she returned from school
Just as be plated the final dish, a message buzzed on his phone.
dine: “We’re skipping dinner! I’m treating Hera and her classmates to a celebration. Enjoy the feast!”
Gideon’s eyes narrowed. He had specifically instructed Gino to bring Hera home for a surprise, but his good intentions were trampled by Gino’s bravado.
Fury simmered within him, and he tapped out a swift reply: “Reburn my money”
Moments later, a notification pinged, and five million had landed in his account.
This was followed by another message from Gino: “Five million, repaid.”
However, Gideon wasn’t finished yet: “Principal repaid. What about the 50 percent interest?”
Gino’s reply arrived promptly, punctuated with a string of exclamation marks.
Gideon was unfazed and countered: “Just clearing accounts between brothers, you know, the usual exorbitant interest rates for family emergencies.
Gino’s response was a defeated silence, followed by a grumbling message “You’re not my brother, you’re a high–Interest loan shark!”
Despite the slight sting of disappointment, Gideon refrained from interrupting Hera’s celebration.
He settled down for a quiet dinner with his parents and grandmother, savoring the delicious food he’d prepared. Later, he retreated to his study, diving back into work
It was 9.30 pm.
Gideon’s phone buzzed with a notification, and it was a location message from Hera
Hera asked, “Gidron, can you come pick us up?”
The weight on his chest instantly lifted. He had instructed Hera to call him after 10:00 pm if she was still out, a promise she rarely kept
Yet, she remembered this time
A smile tugged at his lips.
He replied swiftly: “I’ll be there soon.
Then, he grabbed his coat and keys in a flurry of activity.
Following the address, Gideon pulled into the karaoke chain’s parking lot. As he approached the entrance, a woman’s scream pierced the night.
“Hey! Let go of me If you come any closer, 1‘ scream for help!”
The voice was somewhat femia.
Gideon was drawn by the scream and found a harrowing scene unfolding in the dim alley beside the karaoke chain.
Huddled in the meager light, several thugs encircled a woman, their coarse hands tearing at her clothes
The woman was Amelia. She was clad in a tight leopard–print dress that offered little defense. Her short hair was disheveled, and her top hung precariously, a testament to their aggression
“Go ahead, scream louder, one of the thugs sneered, raising his hand to strike again.
“Let the whole world know how the eldest daughter of the Gaskells plays her games!”
The venom in his voice furled Gideon’s rage as he silently stalked closer, the darkness concealing his approach.
Swelling rose around a fresh bruise, and blood trickled from the corner of Amelia’s mouth. Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision. Her expression contained a flicker of
nocence amidst the growing resentment
She clamped down hard on her lower lip, fixing a herce glare on the thugs
Quemie was still in the detention center. Earlier, they had sought Aurora in Jedburgh, but she was with the Killians‘ matriarch at a church, so they were turned away
Terence couldn’t think of a solution, so he told Amelia to seduce Shaun. He said that if she succeeded, she would become a member of the Thompson family and Hera would be Bothing This could turn the Gaskells crisis around
At the time, Amelia belt very uncomfortable, but in the end, she softened and agreed. She was driven by her long–standing desire for Queenie’s attention. She believed that winning Shaun’s favor would earn Queenie’s recognition upon her release.
However, Shaun’s brutality exceeded her expectations. She was delivered to those without even meeting him, and their aggression intensified despite her defiant stare.
“Why play hard to get? You’re dressed this way to sleep with someone, right? Mr. Thompson isn’t interested, so entertain us instead.”
“Haha, scream again! Why did you stop
Just as they were about to striphes, aman’s voice rang out. “Stop!”