Only 20 minutes remained before the engagement banquet was set to begin, and Seline was nowhere to be found.
Marianne was so anxious that tears started streaming down her face. She explained, "We were just chatting in the lounge a moment ago. Seline said she wanted to go out and play for a bit. I let her go, but I can't find her at all!"
Sophia tried to comfort her. "Don't worry. Everyone here today is a guest invited to attend the engagement ceremony. Seline won't be in any danger.
"She might have just wandered outside the villa. The estate is vast, so it's normal that she can't be found right away. We can check the surveillance camera first."
Tessa suggested, "My father has already gone to check the surveillance. Let's split up and look for her. We should send out more people to search."
Just then, a sudden commotion erupted in the crowd ahead.
They turned to look and instantly went pale with fright.
The electronic screen originally intended to play a short film for the engagement ceremony was instead playing a video of the kidnapped Seline, crying and screaming in fear.
"Dad, Mom, Tessa, where are you? I want my mom! Let me go! Mom, I've been taken by bad guys. Please come and save me!"
On the screen, Seline was tied to a chair, crying and struggling desperately.
Marianne's legs gave out, and she nearly fainted. Luckily, Tessa supported her. "Ms. Connors…"
"Tessa, what are we going to do about Seline? Think of something…" Marianne sobbed so uncontrollably that she could barely form sentences. "How could this happen? How could Seline be kidnapped? I can't…"
Her cries turned into wails of despair. "If something happens to Seline, I don't want to live anymore!"
"How could this happen? Weren't all the attendees here today guests from our two families? How could someone kidnap Seline?" Sophia was bewildered.
At that moment, a distorted, eerie voice came from the hall's broadcast system.
"Tessa, if you want your sister to live, come to the rooftop."
Stephen maintained his composure, his mind racing. "Tessa, they're holding Seline hostage to lure you out. You can't fall into their trap. I will immediately mobilize all the bodyguards in the estate to head to the rooftop. You need to stay calm, okay?"
Tessa's hands were trembling in fear. "I… "
Suddenly, screams erupted in the hall.
Tessa snapped her head up to look.
On the screen, a knife was pressed against Seline's neck.
A masked figure held the knife to her neck. "Tessa, I'll give you five minutes. If you refuse to come, your sister will die for you!"
As the words finished, Stephen felt his hand come up empty.
Tessa had taken advantage of his distraction, broke free from his grip, and bolted.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: His Unveiled Passion
I know this isn’t Stephen’s fault but I still hated how he was so careless around this bitch even after Tessa already told him it’s obvious that this bitch likes him and she looked at Tessa with hostility. If Tessa breaks up with him again, I’ll even support her. Ugh. Good luck on winning Tessa back again, Stephen. Tss. I so hate these updates....
Nooooo! Not again! We don't need a twist like this. Is it too hard for the writer to conclude with..."and they live happily ever after"?...
Finally getting Stephen and Tess back together then to tear them apart with foolishness. This is craziness...
Yuhohoooo!!! Finally!!!...
Aaand~ Tessa and Stephen are finally back together! Yaaaaay!...
Why make an uninteresting, irrelevant twist when readers are waiting for Tess and Stephen to be together?...
Gosh just let Tessa and Stephen get back together already! Ugh...
Oh my god, when is this book finishing... they're not even back together yet and more nonsense side plots.....
Whoa! Hahahahahaha! Go, Sophia! Burn, stupid Rowena! Lol...
Sooo~ Chapters 310-318 were just a repeat of Jacqueline’s punishment, official expulsion from the Jacobson family, and arrest. With few changes since Tessa and Stephen are not together this time. So Tessa didn’t witness how Jacqueline was tortured at Stephen’s base, though at least Tessa was still called over and witnessed how Stephen officially expelled Jacqueline from the Jacobson family and how Stephen’s subordinate made Jacqueline grovel in front of Tessa. Lol. I hope Jacqueline’s really out of the story now....