’t respond to her. Instead, he turned to his parents and grandinother. “Dad, Mom, Grandma–this is the best n we have. But I’ll need your cooperation.”
Mrs. Jasper Sr. shook her head firmly. “I don’t agree. You are not going.”
Sean clenched his jaw. His tone turned colder. “Grandina, I’ve made my decision.”
The implication was clear that her disapproval didn’t matter.
“You–you.” Mrs. Jasper Sr. was so furious her hands began to tremble, “You’d really risk your life over a woman? Fine. I can’t stop you anymore. I’ll Fall your grandfather and let him deal with you!”
James quickly stepped in, worried by how upset <b>she </b>was. He rubbed her back to help her breathe “Mom, please calm down. You’ll tripper your hear condition again.”
He was overwhelmed. Thest time she had a heart <b>attack</b>, they had barely saved her. If this went on much longer, he feared they might lose her before they even got Charlotte back.
“Sean, you can’t do this Grandma’s heart is weak. She can’t take this kind of stress. If something happens to you, she…”
Vivian’s voice softened, but her words wereced with pressure and guilt. On the surface, she was pleading, but her tone made it clear she was using Mrs. Jasper St. to emotionally manipte him.
Sean had already made up his mind the moment Joseph called
He had returned home only because Joseph had threatened to kill Charlotte if anyone alerted the authorities. Sean feared that in their penic, his family- or the Rileys–might do something reckless and ruin his n.
Just as tension thickened, Desmond and Xena arrived in a rush.
“Any news? Have you found Lorrie?” Desmond demanded the moment he stepped into the room.
Sean answered <b>calmly</b>, “She’s been kidnapped by Joseph Ford.”
Desmond’s eyes widened in disbelief. He lunged toward Sean, furious, but <b>a </b><b>nearby </b>hodyguard stepped in to block him
“Desmond, please calm down,” <b>James </b>urged.
“Calm <b>down</b>? You want me <b>to </b>calm down?!” Desmond’s face turned red, chest heaving “You people told us that calling off the engagement would keep my family out of this mess. But it’s been months since the breakup<b>! </b>Why the hell is Joseph stilling after my daughter? You owe me an exnation!” Compared to Desmond’s outburst, Sean remainedposed. His voice was steady but apologetic. “Mr. Riley<b>, </b>right now Lottie’s life is hanging by a thread. This isn’t the time for me. I need your help to get her back. Once <b>she’s </b>safe, I promise I’ll give you the exnation you want.”
He thenid out his n in detail.
When Desmond heard that Sean was willing to risk his life to save Charlotte, some of his anger began to subside. His expression softened slightly, and the tension in his shodders eased.
Fine We’ll do in your way