CHAPTER 120: CHAPTER 120: WRONG, STRAYED INTO THE PASSION HOUSE

Stella abruptly pushed him away, taking a step back to create distance between them.

She lifted her head, her clear eyes now strikingly sharp, filled with undisguised anger, shooting straight at him: "Did you take my master away?"

Andy Lockwood looked at her guarded and furious expression, his eyes darkening.

He didn’t directly refute her, only casually replied: "The old man is perfectly fine."

After a pause, he continued, "As long as you come with me, I’ll arrange for you to reunite."

"Go with you?" Stella laughed angrily, her chest heaving violently, "Senior, we are not on the same path."

"Erwin is a complete mad dog." Andy’s voice turned cold, carrying a trace of menace, "He won’t let you go; I will never allow you to fall into danger again."

He took a step closer, his tone brooked no argument: "I’ve set the stage, this time, I’ll make sure he has no escape, and eliminate the threat permanently!"

Stella’s eyes grew colder, the anger in her heart almost erupting.

"You know that’s not what I’m talking about!" she almost shouted, "You resort to any means, even dare to kidnap my master! Andy Lockwood, are you still the senior I know?"

If she hadn’t received the email about her master’s kidnapping on her way to Nation A, she wouldn’t have diverted to Mardale.

It feels like this is a pre-set trap!

"That’s not it!" Andy immediately retorted, his tone somewhat urgent, "Stella, the professor wasn’t kidnapped by me!"

He looked at her, trying to make her believe: "It was that mad Erwin who kidnapped him to Mardale, with the intention to lure you over! I tracked his location all the way, and accidentally saved the professor during a clash with his men."

"I know you’re eager to see him, that’s why I sent someone to bring you over."

Stella looked at him coldly, with scrutiny and doubt in her eyes.

He spoke sincerely, but she couldn’t completely trust him at the moment.

To suggest he was heinous enough to kidnap her master as blackmail, she also felt Andy Lockwood wouldn’t be so heartless.

"Tell me where my master is." Stella spoke, her voice devoid of any warmth, "I’ll send my people to fetch him."

At her words, Andy’s face instantly darkened.

He grabbed her wrist forcefully, pinching her painfully.

"You must leave here with me!" he snarled, his eyes filled with suppressed worry and unyielding firmness, "Otherwise, Erwin, that mad dog, will stop at nothing to kill you! He’s gathered another bunch of mercenaries."

Stella violently shook off his hand, her gaze cold and distant: "Don’t worry about me, if he dares to harm my master, I won’t let him off either."

Andy looked at her stubborn demeanor, laughing coldly in anger.

"Do you think that Mr. West can protect you?" his voice was thick with sarcasm, "Don’t be naive! He’s only interested in extracting value from you!"

"Women to him are nothing but tools, or even trouble."

Andy paused, lowered his voice, and leaned close to her ear, speaking word by word: "He doesn’t like women because he’s GAY, you understand?"

Otherwise, knowing she was in the castle, he would’ve snatched her long ago instead of waiting till now.

Stella froze for a moment, he’s GAY? How did she not notice? Even felt that he seemed a bit...intent?

Andy’s gaze was sharp, with a knowing understanding that saw through everything.

"This time he’ll help you only because he finds you a rare commodity! That guy, I know him too well. He won’t get up early unless there’s profit to be made, he dares to sell even air! Though he controls Mardale’s affluent area, he’s a shrewd businessman!"

But even Andy couldn’t have guessed that this time, Mr. West actually sold his own identity, the transaction lasting three months!

"What kind of person he is has nothing to do with me. Tell me, where is my master?" Stella’s tone was resolute, her mind only on her master’s safety now.

Andy looked at her unyielding attitude, his eyes also flaring with anger, "Do you have to be so stubborn?"

His voice was filled with disappointment and hurt, "Before, you didn’t hesitate to stand by Aiden Fordham, I can let that go! But this time, it’s not up to you!"

Before his words even faded, a faintly sweet scent floated in the air.

Stella’s alarm bells rang sharply in her mind, she reacted immediately, quickly covering her mouth and nose.

It’s ylang-ylang!

But it was a step too late, as the ylang-ylang strongly reacted with some substance in the wooden house.

A wave of intense dizziness swept over her, her legs weakening, nearly losing her balance.

"Someone come!" Andy’s face changed drastically, shouting loudly.

However, outside the wooden house, there seemed to be no response.

Stella then guessed the true nature of this little wooden house.

This is the famed "Love House" of Mardale, everything inside is meticulously crafted to induce romance.

Some young couples enjoy coming here to make love! Even some newlyweds set their bridal chamber here.

She took a step to leave, but her body weakened, Andy dashed forward, supporting her tottering figure.

"Don’t touch me!" Stella used all her strength to push him away.

"Andy Lockwood, did you do this?" she gritted her teeth, struggling to maintain her last shred of clarity.

The name Andy Lockwood severed years of camaraderie.

Andy looked at her pale face, and those eyes that remained stubborn and cold even in a daze, his heart filled with unspeakable bitterness and pain.

"Stella..." his voice softened, filled with deep pleading, "Come with me, please? I can’t lose you again."

After holding back for so long, he no longer wanted to restrain himself.

He cupped her face, which haunted his dreams, with an irresistible aura, and kissed her red lips.

An electric current shot through his entire body, tingling with unknown trepidation.

Her lips were much softer than he imagined; the kiss was domineering, leaving her no room to refuse.

It was a declaration, a desperate plea, the gesture of someone drowning clinging to driftwood.

A strange, invasive sweetness instantly seized all of his senses.

"No... don’t touch me!" she once again tried, using all her strength to push against his solid chest.

Not moving an inch.

Andy Lockwood’s large hand grasped her slender waist. At this moment, he too was invaded by that fragrance, his body filled with intense desire.

He... wanted her! Not even for a moment could he wait!

His voice was low and hoarse, with a torturous gravelly quality, brushing against her ear.

"Stella..."

"Senior brother, no... don’t!" A strong sense of dizziness surged through her, her limbs went limp, refusing to obey.

Her body slid down uncontrollably.

The next second, an arm flashed across her waist like lightning, binding her in an iron grip, pinning her tightly against him.

His body was scorching hot, or perhaps, it was her own skin that was burning.

He buried his face into her neck, his scorching breath exhaled again and again on her delicate skin.

Following were his scorching lips, traveling down her neck, planting small kisses that sent a series of shivers through her—pure panic shook her soul, not pleasure.

"Don’t... do this." She pleaded, her voice choked with tears as she pushed him away.

"Bang bang bang!"

At that moment, a rapid and terrifying knocking on the door shattered the suffocating atmosphere in the room.

The door was suddenly slammed open from the outside.

A silhouette appeared at the doorway against the corridor light—Cindy Chandler.

Cindy’s gaze quickly swept between Stella Grant and the still clinging Andy Lockwood.

Then, there was Cindy’s sharp and urgent voice, "Senior brother! Someone is coming after us! Hurry!"

Hope, like a piercing light, suddenly lit up Stella Grant’s despair.

"Cindy!" She reached out with a trembling hand, silently pleading for help.

Save me.

Cindy’s eyes locked with hers for just a second, there was not a shred of warmth, only a chilling emptiness.

Then, Cindy turned, gripped the doorknob, pulling the door wider open, a face cold and stiff as ice.

She wasn’t here to save her, but to clear the way for him.

Without a hint of hesitation, Andy tightened the arm around her waist.

He let out a low hum, effortlessly lifting her up, as if she weighed no more than a feather.

With incredible speed, he strode out the door, reaching the two black luxury cars parked in front of the cabin.

He stuffed her into the back seat, his tall frame squeezed in, trapping her in the corner.

"Bang!"

The car door slammed shut with an ear-splitting crash.

The engine roared to life instantly, tires screeching across the ground with a piercing scream.

A tremendous force pressed her back, and he wrapped an arm around her trembling body, "Don’t be afraid, senior brother is here!"

"Senior brother, let me... go." She knew full well, in this state, alone with him, what would happen.

Fear crashed around in her chest, like a trapped bird beating against its cage.

"To the airport!" Andy’s voice was unwavering; once on the plane, she would be his forever.

...

At The Red House, two cunning individuals continued their duel!

"Go on, what are you trying to find out?" The old man finally got to the point.

Vivi Sterling quickly pulled out another sketch, depicting a handsome young man with intense eyes.

The old man’s eyes flickered at the sight of that face, his voice even trembled slightly, "You... you want to find him?"

"You know his information? That’s great!" Vivi Sterling’s tone was urgent with barely contained excitement at his reaction.

"Tell me, where he is, and you’ll be handsomely rewarded." Vivi’s heart was in her throat.

"He’s..."

The old man had just begun when without warning, the floor tile beneath Vivi’s feet clicked open!

"Ah—!" Vivi could only let out a brief scream before falling down hard into a cold iron cage.

The sudden change struck Vivi with terror, her hands frantically clutching the bars, shouting up angrily, "Let me go! What are you doing? You old bastard, I*$@#..."

The trapdoor above her slammed shut with a "bang."

Silence enveloped the surroundings, no sound within reach.

Dead silence.

The old man leisurely picked up the phone on the table, dialed a number with practiced ease, his voice carrying a hint of suppressed urgency and excitement, "Sir, the lamb has come."

...

The black car sped along, its low rumble tearing through the afternoon calm.

They had been on the run for about ten minutes. Their direction was the airport.

Andy held Stella tightly in his embrace, his thin lips occasionally touching her hair, filled with blazing heat.

"Almost there, Stella, we’re almost at the airport."

"Hold on a little longer." He whispered soothingly, yet his voice carried a suppressed hoarseness, his urgency greater than hers.

The sight of the dazed woman in his arms made him want nothing more than to take her immediately!

This drug was too powerful!