chapter1901
As the livestream flickered across screens, the authorities successfully pinpointed the kidnappers' location. Within minutes, a fleet of police cars swarmed the perimeter of the secluded villa, their sirens cutting through the heavy silence of the night, blue and red lights dispelling the encroaching darkness.
Inside, the scene was chaotic. Zoe, startled by the sudden intrusion, attempted to retreat into the shadows, but a group of determined faces burst into the room before she could move.
“Carrie!”
Ryan was the first to charge in, his eyes clouded with a mix of raw agony and desperate hope. A man who had faced countless dangers with Justin, Ryan now appeared shaken, his steps uneven as he scanned the room. The main hall was littered with unconscious figures, but Carrie was nowhere to be seen.
Justin and Bella moved through the adjoining rooms, their voices echoing Carrie’s name, but the silence that followed was deafening. Ralph, leading the tactical team, soon joined them. “We’ve secured the entire villa, from the attic to the basement. There’s no sign of her.”
“And Yasmin?” Bella asked, her face pale with worry.
“Her phone is being tracked, but we’ve lost the signal,” Ralph replied grimly.
Justin’s expression hardened. “Bella, if this was Liam’s orchestration, this location might have been a calculated distraction to move Carrie and Yasmin while we were closing in.”
Cornered and trembling, Zoe realized the weight of her actions was finally catching up to her. Seeing Ryan, she attempted to craft one last facade of innocence, crawling forward with a pleading cry. “Ryan! Thank goodness you’re here... Liam forced me into this, he was going to—”
“Save it,” Ryan interrupted, his voice trembling with a suppressed, volatile fury. He pushed past her with such force that she recoiled, hitting the floor with a heavy thud. The sight of her sparked a dangerous fire in his eyes—a reflection of the betrayal and pain she had inflicted on the woman he loved.
Ryan stepped toward her, his presence looming and suffocating. For a moment, his restraint nearly shattered. He grabbed her by the arm, forcing her to face him. “Where is she? Where did Liam take her?”
Zoe struggled to maintain her lie, her voice trembling. “I... I don't know... Ryan, believe me, I was a victim too...”
The air in the room grew cold. Justin watched from the sidelines, his gaze icy. While he shared Ryan’s visceral anger, he knew that letting rage dictate their actions would only lead to further ruin. He signaled to Ralph, who stepped in to intervene before the situation escalated beyond repair.
“Ryan, stand back!” Ralph commanded, placing a firm hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “If you let your anger win, we lose our best chance at finding her. We need her in state custody, not as a casualty of your grief. Do you want to find Carrie, or do you want to spend the rest of your life behind bars?”
Ryan’s breath hitched, his fingers tightening briefly before he finally released his grip. He looked down at Zoe with profound disgust. “Every second you spend lying is a second Carrie remains in danger. Tell the truth, Zoe. For once in your life, do the right thing.”
Zoe looked around at the circle of stern faces, the reality of the evidence against her finally sinking in. The game was over, and the only question left was whether she would help them find Carrie before it was too late.