Chapter 1102

Everyone turned to look at Warren. His eyes were burning with conviction, his words clear and unwavering. Liberty Island was just as valuable as the Subterra Vanguard, and Warren had fought tooth and nail to secure his current position. Was he really willing to just hand it over?

"I have their contact info," Warren said, pulling out his phone and dialing the number. As soon as it connected, he roared into the receiver. "Where is my wife? Take whatever you want. Just send her back to me safely, and we'll call it even!"

"Mr. Sherwin, whatever do you mean?" The man on the other end spoke at a leisurely pace, his breathing steady, a faint smile evident in his voice. "Why would your wife be with me?"

"Cut the act!" Warren's eyes were crimson, the veins on his forehead bulging. "Do you want Liberty Island or my life? Spit it out!"

"I really have no idea what you're talking about," the man replied smoothly, playing dumb to perfection. "We did reach out to Mrs. Sherwin previously, but she declined our offer to collaborate. We haven't had any contact since. For you to call us demanding your wife... it's quite baffling, honestly."

"You-"

"If there's nothing else, I'll be hanging up." The man chuckled softly before adding, "If you've misplaced someone, I suggest calling the cops."

The line went dead.

"Animal!" Warren was shaking with so much rage he nearly crushed the phone in his grip. "If they aren't after the island, then what do they want?"

Juniper's face was dark, and she remained silent. Exactly. If not the island, then what?

Meanwhile, at Wraithfall Mountain.

Celine had been drugged, tossed into a garbage truck, and smuggled out of Liberty Island. When she finally woke up, she was staring at a cold, gray stone ceiling, her head throbbing in agony. She shook her head, disoriented for a moment. Where was she?

She remembered a fire breaking out in the garden. She had rushed out to save her precious medicinal plants the seating heat nearly suffocating her. Then, someone had slipped up behind her, covered her mouth and nose, and the world had gone black.

What happened? Why was she in this strange place?

Protecting her pregnant belly, Celine sat up and carefully surveyed her

surroundings. If she had to guess, she was in some kind of underground bunker. Where was Warren? Where could he be?

Just as panic began to set in, the locked iron door swung open. A row of men dressed in black filed in, immediately parting into two lines. A second later, a middle-aged man walked into view. He was dressed in a bespoke suit, his sharp features radiating a ruthless aura

"Boss," the men in black bowed respectfully.

"You do look quite a bit like her," Corvus Thorne mused, stopping at the doorway.

He studied Celine with a deeply calculating gaze, speaking more to himself than to her.

Who? Who did she look like? And who was he?

"Who are you?" Celine took two steps back, resting her hands defensively over her stomach. Her heart was racing, but she kept her expression composed.

"The head of Sanctum Holdings," Corvus replied with a faint, chilling smile. "We've been in touch before. Remember?"

Sanctum Holdings? Celine dug

through her memories and recalled a few details. This organization had taken an interest in her pharmaceuticals and had repeatedly tried to partner with her Butdumper had warned her that they were bad news and told her to steer clear. So, she had rejected them.

"Why did you bring me here?" Celine swallowed hard, appearing entirely too calm

for a captive. "Money? Power? What is it?"

"Heh." Looking at the young, impossibly poised woman before him, a soft chuckle escaped Corvus's lips.