The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

I stood

up

and walked toward the bedroom, replying coldly, "Call the police, then. Why come to me?"

Steven blocked my way. "The kidnapper is Jessica's ex-husband."

I wanted to circle away from him and return to the bedroom. My tone turned harsher. "Then, look for Jessica!"

He followed me again, forbidding me from taking another step forward. "He thought I slept with Jessica and got mad. He wants you to spend a night with him before releasing Zachary."

He seemed helpless and in pain. "Honey-"

rest of his words. My body trembled with utter fury, and I

Subsequently, he took a bottle of spray from behind and jetted it in

my brain

his distraction, but no matter how hard I turned the doorknob, it wouldn't budge at all. I went to open another room, and the same thing happened. Steven uttered slowly, "I've locked all the rooms, including

I couldn't help but realize how cruel this man before me

harshly, "You agreed

two hours, he'll

but could barely move. At last, I

and ruthless, he said,

lethargic. The room

prop myself up, sitting up with great effort while going through my recollection regarding any clue of Jessica's

Casper Gibson. At the height of his family's success, his

the quintessential young gentleman, exuding charm and sophistication. He was handsome and cultured, the ideal choice for countless women dreaming of the perfect partner. However, something happened in the last two years, causing his family to go bankrupt. He was deeply affected by the situation, gradually becoming

meantime, I scanned my surroundings. The room door was locked from the outside, and the windows were sealed shut. Without a key,

panic engulfed me, but I reminded myself that I