Chapter 263
“Rosie?” Sienna’s voice, filled with surprise and joy, cut through the silence. She hadn’t seen Rosie since her hospital discharge. “How are you? Your eyes…”
Before she could finish, another voice, crisp and sharp, intruded from the phone. “Ms. Miller, what are you doing?”
Rosie gasped, too flustered to respond. She quickly hung up.
Sienna was stunned. What’s going on? she thought. Rosie had called but said nothing. The entire call lasted less than ten seconds. She held her phone, frowning in confusion.
“What’s wrong?” Josiah asked. Though uninterested in Rosie’s situation, he was concerned by Sienna’s distress. “Is your friend in trouble?”
Sienna looked up, her frown still etched on her face. Perhaps it was Josiah’s proximity, or perhaps his recent improved treatment, but she subconsciously felt a growing trust in him. She unlocked her phone and showed him the call log. “Rosie just called, but the number was blocked.”
Josiah looked confused. “You said it was Rosie?”
“I think something’s wrong,” Sienna said, her thoughts racing. “I’m worried Rosie might be in danger.”
“Why?” Josiah asked, his tone casual. He was familiar with Rosie's situation. “Wasn’t she picked up by her grandfather? How could she be in danger at his place?”
Sienna frowned skeptically. “Then why would she call me from a hidden number? And her voice sounded strange.”
“Was she crying? Asking for help?” Josiah pressed.
“Not exactly,” Sienna shook her head. “But she seemed frantic. There was another voice, like a servant’s, but there was something…off about it—an unspoken threat, a pressure. As soon as that voice appeared, the call ended abruptly.”
Did Rosie end the call? Or was it the servant? Had something happened to her? she wondered.
“My only clue is the hidden number. Can you help me trace it?” Sienna asked, then paused, realizing how casual her request sounded.
Josiah smirked, his gaze both intense and teasing. He sensed her growing boldness and knew she was aware of it.
“Uh… what I meant was, if it’s convenient, could you help me?” Sienna felt uneasy.
“Why not?” Josiah raised an eyebrow, smiling wider as he leaned in, whispering in her ear, “A guy can’t say no to his girlfriend.”
Sienna’s cheeks flushed. The relationship between them felt like it was subtly shifting.
To prove himself, as soon as they returned to Silver Beach and entered the house, Josiah embraced Sienna and kissed her passionately.
“Josiah…” Sienna struggled to speak amidst the intimacy. “Let’s eat first.”
“I’d rather eat you first,” Josiah murmured, refusing to let go. He wanted to make up for their lost weekend. He repeatedly whispered her name as he kissed her.
By the time they finished, Sienna’s hunger pangs were intense. Carried to the bathroom, she bit his shoulder in frustration.
“Ouch!” Josiah feigned pain, teasing, “Are you still hungry? Do you want to do it again?”
Sienna, angry, grabbed his hair. “I’ll pull it all out!” she threatened, tugging playfully.
Josiah laughed heartily, pleading for mercy, “I won’t!” Yet he continued, “What’s there to be embarrassed about? It’s a normal need.”
Sienna tightened her grip, and Josiah felt the pull. Without missing a beat, he carried her downstairs and seated her at the dining table. “Wait a minute. Dinner is almost ready.”
The servant had prepared dinner and left. The soup was warm, but the dishes were cold. Josiah quickly reheated everything, served the soup, and placed it before Sienna. “Here you go.”
Sienna was too hungry to respond. She nodded, burying her face in her bowl.
“Don’t rush,” Josiah frowned. “Slow down, or you’ll choke.”
He, however, ate even faster. While Sienna still sipped her soup, Josiah finished his meal. Casually, he picked up his phone and called someone. “It’s me. Yeah, can you trace a number for me?”
He called Zach, all to discover what had happened to Rosie. “I need an update as soon as you have something,” Josiah said before hanging up.
Sienna finished eating and looked at him expectantly.
“What’s wrong?” Josiah raised an eyebrow. “Are you full and now want more?” He sighed dramatically, stood up, and bent to pick her up. “Okay, I’ll give it to you.”
“Ah! That hurts!” A sharp yelp escaped his lips as Sienna twisted his arm.
Sienna narrowed her eyes, gritting her teeth. “You’ve got nothing else on your mind all day long! Be careful, or you’ll wear yourself out!”
Josiah laughed. “Don’t worry, I’m in good health. You don’t need to start worrying about what’ll happen forty or fifty years from now.”
Sienna suppressed a roll of her eyes. He feels too good about himself! she thought. However, her heart fluttered at the thought: Forty or fifty years! Would we be together that long? Was that what he was thinking?
Soon, news arrived from Zach. The next morning, as Josiah arrived at the office, Zach sent him an address. “It’s a landline, with some tech hidden nearby. Should I go check it out first, or do you want to go yourself?”
Zach hadn’t checked the location yet. “Mr. Flynn, should I go…”
Josiah glanced at the address—Glitter District. For some reason, he felt he should go himself. “I’ll go. You don’t need to worry about it.”
“Got it, Mr. Flynn,” Zach replied.
Sienna had an artist training session that day and would be late. Josiah decided to investigate first.
Rosie’s vision was blurred; she couldn’t see clearly. She had no idea where she was or how she’d gotten there. The last thing she remembered was being in the hospital, but she awoke in an unfamiliar place.
Initially, she suspected a kidnapping, but it didn’t feel like that. She wasn’t mistreated. She had comfortable lodgings and attentive servants.
A doctor visited daily to check her wounds and change bandages. She was being excessively well cared for, yet she couldn’t contact anyone outside.
Besides the servants, there was a bodyguard. He was there to protect her, but also to watch her. The furthest she could venture was the yard. As soon as she approached the gate, the bodyguard appeared, saying, “Ms. Miller, it’s time to go back inside.”
She was scared. It felt like imprisonment.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Someone was there.