Chapter 341

“Is this some new way of rejection?” Josiah asked, a mix of annoyance and amusement in his gaze. Had he not endured constant rejection, he might have lost his temper. "Awakening imminent?" he said, chuckling softly. “That’s right. I’ve awakened, and I want to be with you. So why are you unwilling? Why can’t you have an imminent awakening too!”

Sienna was speechless, her mouth agape.

Josiah gave her a light scolding look. “I’m just giving you unnecessary information, causing trouble for myself,” he said, picking up his fork and continuing to serve her food. Sienna looked at the piece of meat. “So much fat?”

Josiah frowned. “Where’s the excess fat? You won’t touch a bit.” He picked up a knife and fork, cut away the fatty part, and casually tossed it into his own mouth. He placed the lean piece in her bowl. “Not fatty anymore.”

Sienna stared at him, momentarily speechless, her appetite gone.

Their lunch break was short. Afterward, Josiah drove Sienna back to the film set. He leaned in, embracing her as the car stopped. Cupping the back of her head, he said, “I’m leaving soon. I’ll call you when I get to Lochland.”

He released her, undid her seatbelt, and gazed at her with reluctance. “Wait for me to come back.”

Sienna got out of the car and walked inside, feeling Josiah’s intense gaze burning into her back. She didn’t look back, quickening her pace to a jog.

After that day, Sienna continued her usual routine between Sunshine Neighborhood and the film set. One day, her scenes wrapped early. On her way back, she stopped at the supermarket to pick up items from Tara’s shopping list.

After shopping, she walked toward the bus stop across the street. A silver-gray Pagani stopped beside her—Cedric’s car. The window rolled down, revealing Cedric’s handsome face and a faint smile. “Sienna, long time no see.”

“Cedric,” Sienna smiled. “Long time no see.”

“Where are you headed?” Cedric glanced at her bags. “Back to Sunshine Neighborhood? Let me give you a ride.”

“No need,” Sienna declined with a smile. “It’s just two stops. I won’t trouble you.” Their acquaintance was purely professional.

“Alright then,” Cedric understood, offering a slightly bitter smile. “I’ll be on my way.”

He started the car, reluctantly watching Sienna in his rearview mirror. Suddenly, his gaze froze. A black van stopped in front of Sienna; a door swung open, and an arm reached out, grabbing her and pulling her quickly into the vehicle.

Cedric was shocked, breaking into a cold sweat. He tried to make a U-turn, but was blocked. Horns blared. “What are you doing? No U-turns! Do you even know how to drive?” someone shouted. “Hurry up! Don’t block the road!”

Cedric was frantic. The van had disappeared.

Inside the van, Sienna was panicking. “Stop the car!” she yelled, pounding on the back of the seat.

The driver glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “Ms. Shaw, I suggest you calm down. It will save you energy.”

Ms. Shaw? He knows who I am. He has a purpose for abducting me, Sienna thought, stunned. “Who are you?” she asked. Could it be the Fischer family again? “Did the Fischer family send you? Reyna or Tania?”

“I don’t know those people,” the driver replied.

“Then who sent you?”

Sienna’s mind went blank. “What do you want?”

The driver glanced at her. “I won’t harm you. I just need to borrow you for a while. Once our boss has met with Mr. Flynn, you will be safe.”

Mr. Flynn… Josiah Flynn. It was because of him! Sienna’s hands clenched, her body trembling. She remembered Josiah’s injuries, Yvette’s accident in Lacustria. So, this person is also sent by his enemy?

In Lochland, Josiah finished his business and was heading back to Jelarrity. He called Sienna twice, but she didn’t answer. Probably filming, he thought, deciding not to call again. He would pick her up at the film set. Just as he put down his phone, it rang.

He thought Sienna was calling back, but it was an unfamiliar number. He answered. “Hello!”

A coarse, deep, slightly aged voice replied, “Edgar.”

Josiah’s body tensed, his pupils constricted. “Who are you? Wrong number?” he said, about to hang up.

“Wait,” the voice said, amusement and threat lacing it. “I’ve had Yvette and Sienna… invited here.”

Josiah’s mind blanked. After a few breaths, he roared, “What the hell do you want?”

The voice chuckled. “Can I be blamed? I was polite, sent someone to invite you, but you refused. I had no choice.”

Josiah curled his lips into a cold smile. “You really haven’t changed at all, only knowing how to bully weak women.”

The voice remained light. “Edgar, come see me. I’m waiting.” The confidence in his tone was unnerving. With Yvette and Sienna, Josiah had no choice.

Josiah gritted his teeth. “Where?”

The person gave an address.

“I’m coming,” Josiah said, his face ashen, hanging up. He instructed Zach, “Zach! Change the destination.”

“Yes, sir,” Zach replied.

The car turned around. Josiah closed his eyes. That person had called him Edgar. A distant, almost forgotten fear returned… the sound of a whip cracking, again and again, the pain, the unconsciousness… the endless cycle of brutality.