Chapter 173
Nathaniel’s Brutal Rage.
“It was Victor,” Serena revealed. “He pushed me out of the building p>
Earlier, when Nathaniel realized it was Victor who had Serena kidnapped, he froze for a moment, stunned that the old man was still alive.
Rage surged through him, and he gave Victor a brutal beating.
However, nothing compared to the moment he discovered that Serena had been thrown out of the building. All the more, he wanted to break every bone in Victor’s body.
His hands shook as he held Serena tightly. His vision darkened, and his jaw clenched. He imagined what he could do to Victor Kline.
Nathaniel imagined dragging Victor back up to the tenth floor.
He imagined throwing him into that same narrow gap.
He imagined letting him feel the terror of falling, the helplessness, the cold air slicing past him.
He imagined breaking his fingers one by one — the same hands that had touched Serena.
He imagined crushing his ribs slowly, deliberately, until Victor understood exactly what pain meant.
Death would be too easy.
Nathaniel wanted Victor conscious.
He wanted him to feel everything.
“I’m sorry this happened,” he said, pulling Serena closer into a tight hug. “I’m sorry I wasn’t around. I’ll never let this happen to you again. Ever p>
He pulled away just slightly and cupped her face.
His heart ached at the sight of Serena’s tear-streaked face, gray concrete dust smeared across her cheeks, and the small cut on her lip.
Without giving Serena any warning, he kissed her – repeatedly – until Silas cleared his throat.
“Nathan!” Silas sounded angry, but Nathaniel did not spare him a glance.
He did not care.
And Serena did not care either, at least for the first few seconds.
Eventually, Serena turned to her brother and cried again.
Silas gently removed her from Nathaniel’s arms and embraced her.
“I’m glad you are okay,” Silas said. Tears welled in his eyes as he rubbed her back. “I’m sorry. I wish I never left you p>
Silas was still clearly shaken. Like Nathaniel, his hands trembled. His fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles had turned white, his jaw locked, his face stiff with barely restrained fury.
As Silas held Serena, he met Nathaniel’s gaze.
It was a silent agreement – they would teach Victor a lesson. Tomorrow, maybe, or
in the next few days. Right now, Serena was their priority.
“Let’s take her to the hospital and get her checked,” Nathaniel said.
Silas nodded and finally loosened his hold on Serena.
“Let me carry you,” Silas suggested.
But to Nathaniel’s surprise, Serena turned to him.
It meant he was her comfort, and his heart swelled a little.
“I’ll take her,” Nathaniel immediately offered.
Serena wasn’t light. She was tall, solid, real. But in that moment, Nathaniel felt no weight at all. He carried her down from the eighth floor as if nothing in the world could make him set her down.
She held him tightly, her head resting on his shoulder. Her grip faltered more than once, her body giving a small, exhausted jerk before she desperately wrapped her arms around his neck again.
By the time they reached his car, Serena had dozed off completely.
Meanwhile, at Advanced Care Hospital, Sterling and Celine were speaking to Melvin, trying to get his version of Serena’s kidnapping.
Melvin had been stabbed in the abdomen, but the injury was not life-threatening. He only needed stitches.
“I’m so sorry, Sterling,” Melvin said, crying. “Blame it on me p>
His lips quivered as he struck his chest with a clenched fist. “If I hadn’t helped that
pregnant woman, none of this would have happened p>
“She wasn’t even pregnant at all! That woman was just faking it p>
Sterling had already confirmed this information with Milo. After Milo had tried to chase after Serena, the pregnant woman and the motorbike drivers fled, throwing away the silicon belly on the road.
He tried to focus, but his heart felt heavy.
“It’s just that I couldn’t ignore it. There was an accident, and it looked serious –
really serious,” Melvin said. “It was real. Who would have thought it was staged p>
“When I realized what was going on,
I tried to help Serena.” Melvin resumed, “I got stabbed, Sterling. I almost died it just shows how evil, these people are. But who are they? What has Serena done to them p>
Celine cried in her seat. She covered her face.
Sterling sat close to his wife, consoling her.
At the same time, Melvin shifted on the bed as if restless. He swung his legs over the side, his feet touching the floor te winced and pressed. hand against his abdomen, where the stitches lay hidden beneath the hospital gown.
For a moment, Sterling thought he might collapse.
“I need to help find Serena,” Melvin said hoarsely. “I have to do something p>
“Silas and Nathan are looking for Serena now,” Sterling said, his arm still around his
wife.
“But, Sterling, how many men have the police mobilized? Serena could be
anywhere by now,” Melvin said, panicking.
“I can’t just lie here p>
“Every minute matters. They could
already be moving her.” Melvin
looked up, eyes wide. “Have the
ports been alerted? The airports? If
they put her on a private plane she
could be out of the country before we even know it p>
His breathing quickened. “Besides, is it really right to leave this important matter to that Nathaniel Thorne? Wasn’t he the one who hurt Serena? Can we really trust him p>
“I have no reason to doubt Nathan,” Sterling said firmly. “He was the first one to move – to find a solution. He went in himself p>
“Yes,” Celine said through tears. “He loves the twins. I can see it clearly. He wouldn’t fail the children p>
“General Collins has used his connections to mobilize the military for the search,” Sterling added. “Nathan said they are using the best team to retrieve Serena p>
Melvin’s brows furrowed. “The military? Is that allowed p>
Sterling nodded. “Officially, General Collins is retired. Unofficially, half the current military officers owe him their careers p>
“I see,” Melvin averted his gaze. “Must be… nice to have that… kind of power p>