Edward is casually enjoying his lunch with Hans and Richard at a renowned restaurant. Today, he intentionally invited both of them to meet up.
There’s nothing particularly important going on. He simply needs some friends to share stories with. The recent series of events he’s experienced has unavoidably caused him some stress and deep thinking.
Fortunately, Hans can be relied upon. The Nicholas case has been handled well. The man who served as Edward’s assistant for the past few years is now in jail, awaiting trial. As for Damian, there have been no further updates on his search. However, Edward is eager to see his cousin face the consequences of his actions.
“My people have been moving from Scotland to Ireland. Seems like your cousin is so slippery it’s hard to catch him,” Hans says while sipping his coffee.
Edward sighs. For some reason, he has always disliked his cousin. Damian has caused so many problems, especially by getting involved with some mafia outside of England. The AlphaBeta leader shouldn’t be entangled in so many scandals, as it will undermine the credibility and trust of business colleagues in the company.
“Do I need to ask Kaivan for help in finding Damian? Who knows, that scoundrel might be protected by powerful people. Damian is cunning. He can justify anything to achieve his plans,” Edward contemplates.
Hans shakes his head. “No need. I’m confident I can handle all of this on my own. We just need a little more time,” he says confidently. After all, he’s skilled at solving complicated cases like this.
“Swear by anything.” Richard finally speaks up. “I truly don’t understand the family issues you’re dealing with, Ed.” He’s been silent and attentive all this time, not saying a word.
Edward smiles faintly. He hasn’t fully disclosed everything about the problems he’s been facing lately. He just doesn’t want his friends to worry too much about his situation. “Even if I tell you, you wouldn’t understand, Rich. I’m sure your brain wouldn’t be able to comprehend it,” he teases.
“Damn it!” Richard curses. “Then why did you call me here?”
“No hidden motives or purposes,” Edward replies calmly. “Just wanted to have lunch with you.”
“Suspicious as always,” Richard retorts. He knows that Edward enjoys teasing him sometimes. Therefore, this time, he must be cautious. Edward has played pranks on him not once but several times before.
“Oh, by the way, Ed…” Hans takes over the conversation again. “Regarding Chloe’s pregnancy, have you informed your parents?”
Richard, who’s been listening, quickly interrupts. “Your wife is pregnant?”
Edward nods. “Thank God, I will have a child like you and Kenzi.” Then his gaze shifts to Hans. “I will inform my parents soon. They will be happy to hear this good news.”
“I’m also grateful, Ed.” Richard breathes a sigh of relief. The sparkle in his eyes shows that he’s genuinely happy. “It’s great to hear that my playboy friend is finally changing and wants to have offspring.”
“I should’ve married Kimberly back then, Rich,” Edward jokes. “If only you had decided not to pursue Kimberly, I swear I would have proposed to her.”
“I wouldn’t let that happen!” Richard snaps. Ever since he met Kimberly, Edward has been openly teasing the woman. “Poor Kimberly if she had to marry a mischievous guy like you.”
Edward sighs. Richard always has a way of making sharp remarks. “Alright then, I have to go back to the office.” He stands up from his seat, getting ready to leave. “If there’s any new information about Damian, let me know right away.”
Hastily, Edward went to the cashier and then stepped outside towards his car. After he left, Hans and Richard continued chatting, unaware of Edward’s actions. They kept talking until they decided to leave together.
“Mister…” one of the waitresses greeted Richard as he was about to leave the restaurant. Even Hans halted his steps.
“Yes, what is it?” he asked.
“The table you occupied hasn’t paid the bill yet.”
Richard looked puzzled. He thought Edward had already settled the bill. Wasn’t he just at the cashier, taking a long time to stand there?
“Alright, how much is the bill?”
The waitress handed over the bill, and Richard was quite surprised by the total amount.
“Is this bill correct?”
The waitress shook her head. “Yes, it’s the total amount for all the guests that you need to pay.”
“What?” Richard was taken aback. “All the guests?” he repeated to confirm, afraid that he had misheard.
“Yes, Mister. Your friend informed us that all the restaurant’s guests should pay their own bills.”
“Edward, you scoundrel!” Richard cursed out loud. Grumbling to himself, the brown-haired man paid all the presented meal bills. He was annoyed because his friend had managed to get back at him for what he had done before.
Meanwhile, Hans could only laugh. It wouldn’t be Edward Martin if he didn’t retaliate playfully against his friends’ mischievous behavior.
****
Edward was driving at a moderate speed towards the AlphaBeta building when a phone call suddenly came in. Glancing at the screen, he saw Samuel’s name clearly displayed. Worried that it might be an emergency, he quickly pulled over and answered the call.
“Yes, what is it, Sam?”
“Oh my goodness, Mister, are you okay?”
Edward raised an eyebrow. “Of course, I’m fine. I just finished lunch and am on the way to the office. What’s going on?”
“Oh God, then where is Mrs. Chloe?”
“Sam, I don’t understand what you mean,” Edward asked, sounding confused. A sense of unease suddenly washed over him. “What’s wrong with Chloe?”
“An hour ago, a man claiming to be an AlphaBeta driver came to the hotel. He brought news that you had an accident and he was tasked to pick up Mrs. Chloe. His name is Alfredo.”
“There’s no AlphaBeta driver named Alfredo, Sam!”
“I didn’t suspect it at first, Mister. But when I tried to contact your wife to ask her exact whereabouts, she answered the call, but it got cut off shortly, and now her phone can’t be reached.”
Edward sighed in frustration. Wondering if his wife was kidnapped?
“Sam, meet me at AlphaBeta. Let’s find Chloe’s whereabouts together.”
At a different location.
After getting into the car that picked her up, Chloe felt that they were going somewhere unfamiliar. Remaining calm, she tried to think positively. Suddenly, she picked up a call from Samuel, and the car stopped. Two people from both sides of the entrance swiftly grabbed her, covering her mouth and nose until she lost consciousness.
Chloe remained unconscious for a while. When she opened her eyes, she found herself tied up. Lifting her head, she saw a familiar figure.
“Damian Dimitri…” she whispered.
The corners of Damian’s lips immediately lifted into a wide smile. “Yes, Darling. I thought you forgot my name,” he taunted. The man looked calm while continuously observing Chloe.
“Why did you bring me here? If you want to use me as bait to lure Edward to you, it’s pointless. He won’t care at all.”
Damian stood up from his seat and rolled up his sleeves. The next moment, he slowly walked closer to where Chloe was. Casually, he lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“I brought you here because I want to settle the score. We agreed to destroy Edward together. But why did you betray me?” he said.
Chloe turned her face away roughly, as if unwilling to be touched by the man in front of her.
“I realized that I’m not as crazy as you!”
Damian laughed loudly, feeling amused by what he heard.
“Just so you know, I don’t tolerate betrayal.”
Damian approached, gripping Chloe’s nape, and forced a kiss on her cheek. She struggled with all her might to avoid it, but she was powerless.
“Don’t touch me!” Chloe protested.
“Ssshhh…” Damian hissed, placing his index finger on her lips. “Don’t act so hard to get. I could make you beg me to sleep with you.”
“I’d rather die than sleep with you!”
Damian grinned widely, pleased to see Chloe, who was calm before, now burning with emotions. This was one of his intentions-to make her angry and upset.
“I’m not stopping you from dying. But before you go to hell, I’ll make sure Edward sees with his own eyes how his beloved wife sleeps with his mortal enemy.”
Chloe shook her head vigorously. “That will never happen. You’ll never be able to lay a finger on me!”
“Oh, really?” Damian mocked, smiling again. “You’ll never know what I’m going to do to you in a little while.”
Once more, Damian grabbed Chloe’s face, but this time, he forced a kiss on her lips.
“Ugh!” Defiantly, Chloe spat on Damian’s face, disgusted by his actions.
“You damn bitch!” Damian, heartless and quick to react, slapped Chloe’s face without mercy. He couldn’t tolerate what she did to him. “You need to be taught a lesson.”
Damian waved to the bodyguards who were guarding the area. One of them approached, carrying a syringe containing an unknown substance. Meanwhile, another bodyguard held Chloe’s body firmly.
Chloe, of course, struggled, but her efforts were in vain. In a swift motion, the syringe filled with clear liquid was injected into her arm.
“Let’s see if after this, you’ll be as defiant as before, or the other way around?” Damian said. He then took out his cellphone from his pants pocket, took a photo of Chloe, and sent it to Edward. “That despicable scumbag needs to witness with his own eyes what I’m going to do to his wife.”
As for Chloe, she felt her body growing weaker. Her joints felt increasingly painful. But shortly after, the pain turned into a spreading heat all over her body.
Damian noticed the effects of the drug starting to work and asked the bodyguards to leave him and Chloe alone in the room. A grin spread across his face as he casually unbuttoned his shirt and took a seat right next to Chloe.
“How are you feeling?” Damian smiled broadly, observing Chloe, who appeared quite restless. He even took the initiative to undo the restraints that had previously limited her movement. “What are you feeling right now?” He whispered directly into Chloe’s ear.
Chloe didn’t answer; she was busy holding her head, which felt dizzy.
“It’s futile to resist the emotions welling up inside you,” Damian said while gently stroking Chloe’s cheek. He moved down to her neck and then proceeded to unbutton her shirt quickly. Chloe couldn’t bring herself to refuse. For some reason, she felt powerless to push Damian’s hand away from her body.
With her eyes half-closed, she struggled to speak. “W-what are you doing to me?” she asked, sounding flustered.
Damian smiled suggestively. “Of course, I’ve injected you with an aphrodisiac so that you’ll want to indulge me.”
“You-”
Chloe couldn’t continue her sentence. The heat, the effect of the injected drug, made her powerless.
“Not just that…” Damian continued, “I even want Edward to see with his own eyes how I’m going to take advantage of you.”
Damian then moved his hand again, gently caressing Chloe’s entire body, which elicited desire. Her mind resisted, but Chloe’s body seemed to accept, even yearning for more of his touch.
“I can give you what you desire,” he deliberately whispered, then planted a moist kiss on Chloe’s neck.
Damian smiled meaningfully.
“Of course injecting you with stimulants. So you will serve me and make a love with me.”
“You —”
Chloe could no longer continue her sentence. The feeling of heat, the effects of the drug that was injected made him helpless.
“Not only that…” Damian continued. “I even want Edward to see with his own eyes how I fuck you.”
Damian then brought his hand up. Back rubbed gently all over Chloe’s body. Which this action invites passion. Her brain refused but Chloe’s body seemed to accept even hoping to get a touch more from that man.
“I can give you what you want,” he whispered deliberately. Then returned to land a wet kiss on the nape of Chloe’s neck.
“Damian …” Chloe panted. Her breath was racing.
“You want to feel my touch? Feel how I satisfy your body?”
Chloe nodded. With glazed eyes, the woman grabbed Damian’s wrist, asking the man to continue to touch his whole body which felt hot.
“Please…” Chloe’s breath was short of breath. It sucks just to talk. “Touch me,” he ordered.
“What?” Damian said with a chuckle. “I didn’t hear what you said.” This guy was deliberately playing a trick.
Meanwhile Chloe looked increasingly agitated. Sweat was already trickling down her temples.
“I want you to touch me! Enter me or even satisfy me. Please…”
Damian smiled broadly. The man happily took his hand to take off all of Chloe’s clothes until the woman was naked without a single thread.
“Really, I can’t wait to feel your body.”
A sharp smirk appeared on Damian’s face. Of course he didn’t want to miss this opportunity. The opportunity to enjoy Chloe’s body and then flaunt it immediately to Edward.