Chapter 125
In the convenience store, a man in a cap edged closer to Peggy. His movements were eerily silent, like a ghost. Peggy, engrossed in selecting a beverage, remained unaware of the looming danger. She added the last bottle of her beloved orange soda to her basket and headed to the cashier.
A sudden, close encounter made her scream, "Ah!" She almost collided with the man in the cap.
"What are you doing?" Peggy snapped, her eyebrows arched in displeasure.
The man smirked. Underneath the cap's brim, his eyes gleamed with malice.
"What do you want from me?" Peggy asked, her voice wavering slightly, despite her attempt to sound stern.
The man remained silent. His cap concealed his expression, revealing only a chin with patchy stubble. He appeared to be around forty years old.
Peggy issued a warning: "Stay back! I'm staying at the hotel next door. One shout, and all the security guards will come running."
The man's smirk widened. She realized she was dealing with a dangerous individual. This was no ordinary cashier; he was a thug. She prepared to call for security. The store's proximity to the Caesar Hotel, constantly patrolled by security guards, offered a glimmer of hope.
The man suddenly spoke, his voice cold and hoarse, unsettling like dry bark scraping against stone: "Ms. Lee, please come with me."
Peggy's eyes flickered with fear. He knew her name. This was no ordinary situation.
Before she could react, the man pressed a prepared handkerchief to her face. The overpowering chemical scent rendered her attempts at resistance futile. Her consciousness quickly slipped away under his superior strength.
The man caught Peggy as she fell. His gaze lingered on her legs. He hurriedly carried her out of the store and into a black car, disappearing from the hotel's surveillance.
Meanwhile, Cameron Jay, in bed after showering, stared at the ceiling, deep in thought. He recalled words overheard in the hotel elevator: "A woman wouldn't keep a photo or two unless he's important to her."
He considered whether Laura still harbored feelings for him, but dismissed the thought. The memories of their last encounter seven years ago were too vivid. He concluded she was likely feeling guilty, nothing more.
Cameron decided to focus on his next move: drawing out the mercenary leader to extract information and sever his ties with Laura.
Just as he was about to go to sleep, his phone rang. It was Lena. He answered, curious about her late-night call.
Lena's urgent voice filled his ear: "Cameron, Peggy has been kidnapped!"