Love the Second Time Around Novel

Chapter 77 Out Of The Woods

I darted my eyes around, but all that greeted me were sloping hills and farmland. The place I had been kept in appeared to be an abandoned granary.

Julius forged ahead with me in his arms, only stopping when he reached the side of the road. I sensed that he was waiting for someone or a car. Incredulity flooded me.

Isn’t he afraid that someone will see him?

Shortly after, a rackety van came to a stop before us. A tanned and stocky man proceeded to climb out of the vehicle.

I didn’t recognize him, and I initially thought that he was Julius’ accomplice. But after listening to their conversation, I felt that it wasn’t quite the case. Instead, it sounded like a car service.

Julius didn’t talk much to the man before he carried me into the vehicle. The van promptly started moving again.

After some time, it came to a stop. By then, the sky had already lightened considerably.

When the man driving the van left, Julius carried me into a small bungalow.

While we were on our way in earlier, small bungalows such as this littered both sides of the road. It was exceedingly messy, and an unpleasant stench lingered in the air.

Julius placed me on the bed before binding my hands and legs with the rope once again. Then, he left with the tablet.

Hmm… he’s probably going to fiddle with the recording, but I really wonder how he’s going to send it to Dominic. Jeez, I didn’t expect him to demand five million! I don’t even know whether Dominic can save me.

I wiggled slightly, but my hands and legs were securely bound. If only I could move, I’d get to the door and cry for help even if I had to crawl there on my hands and knees!

Recalling my paralyzed condition then, a bolt of fear suddenly lanced through me. Ugh! What kind of drug did he give me? If I’m to remain like this for the rest of my life, I’d rather he just kill me.

I had no idea what kind of place it was, but I kept hearing noises from outside soon after Julius left.

I was thrilled at first, thinking that someone was coming to my rescue. However, not a single soul appeared though the racket grew all the louder.

he actually left me all alone in a populated place and went

my gaze

me like a burr that I simply can’t shake off when I don’t want to see him. But now that I need him, he hasn’t appeared

the room door swung open. Julius

A jubilant smirk tugged at his lips as he sneered, “I didn’t know

his remark, a thousand questions promptly popped up in my

has Julius gotten the money? Is he going to let

for I’ll certainly let you

when I heard him

and the vicious glint in his eyes made me want to shy away from

grinned, baring his teeth at me. I saw him putting something into the mineral water again,

forced my mouth open, pouring the entire bottle of

slumped back onto the bed as though

still aware although I couldn’t

double, and despite my best efforts to keep

dreaming. Many people were calling

also Shannon. Their voices washed over

a dream repeated itself time and again, the

mother’s presence right beside me, her voice sounding right

Lili, I’m right here… Won’t

that prompted questions to flood my mind. What’s wrong with her? And what happened to me? Why is she asking me

heels of

tell that it came from

here? Why does he sound so

see a sliver of light and something hovering on the edges of my vision.

that it

several times before I could finally

stained my mother’s face, and it was a completely different look