Chapter 2 Won't Let Her Go

Helena's eyes narrowed abruptly.

There he was-the man from that night!

Memories of that night with him flooded back, reminding her of how the chill of his dagger's edge had brushed against her throat, threatening her life.

He had asked her then, "Do you know who I am?"

Of course, Helena knew.

He was none other than Charlie Wallace, the notorious second son of Adaron's leading family, the Wallaces-a man whose madness was as well-known as his years of being locked away in prison.

At the age of sixteen, Charlie was banished by his own family to the maritime depths of Nusron's prison, home to the world's most dangerous criminals.

Charlie had dominated the prison ranks by the time his family reclaimed him.

The distinctive Henna tattoo marking his hand was a badge of honor from Perkins Jail's warden, a token of his fearsome reputation.

By the age of twenty-two, Charlie had taken charge of the family wealth, and within three years, elevated the Wallace Group to the top of Adaron's financial elite, earning respect even from the President.

His methods were as effective as they were horrifying, leaving many to shudder at the mere mention of his name.

Thus, on that fateful night, caught under his intense gaze, Helena had been too terrified to even breathe.

Now, as he reappeared, her heart seemed to leap into her throat.

Charlie had just revealed he had found her.

The timing was uncanny-exactly one month since their last, dreadful encounter.

Helena couldn't shake off the suspicion that he was here to verify her pregnancy.

Given his fearsome reputation, any confirmation of her carrying his child promised nothing but dire consequences.

Frozen with fear, Helena couldn't muster the courage to move.

Suddenly, one of Charlie's bodyguards seized her wrist, jerking her to her feet.

Charlie's piercing gaze filled her field of view.

"You don't remember me?" His tone was teasing, but his eyes betrayed no warmth.

Helena's nerves were on edge under his intense stare, yet she managed to keep her expression calm, her eyes glistening as they met his.

A slight smile played across Charlie's lips.

Even at a distance, an unsettling cold seemed to radiate from him.

Suddenly, three men burst through the apartment building, halting in shock at the sight of a row of black cars blocking the entrance.

Upon recognizing the figure next to Helena, they turned around and sprinted back the way they came.

They were fast, but Charlie's bodyguards were faster.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Loud gunshots shattered the calm.

Helena watched in horror as the three men just made it back inside before their backs were splattered with blood. One, still gasping for air, was dragged by two bodyguards and thrown down before Charlie.

"Mr. Wallace, I was wrong. Please, have mercy. It won't happen again!" the man cried out, clutching at Charlie's trouser leg in desperation.

Charlie responded with a soft chuckle, his foot pressing down on the man's bleeding wound.

"You had the audacity to plot against me, which I must say, took some guts," he said, twisting his foot slightly. "You seem to have a death wish, so let me send you off with a bit more for your journey to hell."

The man's screams echoed, chilling and desperate.

Dark blood flowed from under Charlie's shoe, spreading rapidly across the ground.

Helena's hands balled into fists at her sides.

Her earlier suspicions were correct. Charlie's sudden appearance was not by chance.

They had both been deliberately set up from the beginning!

The very reason she had been able to slip away under the club manager's oversight that night became clear; the manager and those three men had conspired, knowing Charlie would be at the club.

Charlie's gaze turned to Helena, a dark excitement gleaming in his eyes. "Now it's your turn."

Helena inhaled sharply, thoughts swirling in her head.

It was clear that Charlie had believed she was involved in the scam.

She needed to pretend she was forced into it, creating distance from the three men to avoid a fatal outcome.

Suddenly, the fear vanished from her eyes, replaced by an empty stare.

Charlie peered deeply into her eyes, expecting to find panic but saw only a lifeless void instead.

They locked eyes for several minutes. The entire time, her expression mirrored the one she had under his scrutiny that night.

Could she be a retard?

Intrigue filled Charlie's eyes as he raised an eyebrow. His hand brushed her cheek softly, feeling the smooth skin beneath his fingers.

Despite the turmoil inside, Helena kept her face completely expressionless.

Suddenly, Charlie lightly patted her cheek, his gaze turning colder. "Your mental state won't save you from me."

Helena's heart raced, and then skipped as the bodyguards grabbed her and forced her into one of the cars.

Behind a white building by the roadside, a man with a grave expression emerged.

He watched the cars pull away, touched his Bluetooth earpiece, and said in a deep tone, "I have located Flamewing."

A worried female voice responded, "Then bring her back immediately!"

The man's face tensed. "Charlie Wallace has her."

There was a brief pause. "That Charlie Wallace?"

Silence fell between them.

The woman regained her composure after a minute. "Flamewing is capable. She'll escape from Charlie. You return home now and wait for further instructions."

"Got it."