Chapter 7

The moment Chloe finished speaking, Caroline felt a burning gaze on her. She lifted her eyes calmly and met Bradley's dark stare. Without missing a beat, Caroline lightly remarked, "Is that so? It sounds like a good match." Bradley's expression instantly turned cold. Chloe, however, was delighted. "So you think so too, Carol? I knew that my taste in daughters-in-law wouldn't disappoint!" Crystal blushed. "Chloe, that was just a childhood joke." "Joke or not, it might be fate. Brad's at the age to start dating, and if—" "Mom." Bradley's tone carried a warning. Edmund put down his cutlery at the right time. "Let the young people handle their own matters. If it's meant to be, it will be. Carol, come to my study after you eat." "Alright," Caroline replied. After finishing her meal, she followed him to the study. They discussed details about the upcoming engagement announcement, and by the time she stepped out, it was already noon. The house was quiet. Caroline figured that Chloe and the maid were probably napping. She closed the study door and had just turned toward her room when strong hands suddenly pinned her against the wall. Then, a rush of desperate kisses fell against her skin. She bit her lip hard to keep herself from crying out. Edmund was just a wall away. If he opened the door, he would see everything. Caroline tried to twist away, struggling against Bradley's grip. But the more she resisted, the rougher his kisses became. She instinctively opened her mouth to bite him, only for him to bite her first. Pain shot through her lip, and a soft sound escaped her as tears welled in her eyes. "Bradley, are you insane?" His voice was low and sharp. "'A good match? Why didn't you say that louder? Maybe they should all come see who's actually my girlfriend!" Caroline turned her face away. "It's just an act. Why did you take it so seriously?" He pressed his forehead to her neck, his voice softening. "I don't like it. Don't say things like that again. I know you blame me… I'm sorry. I didn't protect you. It won't happen again." She stood still. She couldn't tell if he was being sincere or simply pretending, but it no longer mattered. She had made a mistake once, and that was enough. Loving the wrong man was a mistake she would never make again. Over the next few days, Bradley barely left her side. Yet ever since Caroline had asked for his phone's passcode, getting hold of his phone had become nearly impossible. With only three days left before the banquet, anxiety gnawed at her. That night, she deliberately drank more than usual at a gathering. When Bradley drove her home, she leaned in and kissed him. Bradley quickly took control. He gripped her waist with one hand as he deepened the kiss. Caroline fumbled to pull off his jacket, but just as everything was about to spiral out of control, she turned her head sharply, dodging his burning lips. Her voice was low and unsteady. "Go take a shower." He froze mid-motion. Propping himself up, he stared down at her from close range. His eyes were still clouded with desire. They also showed a flash of surprise at being stopped so suddenly. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. Then, he slowly let her go and strode toward the bathroom. As soon as the sound of running water started, Caroline slipped out of bed, grabbed Bradley's jacket, and pulled out his phone. Her pulse thundered in her ears. With trembling fingers, she found the hidden album in his phone's gallery and deleted every single video within it. When she emptied the trash, a weight finally lifted off her chest. She carefully put the phone back just as the sound of running water stopped. Bradley emerged, water still dripping from his hair. Before Caroline could say a single word, he pulled her in by the waist and pressed her back onto the bed. His kiss was warm and damp against her lips. She pressed her palms against his chest. "Wait—" He kissed her harder, cutting her off, until a sharp ringtone shattered the moment. He paused, his brows drawing together in irritation. He was clearly annoyed by the interruption. But the ringtone kept blaring relentlessly. He finally let go of Caroline and answered the call. Whatever he heard made his face drain of color. The passion in his eyes vanished, and was replaced by a dark, cold edge. He hung up, threw on his clothes, and yanked Caroline by the wrist toward the door. Bradley yanked her wrist so hard that it hurt. She instinctively tried to pull free, but his grip only tightened. She asked, "Bradley, what the hell is going on?" "Crystal's been taken. They're demanding you in exchange." Caroline's heart dropped when she heard that. She looked at him. "So? Are you going to trade me for her?" He avoided her gaze. "You're Edmund's daughter. They won't actually hurt you…" His tone was calm and gentle, but every single word he spoke landed like an icicle, driving straight into her heart. "Bradley, you should be calling the police instead of handing me over!" "If I call the cops, she could die. She's fragile and easily scared. You'll be fine. You just need to stall them. Once she's safe, I'll come for you." Caroline interjected, "No. If you're really using me to save Crystal, we're done!" "Carol, don't be childish right now!" But before she could respond, pain exploded at the back of her neck. She stared at Bradley, stunned, as her vision went black and her body collapsed. When she opened her eyes again, what she saw made her blood run cold.