Chapter 862
Vivian Laurent's consciousness struggled in the void.
Her limbs felt leaden. Her eyelids were glued shut as if with adhesive.
Her fingers twitched slightly. Finally, she opened her eyes.
Harsh white light made her squint instinctively.
An unfamiliar ceiling.
An unfamiliar room.
An unfamiliar scent.
She bolted upright. Dizziness washed over her immediately.
"Where am I?" she murmured.
Fragmented memories flashed through her mind—the airport, Ethan Roscente, darkness.
She checked herself.
Her phone was gone.
Her wallet was missing.
Even her watch had vanished.
She staggered to the window.
The thirty-floor drop made her head spin.
Outside stretched a concrete jungle—no fire escapes, no emergency ladders.
The sound of a turning lock froze her in place.
Ethan entered carrying a tray.
"Awake?" His tone was deceptively gentle, as if nothing had happened.
Vivian backed away until her spine pressed against the cold glass.
"Have you lost your mind?" Her voice trembled.
Ethan set the tray down with the grace of a fine dining waiter.
"Eat something." He pulled out a chair. "You've slept a full day."
Vivian stared at his calm expression.
"This is kidnapping." She enunciated each word.
Ethan chuckled softly. "I just want to talk properly."
Vivian lunged for the door.
The handle didn't budge.
She pounded frantically on the metal surface.
"Useless." Ethan's voice came from behind her. "It's a custom bulletproof door."
She turned to see him approaching slowly.
"Why?" Her voice was hoarse.
Ethan reached to touch her face. She flinched away.
"Because I can't lose you." His eyes darkened. "Never again."
The air in the room seemed to solidify.
Vivian heard her own frantic heartbeat.
"Let me go," she said.
Ethan shook his head, producing a silver key from his pocket.
"Not unless you agree to stay." He twirled the key between his fingers. "This door won't open otherwise."