Chapter 1045Â
Thinking it through, Johanna felt a sliver of calm. Jamie was a survivor, he wouldn’t charge blindly into an obvious trap. Her job was just to stay alive.Â
Playing along, she said, “Alright. Let me talk to my brother.”Â
The man dialed a number. “Mr. Walton, your sister has something to tell you.”Â
He held the phone to Johanna’s ear.Â
Jamie’s voice was sharp on the other end. “Johanna? What’s happening? Who’s with you?”Â
“Jamie, I’ve been kidnapped!” she cried out. “He says you have thirty minutes to come, or he’ll-”Â
The call cut off before she could finish.Â
Johanna stared in stunned silence. “I wasn’t done! Why did you hang up?!”Â
The man let out a low, knowing chuckle. “Leaving it unfinished is more effective. What if he decides your… purity isn’t worth the risk? What if he doesn’t come at all?”Â
A cold tremor ran through her. He had a point. That was a very real possibility.Â
The only reason Johanna was still a virgin was simple: no one had ever been worthy. The toads who pursued her didn’t deserve her time, let alone her body. 1Â
When she met Thomas, she hadn’t known his background, yet she hadn’t felt her usual resistance. Once she saw him as her equal, she decided she wanted him to be her first–her only. Before that happened, she couldn’t let any other man touch her.Â
Thomas was perfection. He deserved nothing less.Â
After the call ended, the man’s voice was cool. “Rest now, Johanna. I’ll be back in thirty minutes.”Â
A half–hour later, the man returned, his posture feigning regret.Â
A part of Johanna had never truly believed Jamie would abandon her. But the moment she saw his demeanor, her heart plummeted.Â
“Johanna,” he said, his tone almost pitying. “Your brother didn’t come.”Â
Her face went pale. “No. That’s a lie! Jamie would never abandon me! You’re lying to me! Or… or the half–hour isn’t up yet!”Â
He didn’t argue. Instead, he reached out and ripped the blindfold from her eyes.Â
Harsh light seared her vision. She flinched, blinking rapidly until the room came into focus.Â
Before her was a tall, broad–shouldered man in an impeccably tailored suit, his face hidden behind a grotesque bronze mask, his voice still distorted by a modulator. His every movement was fluid, controlled–this was no common thugÂ
But she still had no idea who he was.Â
He held up his phone, showing her the call log. “See for yourself, Johanna. The thirty minutes are up.”Â
She glanced at the screen. The timestamp confirmed it. Still, she refused to believe it. “This is a trick! Jamie is already here, and you’re just not telling me!”Â
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.Â
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Chapter 1045Â
+25 BONUSÂ
An assistant entered. “Sir, someone from Jamie’s team has arrived.”Â
A spark of hope ignited in Johanna’s eyes. “I knew it! I told you! Take me to him. I want to see him!”Â
The man turned toward his subordinate. “Did Jamie come in person?”Â
“No, sir,” the assistant replied. “It’s his chief aide.”Â
Shock wiped the hope from Johanna’s face. “No… that’s impossible! I don’t believe you!” 1Â
The assistant continued, “We’ve also received word that Victoria of the Kalen family was kidnapped. The city is on lockdown. Jamie is leading the search for her personally and cannot break away…”Â
Chapter 1046Â
+25 BONUSÂ
Chapter 1046Â