Chapter 981

"Josie, I'll swing by tomorrow and pick you up. You'll see." Oliver said with a mysterious grin before hanging up. He quickly shot Josefina a text, reminding her to catch some z's.

With their plans for the next day all set, Oliver slipped his phone back into his pocket and focused on the situation at hand. In front of him, tied to chairs, were Sydney, Dominic, and Shay. As they blinked awake, they took in Oliver, who was casually lighting up a cigarette.

Sydney's voice trembled with fear. "Oliver, what are you up to? This is kidnapping!"

Dominic's mind raced, filled with terror and disbelief. He couldn't wrap his head around how Oliver managed to snatch them up without anyone noticing.

Shay looked at Oliver with pleading eyes, her voice soft and desperate, "Oliver, can't we just talk this out? Please untie us. My wrists are killing me."

Oliver blew out a puff of smoke, his face as cold as ice. "Well, they're not broken, are they?"

Shay fell silent, stung by his indifference. How could he be so harsh with them yet so tender and loving with Josefina?

Seeing that Oliver was unmoved, Sydney tried a different angle, her voice sharp with a threat. "Oliver, if you kill us, aren't you afraid Rowan will die too?"

Oliver let out a dry chuckle. "So you admit you're behind Rowan's coma."

Sydney hesitated, her voice shaky. "I didn't do anything to Rowan. Let us go, and we can face your grandfather together and sort this out."

Panic gnawed at Sydney. She had to get out. She never imagined Oliver could outsmart them and capture them so easily.

Oliver stood, his tall frame casting a shadow over Sydney as he walked closer, eyes sharp and unyielding.

"I want to see your grandfather!" Sydney demanded, trying to hold onto some authority.

"Sydney, I know you hold the key to all this. Tomorrow, Josie will come by and check things out. If we don't find what we're after, we'll take more drastic measures," Oliver's voice was chill, almost detached. "You know I'm capable of doing whatever it takes."

A heavy silence settled over the three captives. They knew all too well just how far Oliver would go.

Dominic, his mind swirling, instinctively touched his injured leg. There was no way out; even survival seemed a distant hope.

"Grandfather will come tomorrow. At least one of us needs to make it out of here," Dominic said, trying to sound hopeful.

Sydney's eyes widened with fear. "Are you suggesting we sacrifice someone, Dominic?"

"Dominic, how could you be so selfish?" Shay exclaimed, turning to her mother, Sydney. "Mom, Dominic wants to leave us here!"

"Shay, think for once. If we're all gone, who will avenge us?" Dominic countered, his voice cold and logical.

"We need to make a decision. It's too humiliating to die here without trying," Dominic insisted.

The room fell silent again, each person lost in their own grim thoughts. Shay glared at Dominic, anger burning in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Josefina had a restless night, waking up early to meet Oliver at her door. She hopped into his car, already holding a freshly-baked Croissant.

She tore off a piece and offered it to Oliver. a bite, his mood

instantly lifting. There was

something about Josie's ene

made everything taste better.

"Where are we headed, Oliver? This road leads out to the countryside, doesn't it?" Josefina asked, curious but trusting.

"Our Josie is as sharp as ever," Oliver replied with a chuckle as they continued their drive.

Upon arrival, Josefina stepped out, refusing Oliver's offer to carry her. "I can walk, Oliver. No need to fuss."

He relented with a nod, walking by her side as they entered the building.

Josefina gasped when she saw Sydney and the others tied up. "Oliver, what's going on here?"

Sydney shouted, desperate, "Oliver, let us go!"

Dominic, ever the strategist, turned

to Josefiña. "Josefina, talk some sense into Oliver. If he kills us, he'll be a fugitive. You love him, surely you don't want him to end

in

prison, right?"