Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Imprisoned

Hearing this, the man smiled, "What do you plan to use to repay me?"

Emma paused, spoon in hand, thinking for a moment before the man teasingly said, "Offer yourself?"

His usual cold demeanor had quietly melted away.

She turned, meeting his gentle gaze, and her cheeks flushed.

"Uh..."

Emma opened her mouth to say something, but her brain froze at his words.

Her stunned expression, like a breath of fresh air, warmed his heart.

"When your fever breaks, think carefully about your answer."

With that, the man stood up. "If you need anything, have the servants call me. I'm in the next room."

Before she could respond, he left the room.

It took her a while to come back to her senses, and she continued eating while pondering his words.

He must have been joking, right?

Thinking this, she eyed the nutritious meal before her with suspicion.

He had saved her, and she owed him a debt of gratitude.

But offering herself was too much.

Once her fever was gone, she would leave.

After finishing the meal, sleepiness overcame her, and she drifted off.

When she woke again, the plates had been cleared away.

She blinked, her previous foggy mind now clear.

Glancing at the thermometer on the bedside table, she checked her temperature.

Ninety-seven degrees Fahrenheit.

Normal.

She threw off the light blanket, stretched her muscles, and warmed up.

Walking to the window, she pulled back the curtain.

Night had fallen, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, nature's whisper.

The sounds of the night birds added a unique serenity and mystery.

She checked the clock on the wall.

Seven o'clock.

Leaving now wouldn't be too late.

She turned and opened the door, but two burly bodyguards blocked her path.

Emma paused.

"I need to speak to your master."

"Please wait inside."

The bodyguards were respectful but didn't move aside.

Emma's eyes narrowed, and she returned to the room.

After the door closed, she listened to their footsteps fade away.

She tried to leave again.

Peeking through the door crack, she saw the guards still stationed outside.

A bad feeling welled up inside her.

Not long after, a bodyguard returned with news. "Apologies, the master is busy. He will see you when he is available."

"I have urgent matters. If he is unavailable, please pass on my gratitude. I will repay him in the future."

With that, she moved to leave.

The guards immediately surrounded her.

"Miss, without the master's permission, you cannot leave this room."

The lead bodyguard remained polite.

Emma's brow furrowed, realizing something was wrong.

"Then call your master. I'll speak to him directly!"

The bodyguard didn't respond, nor did he let her pass.

Her suspicions were confirmed.

She was imprisoned!

He had deceived her!

Remembering the doctor's words about this being the Smith family villa.

And the man saying it was his home, Emma put the pieces together.

Glancing outside at the gathering bodyguards, she knew she couldn't fight them all. She sat on the sofa, thinking.

If she couldn't use the door, she'd climb out.

She eyed the sheets and blankets, quickly fashioning a makeshift rope.

She tied it to the balcony railing, avoiding the patrolling guards and maids below.

Carefully, she climbed down to the air conditioning unit on the second floor.

Pushing at the window behind the unit, she found it sealed shut.

A security camera started to turn toward her.

She leaped to a nearby tree.

"Crack-"

The branch, too thin, couldn't hold her weight.

Just before falling, she jumped to the opposite balcony, gripping the railing tightly.

Below, the waves crashed, soaking her legs.

Falling into the water wouldn't be bad, but hitting the rocks could be fatal.

Too risky.

She climbed up the railing.

"Click-"

A door opened, and she hid behind a large potted plant.

"Boss, we just got this information."

A bodyguard entered, addressing the man who had just finished a call.

"Yesterday, a yacht passed through international waters. Here's the footage from the yacht's cameras."

A yacht?

The one she had almost boarded yesterday?

Inside, the man took the USB drive and plugged it into his computer.

Soon, footage of Emma being drugged by her boyfriend and falling into the sea played on the screen.

The man's eyes narrowed. "So she wasn't lying..."

Emma realized he was investigating her.

"Boss, should we continue investigating?"

"Keep an eye on it. There aren't many who can steal from me."

His eyes turned cold.

He wanted to see what kind of thief her foster father had trained.

"Understood."

The bodyguard left.

Boss?

Smith family villa...

He was Hunter Smith!