CHAPTER 320: TWISTED SCHEME

Vladimir’s men reached the abandoned house. But to their disappointment, Athena and the kidnappers were no longer there.

Thud!

"Damn it! Where the hell did they keep her?" Vladimir cursed under his breath, punching the wall.

Luna managed to locate this area by tracking the route of the suspicious ambulance. However, they were too late.

Unknown to them, the kidnappers had already transferred Athena and Dominique to the golden villa.

"We are running out of time. We have to find them before anything bad happens to Athena!" Vladimir declared in front of his men.

Luna didn’t know what to say. This was the only lead they had about the kidnappers. But now it was slipping through their fingers.

They hadn’t anticipated that the enemy would be one step ahead, moving faster and smarter than expected.

Because of this, Vladimir’s frustration intensified further. He was furious, and his patience was wearing dangerously thin.

Every passing second felt like a lifetime. He wanted to find her as soon as possible. However, his force was not enough to find them.

’If only I were still part of the organization...’ he thought bitterly. ’I could mobilize all our men... including my father’s men...’

Vladimir’s chest tightened as he felt helpless. He realized how powerless he was without the backing of his father’s influence.

Due to their conflict, he was stripped of the command and authority he once had. A flicker of regret clouded his eyes.

’Why does it have to happen now? My power and resources are now limited. How can I save Athena?! I am totally worthless and useless right now!’

Vladimir punched the wall over and over again until his fist bled. Seeing his wounded hand, Luna quickly intervened, stopping him from punching the wall.

"Boss, calm down! You are hurting yourself. Lady Athena doesn’t want to see you hurt."

When Luna mentioned Athena’s name, Vladimir calmed down a little bit.

"I need to see my father. If I have to lower my pride, I’ll do it. I just need more men to find her as soon as possible." Vladimir said as he made up his mind. He was willing to ask his father’s help and beg him.

But unknown to him, Miguel Ivankov was already on the move. His goal might be different from Vladimir’s, but finding Dominique would also lead to finding Athena.

As Vladimir and his men left the abandoned house, Miguel had dispatched all his men. They moved separately, yet far more swiftly and efficiently.

Unlike Vladimir, Miguel had access to greater resources. More manpower, advanced technology, and a wider network of informants. Every advantage was on his side, accelerating the pace of their search.

While Vladimir struggled with limitations, Miguel was closing in on finding Dominique’s location.

"Sir... It’s confirmed," Miguel’s right-hand man reported grimly. "Young Master Dominique has been kidnapped by an unknown gang. He’s not the mastermind behind Miss Athena’s abduction. Someone else is orchestrating this."

Miguel’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening.

"So, someone dared to touch my one and only heir..." he muttered, his voice low but seething with rage. "They’ll regret it."

He turned to his men, eyes blazing with fury.

"Find them. Immediately. Hunt down every last one of them, whoever is responsible! I want the truth uncovered and every culprit brought to their knees. No one lays a hand on my son and walks away unpunished," he declared through his gritted teeth.

"Do not let a single one escape!" he added, his tone unyielding.

"Understood, Sir! We’ve found a lead! We will be able to find them in no time." His subordinate reassured him.

*****

At Golden Villa...

Two hours had passed since Dominique’s conversation with Mr. Lee. During that time, he had been separated from Athena as he was forced to draft what could be his final will and testament, transferring all his assets and properties to the gang leader.

Once the document was signed, it was immediately sent to Dominique’s attorney for notarization, solidifying its legal weight.

The gang leader rejoiced as if he had just won the lottery. The wealth he stood to gain from Dominique was more than he had ever dreamed of.

"You are a man of your word, Mr. Smith. Don’t worry, as I promise... I’ll grant you a reward for your obedience," The gang leader said, smirking at him meaningfully.

"Now, we are near the climax. Hahaha. To make our story more convincing... You have to do one final act."

After saying that, the gang leader instructed his men to escort Dominique back to the room where Athena was left behind.

The gang leader also followed them while grinning from ear to ear. He was still savoring his gains and benefits. He thought he hit a jackpot for this mission. He was somehow grateful to Alfonso.

But the moment they reached the room on the second floor, Dominique’s expression darkened. His heart dropped the instant he laid eyes on Athena.

"What did you do to her?!" he snapped, rushing to her side.

Athena was lying weakly on the bed, her body limp and unresponsive. There was something unsettling about her. Her eyes were dull and unfocused.

She didn’t look injured, but it was clear that something was terribly wrong. Dominique’s chest tightened with worry.

Once he touched her, Athena responded by gripping his arms, her chest heaving up and down. She was sweating profusely, and her face was flushed.

"Don’t worry, Mr. Smith. We just drugged her. It’s not life-threatening. Instead, you will enjoy this. This is your reward... and your final act. You have to take advantage of her... and ravage her. Hahahaha! Truly wonderful, isn’t it?!"

Dominique clenched his jaw, grinding his teeth as rage boiled inside him. These men were beyond cruel. This was part of their sick, premeditated plan. They intended to force him to violate Athena, just to plant more fabricated evidence for their twisted narrative.

"Damn it! Just leave us alone! This is not part of our deal!" Dominique roared at the gang leader.

The gang leader let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Hahaha! You think you still have a say in this? You have no choice."

He stepped closer, his grin widening with a twisted look on his face.

"This is how you are supposed to die with her. One last passion with her before both of you die. You will kill her, and you will take your own life after the deed. This is the happy ending I’ve chosen for both of you. Hahaha!"

The man grabbed his chin, his fingers pinching Dominique’s jaw. "If you refuse to cooperate, then my men will be your substitute. They are more than willing to be in your position." He threatened him further.

"Don’t worry... You have all night to enjoy her. There’s still plenty of time to indulge in your final pleasure. Haha. But by tomorrow morning, at exactly eight o’clock, your time will be up. Time to say your final farewell."

Dominique’s stomach churned, and a bitter taste of bile rose in his throat. He felt nauseated, on the verge of vomiting from the sheer disgust at their sickening scheme.

"You are a liar! This is not what we talked about! I’ve given you everything. How could you do this?"

The gang leader shrugged his shoulders in response. "I’m giving you this as a reward. It’s your choice. If you won’t do it, then my men will do it on your behalf. Now decide. Will you do it or not?!"