Caught In His Embrace: A Second Chance Romance

By the time Josiah arrived in Pinkine Town, it was already half past eight in the evening. He pulled over and quickly rendezvoused with Ethan, who wasted no time getting into the car.

"Mr. Evans," Ethan greeted. He shut the door and reported, "Our men have confirmed that Tania was here last night with Conner."

Josiah's sharp gaze darkened. "We have a lead?"

"We've checked the Quimby residence, but Conner isn't there."

Ethan s shook his head.

Ethan lifted his arm and gestured toward their surroundings. "That woman, Tania, might be reckless, but she's not completely foolish.

Mr. Evans, just look-Pinkine Town is surrounded by mountains.

There are far too many places to hide someone."

Pinkine Town sat in a basin, enclosed on all sides by rugged peaks. Josiah swept his gaze around, his brow furrowing ever deeper.

"Mr. Evans," Ethan said. "Our men are searching, but it's going to take time."

Josiah fell silent. His expression was grim as he carefully pieced things together. Conner was Tania's son. She was merely trying to stop the surgery, not harm him.

Tania must have feared exposing Conner's whereabouts after Sienna's dramatic confrontation. That was why she had refrained from showing up in person.

Thus, Sienna's tailing efforts had yielded nothing. However, there was no way Tania would abandon Conner. If she couldn't appear herself, she would undoubtedly send someone else in her stead...

A moment later, Josiah's eyes flickered open. He cast a glance at Ethan. "Keep an eye on the townspeople connected to the Quimby family-relatives, old classmates, and close friends of Tania.

Anyone who might be involved."

Ethan listened attentively. "Understood, Mr. Evans. I'll make arrangements right away." He turned, pushed the car door open, and got out of the car.

Josiah leaned back against the seat, shutting his eyes. He had barely caught an hour or two of sleep since the previous night. The relentless tension clawed at his mind, sending sharp pangs of pain through his skull.

Exhaustion pressed down on Josiah, but sleep remained elusive.

The moment he closed his eyes, he saw Sienna's tear-streaked face, her red- rimmed eyes filled with sorrow. Also, he saw Joyce's innocent expression.

"Mr. Evans." Late at night, Ethan returned and knocked on the car window. Wrapped in wind and rain, he opened the door and got in.

"We have news. You were right-Tania did indeed pay someone to take care of Conner."

"That person is cunning-didn't dare move in broad daylight. Only when night fell did they sneak out. Our men are already tailing them," Ethan added.

A sharp glint flickered in Josiah's eyes. "Where is he?"

"I can't say for sure." Ethan picked up his phone and tapped on the screen a few times. "This is the location sent by our men. Mr.

Evans, I've forwarded it to you. Conner is right here."

Josiah took out his phone and unlocked the screen. His thin lips parted slightly. "Let's go."

"Mr. Evans, where to?" Ethan asked.

As they spoke, Josiah had already stepped out of the car. The rain had ceased, leaving the ground damp beneath his shoes. He glanced at Ethan. "To get Conner."

"Mr. Evans," Ethan tried to dissuade Josiah. "There's no need for you to go. Our men will bring Conner back."

"I can't wait." Josiah shook his head, the dark circles beneath his eyes betraying his exhaustion. He hadn't slept for two days and nights. Instead of sitting around doing nothing, he might as well retrieve Conner himself.

Josiah unlocked his phone, followed the location pin, and strode forward. The bodyguards behind him followed in perfect synchrony.

"Oh dear, Mr. Evans." Ethan sighed helplessly and had no choice but to follow along.

***

At the hospital, Cedric was jolted awake by the ringing of his phone. Since he had been waiting for news, he had decided to stay, leaning against the couch in the lounge for a brief rest.

As soon as Cedric woke up, he swiped to answer, "Hello, Yosef?"

Upon hearing the voice on the other end, his drowsiness vanished instantly, and he sat up straight. "Really? Good, good, I got it.

Thanks, Yosef."

On the other end of the line, Yosef said, "No need to thank me. I didn't do much. What's the connection between Conner and the Evans family?"

"Since yesterday, they have been searching for him all over the city. I got the information from them-word is, Conner might be in Pinkine Town," Yosef added.

"I got it, Yosef I'm ending the call," Cedric said, having no interest in the connection between Conner and the Evans family. The moment he ended the catty Sienna emerged from the innek room, looking even more haggard than before.

"Sienna." Cedric silently rejoiced. The timing of this call couldn't have been better. No amount of comforting words could compare to this one

piece of news. "Yosef just called

-there's news on Conner."

"Really?" Sienna froze, disbelief flickering in her eyes. Her lips parted slightly. "He. He's... Where is he?"

"He's in Pinkine Town," Cedric answered.

"Pinkine Town?" Sienna was momentarily stunned before realization dawned on her. "That's Grandma's hometown."noveldrama

"Then the information must be reliable," Cedric said.

"Yes." Sienna nodded repeatedly. "How could I not have thought that Tania would take Conner there..." As she spoke, she turned around and hurried toward the family room.

"Sienna, what are you doing?" Cedric asked.

Sienna turned, puzzled. "I'm going to change my clothes and head to Pinkine Town."

"No need." Cedric stopped Sienna and shook his head. "I'll go. You stay with Joyce. I promise you, I'll bring Conner back safe and sound."

"But..." Sienna hesitated "No buts." Cedric furrowed his brows and deliberately provoked Sienna, "You don't trust me?"

"Of course, I do," Sienna said. Cedric had promised to help her last night, and by

this morning, he already had news. How could she not trust him?

"Then it's settled." Cedric's lips curved slightly. "Stay with Joyce. I'll head to Pinkine Town and bring Conner back. Trust me."

"Mm." Sienna weighed her options for a moment before nodding.

"Al right. Thanks."

"I'm off, then." Cedric glanced at the time, picking up his phone and car keys.

Sienna held Cedric's coat and walked him to the door, reminding him, "Call me as soon as you find Conner." The surgery was imminent-she needed to confirm that Conner was safe and unharmed.

"Don't worry," Cedric reassured Sienna with a solemn nod. "I'I have Conner tell you himself that he's okay."

"Okay," Sienna said.

"I'm going now." Cedric bid farewell.

"Drive safely," Sienna reminded.

"Got it," Cedric replied.

After sending Cedric off, Sienna clasped her hands together, praying in silence, 'Heaven, Buddha, and God.. To any deity passing by, please, I beg you-watch over Conner and keep him safe."

*****

"Here?" Following the coordinates, Josiah arrived at the location where Conner

had supposedly been hidden. It was an abandoned wooden hut, once used by tea farmers as a temporary resting place.

"Yes." The man who had taken money from Tania-only to switch sides after accepting a higher price from the Evans family- nodded repeatedly. "He's right

here."

Yet, despite combing through the hut inside and out, Ethan and his men found nothing-not even Conner's shadows. "Mr. Evans, he's not here."

Josiah glared at the man. "Are you messing with me?"

"No. I swear I'm not." The man trembled, shaking his head frantically, hands waving in denial. "I hid him here." In his panic, he spilled everything. "Tania gave me money and some medicine. She told me to put it in his food. After

he ate, he was groggy all the time. His hands and feet were tied up. Where else could he have gone?" the man added.

"Mr. Evans," a bodyguard reported. "We found shattered pieces of a bowl inside."

It was reasonable to assume Conner had likely been drugged with a sedative- strong enough to weaken him, but not enough to render him completely

unconscious.

Conner must have thought about

Joyce's surgery. He must have shattered the bowl, used a shard to cut through the ropes, and forced

ela

himself to escape. Josiah suppressed the murderous intent flashing through his eyes. "He won't have gone far. Spread out.

"Find him."

"Yes, Mr. Evans," Josiah's subordinates replied in unison.