Z?(78)


    55 vouchers


    Sophie hadn’t been called in for ages, and tonight she’d picked out an outfit she knew he liked. To her disappointment, Charles barely paid any attention the whole time.


    He was always the one in control before, but tonight, he was just going through the motions.


    She didn’t dare say a word; instead, she quietly took care of everything, hoping not to upset him.


    “Hey Charles, is that a new watch?” she ventured, trying to break the silence.


    The brand wasn’t exactly luxury–at most, it cost just a bit over a hundred grand. It really didn’t fit someone with his status.


    Charles lit a cigarette, draped his long arm over the back of the couch, and respondedzily, “Yeah.”


    Sensing Charles was in a funk, Sophie snuggled into his arms. “Is your wife getting on your nerves again?”


    She’d thrown out slyments like that before–Charles never stuck up for that nag back home.


    But tonight, he just frowned a bit. “What could she possibly do to bother me?”


    His voice wasid–back, almost indifferent.


    Sophie was totally hooked on that irresistible mix of tenderness and cold indifference he gave off. She snuggled into his arms, her heart fluttering with sweetness.


    “Didn’t you say she’s boring? Isn’t it always awkward between you two, like you have nothing to talk about?” she pressed, trying to keep him engaged.


    Charles took a drag on his cigarette, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he blew out a smoke ring. “Do you and I really have that much to talk about?” he replied, his voicezy.


    He thought to himself, ‘<b>If </b>I wanted actual conversation, I’d rather just chat with my business partners.‘


    Sophie intertwined her arms around Charles’s neck, shing him a coy grin. “All I need to do is keep you happy, Charles.”


    Charles appreciated her tactful attitude–it was exactly why he indulged her.


    He let out a low chuckle and brushed a lingering kiss against her lips. Right as he was about to speak, his phone lit up with a call from an unfamiliar number.


    He really didn’t feel like picking up, but the call just wouldn’t stop.


    When he finally answered, all he heard was an eerie static, then a disguised, menacing voice–clearly the kidnapper.


    “Mr. Sinir, we’ve got your sister. If you want her back in one piece, you better trade her for your wife,” the


    voice threatened.


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    Charles’s face turned grim in an instant. He shoved Sophie aside and got to his feet. “Put Renee on the phone.”


    The next moment, Charles heard Renee’s desperate, broken cries echo through the call.


    “Charles, please, I don’t know who these people are!” Renee sobbed, her voice shaking. “I was just out shopping and suddenly they grabbed me–I don’t even know where I am! I think they’re after Ynda; it’s gotta be something she did, and now I’m the one getting dragged into this. Charles, you have to help me, please–I’m really scared, I don’t wanna die!”


    Before Renee could say anything else, the kidnapper snatched the phone away.


    Charles remained unfazed, his tone cool and steady. ‘They’re just trying to mess with me. Then he asked, “How much do you want?”


    The kidnapper let out a chillingugh. “We don’t want your money, Mr. Sinir. You have two hours to deliver Ynda to the address I give you. If you don’t, you’ll be collecting your sister’s corpse.”


    With that, the call was cut off.


    Charles got dressed and headed for the door. Sophie opened her mouth to ask what was happening, but the look on his face was so intense, she didn’t dare say a word.


    <b>***** </b>


    Ynda was just lying down in bed when she heard someone knocking on the door.


    She shuffled to the door in her pajamas, opened it, and was taken aback to see Charles. “What, you’re not pulling an all–nighter at work tonight?”


    Charles fixed his gaze on her face for a second, blinked, then reached out and took her wrist.


    “Come with me,” Charlesmanded–no room for argument in his tone.


    Ynda struggled by reflex. “Let me change my clothes.”


    “No,” he said tly, his grip unyielding.


    She was still in a nightgown–so thin and flimsy, she felt totally exposed.


    Charles pulled her straight into the car. Seeing Jack in the front, just as silent and grim, Ynda couldn’t hold back her worry. “What happened?” she asked, voice trembling.


    Charles took off his suit jacket and carefully draped it over her shoulders.


    His scent wrapped around her, but mixed in was the unmistakable, overpowering fragrance of another woman clinging to the jacket.


    She immediately started to shrug it off, but Charles spoke first. “Renee’s been kidnapped. The kidnappers want me to hand you over in exchange for her.”


    Ynda’s movements froze. She stared up at him,pletely stunned. “What did you just say?”


    10:34 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>20


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    Charles’s fingertips traced her cheek, his voice soft but totally cold–blooded. “Ynda, the guys we’re dealing with are extreme. Renee’s my own sister. I can’t risk anything happening to her.”


    Ynda thought she was past being mad at him, but now rage was pounding in her head, making everything


    buzz.


    She’d had enough. Instinctively, she raised her hand and smacked him hard across the <b>face</b>.


    With tears brimming in her eyes, Ynda fixed her gaze on him, voice trembling with anger. “Charles, we’ve known each other for fifteen years–not just a few days or months. You’re scared something will happen to Renee, but did you ever stop to think what could happen to me? Don’t I matter at all?”


    She tried to p him, but her fingers were shaking so badly the blow barelynded, her anger and fear making her weak.


    Charles gripped her shoulder firmly. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”


    Ynda nearly scoffed. If Charles really had what it takes to handle the kidnappers himself, he wouldn’t be trying to trade her for Renee.


    The truth was, he was gambling–counting on her being sharper than Renee, that she’d figure out a way to survive. After all, she was a Grant girl; she’d been taught survival since day one. <fn3f24> Official source is FindN0vel</fn3f24>


    Ynda couldn’t believe just how badly Charles had let her down. All those feelings she’d had for him turned into the cruelest p–and damn, her heart felt like it had been shredded. ‘How could I be so stupid about him?‘ she thought to herself.


    But she forced herself to chill out fast–Charles would never soften toward her. Between her and Renee, he’d pick Renee every single time. ‘I must be out of my mind to still expect anything else,’ she mused.


    Honestly, she’d lost count of how many times she’d been messed over because of Renee all these years. Not even once had Charles been on her side. ‘Guess that’s just how it works with them,‘ she thought bitterly.


    It was like Renee was born to mess with her–always picking fights, always out to make her life miserable.


    Back when Ynda was still hopelessly in love with Charles, she couldn’t even see how nasty Renee was. She’d gone all out trying to suck up–learning how to whip up homemade face masks and all those skincare tricks, not expecting Renee to actually respect her as Charles’s wife, just hoping they could keep things civil for once.


    But Renee’s answer was always the same–relentless sniping, barbed words at every turn.


    She’d bent over backwards for Renee, May, even Grandma Flora–ended up being a total joke herself.


    She thought, ‘If you keep putting yourself down, you can bet everyone else will too.‘


    Ynda wiped at her eyes–no tears, just this sour, furious ache twisting inside.


    Charles pulled her in tight, his tone calm butmanding. “I put a tracker on you myself. You’re not going to get hurt, so don’t get upset.”


    Her throat felt totally blocked up, not a single word could slip out.


    10:34 <b>Sat</b>, Sep 20


    After a long while, she finally looked up; her eyes were just nk. “Fine.”