After scarfing down the Ravioli Italiani, it was already pushing eleven. Elizabeth got a text from Felix.

Felix: [Guess what? It wasn’t Esme who nabbed you, take a wild guess who it was?]

Elizabeth: [Cut the BS.]

Felix: [Esme’s mom, Allen Russell.]

Elizabeth’s grip on her phone tightened instinctively. She thought, Allen? Sure, she’s got a sharp tongue and a bit of an ego, but she’s not evil. Would she really go that far?

Felix: [Elizabeth, Allen’s got a dinner party tonight at Whispering Pines Restaurant. It’s wrapping up soon.]

Elizabeth got the hint right away.

Elizabeth: [Wait for me.]

She thought, Allen’s gonna pay for stringing me up like that. Time for her to get a taste of her own medicine.

Whispering Pines Restaurant. Allen and her crew were trickling out, saying their goodbyes. Allen had a few too many, felt low, watched her friends leave, and sighed. She waved for a car. As she opened the door, she froze. “Elizabeth, why are you here?”

She noticed the driver wasn’t her usual guy and didn’t recognize the young man behind the wheel. Sensing something was off, she tried to bail. Elizabeth grabbed her arm and yanked her into the car. Allen yelped as the door slammed shut and the car sped off.

Allen shouted, “Elizabeth, what’s your deal?”

“That’s my line, Mrs. Russell. What’s your game?” Elizabeth’s smile was sharp as a knife.

Allen gulped, staring at Elizabeth. She thought, Does she know I’m behind her kidnapping? She was snatched last night and already figured it out?

“It wasn’t me,” Allen blurted out.

Elizabeth’s smile said it all, ‘Yeah, right.’

15:50 Tue, Chapter 349

Seeing Elizabeth’s disbelief, Allen snapped, “Elizabeth, don’t mess with me. The Russell family isn’t to be messed with!”

“And did you consider that before messing with me? I’m not one to mess with either.” Elizabeth shot back, her eyes dangerous.

Allen stared at Elizabeth, realizing she wasn’t the same girl from high school. Back then, because of Esme, Allen often hung out with Elizabeth. She was sweet, innocent, and obedient. Since her divorce from Alexander, Elizabeth had grown a spine.

“Elizabeth, can we just call a truce?” Allen was getting desperate.

Kidnapping Elizabeth was supposed to be a scare tactic, but it spiraled out of control.

“Sure,” Elizabeth nodded, straight-faced.

Allen hesitated.

“So, you’re letting me go?” Allen’s eyes lit up, thinking maybe Elizabeth wasn’t so bad after all.

Elizabeth smiled, “Yeah, I don’t want to stress anyone out.”

Felix glanced back at the two of them.

In less than ten minutes, at the same building where Elizabeth was kidnapped, Allen found herself hanging at the edge. The wind howled past her ears as she screamed, “Elizabeth! You said you’d let me go!” Her voice shook with fear.