chapter five

30 minutes before Bella's kidnapping

Bella sat at the table, sipping her last glass of alcohol-free cocktail. The sweet taste mixed with the slight bitterness of the strawberry drink, leaving an extraordinary flavor on her tongue as it slid down her throat.

Where is my dad? It's ten p.m. already — I have to go home, she thought, her eyes scanning the room for her father but finding no sign of him. Where did he vanish to?

I'm pretty sure that wherever he is, he's probably on a business call. I'll go look for him outside, Bella decided.

Standing up, she walked toward the exit door. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Brandon the boy who had been with Lilly earlier ,standing with another woman, kissing her.

"Stupid boys,"Bella muttered in disgust, clicking her tongue.

Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder, making her jump. It was Lilly.

"Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you! And where's Dad?" Lilly sighed. Then, noticing Bella's gaze, she followed it , and saw the man she'd been with earlier flirting with another girl.

Her heart sank for a man she had only met a few hours ago.

"Let's go, Lilly," Bella said, pulling her away.

Outside, Mr. White's black limo waited.

"I'm going to the bathroom real quick," Bella said to Lilly.

"Bella?" Lilly called after her, but Bella quickly walked back inside.

Lilly got into the limo, slamming the door shut in frustration.

"Bathroom, bathroom… where's the bathroom?" Bella muttered, rushing through the hallways in search of the door that led to it.

"Voilà!" she exclaimed as she found it and hurried inside.

She finally relieved herself after holding it in for so long. Feeling refreshed, she flushed the toilet and walked out of the bathroom.

The bathroom felt unnervingly cold — not the kind of chill from air-conditioning, but the hollow, lifeless kind that seeps into your bones. The fluorescent lights buzzed faintly above, flickering against the sterile white tiles that gleamed too perfectly, too still. The echo of dripping water from a loose tap filled the silence, and Bella's reflection in the mirror looked almost ghostly beneath the harsh light.

An uneasy weight settled in her chest. Her pulse quickened for no clear reason, a warning whispering from deep inside her. Something's wrong.

Unbeknownst to her, one of Riven's top men — a shadow among shadows — crouched silently in the farthest stall. His presence was like the faint shift of air before a storm. They called him Bullet Man, not for his speed alone, but for how cleanly he struck — swift, precise, and without trace.

Most of the guests had already left the venue, laughter fading into the night. But that didn't matter. Riven's men could make someone vanish in broad daylight and leave no scent behind.

Bella hurried to the sink, splashing cool water onto her face. Her shoulders slumped as an invisible shiver crawled up her spine. Let me get out of here, she thought, swallowing hard. Something about this bathroom doesn't feel right.

As she turned toward the door, a heavy hand shot out from behind.

A cloth smothered her mouth and nose the sharp, chemical sting of chloroform filled her lungs. Her eyes widened, panic flaring. She tried to scream, but her voice dissolved beneath the suffocating fabric. Her fingers clawed at the man's arm, but he didn't flinch. He was trained for this — calm, efficient, unstoppable.

The world tilted. The lights above blurred into white streaks. Her body grew limp, weightless, like silk slipping through a hand.

The man caught her easily, lowering her to the ground with chilling precision. Target secured, he thought coldly. Then, with the silence of a predator, he lifted her into his arms and disappeared through the service door, just as the echo of footsteps approached.

Outside, Lilly sat in the limo, tapping her manicured nails against the door impatiently. Where is Bella? she fumed, glancing at her golden vintage Louis Vuitton watch. Fifteen minutes had passed. Is she planning to wash her entire soul in there?

"Ugh, unbelievable," she muttered, shoving the door open and stepping out. Her heels clicked sharply against the pavement as she strode back into the building.

The hallway was emptier now, music fading into faint hums from the ballroom. As she rounded a corner, a familiar voice stopped her.

"Lilly," Brandon called, leaning casually against the wall. His smile was smooth — the kind that could melt a stranger's defenses in seconds.

God, he's gorgeous, Lilly thought before quickly schooling her face into indifference. She brushed past him like he was invisible.

"Hey, I was just—" he began, but she shoved him aside with more force than expected. Brandon blinked in surprise, watching her storm off.

Is this girl insane? he wondered, shaking his head before walking toward his sleek black Ferrari.

"Bella?" Lilly called out, pushing open door after door. Her voice echoed faintly in the quiet corridors. No answer. Her chest tightened.

As she entered another hallway, a tall figure slipped silently past behind her — Bella's kidnapper, blending into the shadows, the unconscious girl in his arms concealed beneath his dark coat.

Lilly's phone buzzed sharply in her hand, making her jump.

"Father?" she answered breathlessly, turning toward the sound of her own voice.

By the time she did, the man was already gone — swallowed by the night, with Bella in his grasp.

"I've assigned London to take you home. Take Bella with you," her father's voice crackled through the phone — calm, commanding, the tone of a man used to being obeyed.

"Okay, Dad, but—" Lilly began, only to hear the click of disconnection.

She lowered the phone slowly, finishing her sentence under her breath. "—I can't find Bella anywhere."

A cold knot of unease formed in her stomach. Maybe she's already outside, she thought, quickening her pace toward the exit.

The night air hit her face as she stepped outside, her eyes darting toward the sleek black limo waiting under the dim streetlight. The vehicle gleamed like a shadow among shadows, but there was no sign of Bella.

"Where is this girl now?" she muttered, frustration mixing with worry.

"Miss Lilly," came a low voice. She turned to see London one of Mr. White's most trusted men standing beside the car door. His expression was unreadable, his suit immaculate. "Mr. White has asked me to take you home immediately."

Lilly hesitated, her gaze flicking around the empty parking lot. The night felt too quiet. "Uhmm… okay," she murmured, her unease deepening. She looked left, then right, scanning for any trace of her twin. Maybe she went home on her own, she reasoned. She was eager to leave anyway.

"All right, let's go then," Lilly ordered, masking her uncertainty with a tone of authority. She slipped into the backseat of the limo.

London glanced briefly toward the venue before taking the driver's seat. He hadn't noticed Lilly leaving earlier and assumed both sisters were now in the car. Without another word, he started the engine.

The vehicle pulled away from the curb, its tires whispering against the wet pavement. Behind them, the ballroom lights flickered once and went dark — as if swallowing the last trace of Bella White.

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