CHAPTER 197: CHAPTER 197- WHERE WAS SHE?

"Manfred, over here!" Janice called out as soon as she stepped out of the hospital. Before she could even exit the building, Manfred’s tall figure had already appeared in the lobby.

After thinking it over, Janice knew that right now, Manfred was the only person she could rely on.

"Why are you alone? Shouldn’t someone be with you today?" Manfred asked. He hadn’t been able to refuse when she called him earlier.

"Oh, the driver dropped me off. I told him to head back for now and come pick me up later this afternoon." Janice took Manfred’s arm and started walking briskly out of the hospital, unable to wait another second.

"So, what did you find? Have you tracked Charles’ whereabouts? What about Shaun, Brian, and Steven? Are they all still in the country?"

"Janice... promise me you won’t get too worked up when you hear this," Manfred’s voice was low and serious. Though he didn’t know why Charles had suddenly left, two years ago when Janice married Charles, Manfred had unexpectedly shown up—only to be blocked by three men with overwhelmingly dark auras. He had sensed even then that these four men were involved in something sinister, something bloody.

"I understand. Just tell me quickly. He’s been gone for more than twenty days with no news—I’m so worried!" Janice gripped Manfred’s arm tightly, pleading. Manfred stopped walking and leaned against a hospital wall in a quiet corner. People rushed past them, too busy to notice the tension etched on their faces.

"They left one after another, all heading to Australia. Brian left over a month ago, then Shaun, followed by Charles, and Steven just left a few days ago. I only managed to find their exit records. Why they went abroad, I have no idea. All of them have significant statuses..." Manfred’s words confirmed Janice’s worst fears—they had been hiding something from her.

"Why? Why would they all leave the country at the same time? Is something going on? Manfred, do you even know who they really are?" Janice’s anxiety flared, her mind racing. Angela had lied to her just a few days ago, saying Shaun was busy. But Shaun had already left before Charles. Was something important happening—something that forced all four of them to vanish?

"I don’t know what you don’t know," Manfred said, "But I do suspect their identities are far from ordinary." Manfred had always known about Charles’ formidable power. He had been blocked repeatedly before, even by Janice herself.

"What could they be doing? Why didn’t I notice anything the last time they went to Australia?" Janice murmured to herself. She should have seen the signs when she followed Charles there. Shaun had dropped hints in his conversations—she just hadn’t picked up on them.

But why were they all so good at hiding it? Even she was kept in the dark about the secrets between these men!

"Don’t overthink it. Maybe it’s just a coincidence. Charles having business with them isn’t unusual," Manfred tried to comfort her as he saw her spirit dimming.

"I can’t stop thinking about it. He’s never told me anything beyond being the boss of the Black Rock Co. Group. What other identity does he have? Sometimes, in his cold eyes, I see a glimpse of a murderous darkness. I thought I imagined it, but now I know—it’s real." Janice’s gaze grew distant, haunted by memories.

"I’ll try to dig around and find out more about him. You look unwell; let me take you home." Manfred pulled Janice gently by the hand as they left. Only when Charles was gone did she remember Manfred as her fallback. Even if she used him, he was willing.

"Manfred, I’m really scared... What if something’s happened to him?" Janice’s heart ached with fear, mirroring the exact feeling she’d had when Charles disappeared without a trace before. The endless worry, the sleepless nights—she couldn’t bear it anymore.

Even knowing the danger, she wanted to be with him. Janice understood now that she had made mistakes before. Even if she might never fully recover, as long as he was by her side, she would have no regrets.

And now, Charles was sacrificing himself with the same heart she once had—wanting to leave nothing but pure, beautiful waiting between them.

"He’ll be fine. He’ll come back safely. Nothing will happen to him," Manfred whispered as he held her steady, shielding her from the harsh sunlight outside. Janice squinted, feeling a little dizzy, and covered her eyes. Manfred glanced toward the car parked nearby and gently released her hand.

"Wait here. I’ll bring the car around."

"Okay." Janice finally calmed herself and stood tall, watching Manfred’s retreating figure. At that moment, the longing for Charles’s warm embrace hit her stronger than ever.

She had promised him she would wait, so now she had to choose to trust him. For her, for the baby, he had said he would come back—and she believed him.

A faint, comforting smile curled on Janice’s lips as she saw Manfred’s car slowly approaching. She stepped off the curb and started walking toward the road.

Just as her hand reached out to touch the car door, several shadows suddenly lunged out from behind. Before she could react, hands covered her mouth. Darkness flooded her vision, her mind went blank—and then she lost consciousness.

"Who are you people?!" Manfred shouted, witnessing Janice being abducted. He slammed the car door and gave chase, but the figures moved like ghosts. In mere seconds, Janice was forced into an unmarked luxury car, which disappeared into the crowd. Their skillful movements left Manfred stunned.

"August! Something’s wrong—Janice’s been taken!" Manfred called out urgently. Though he didn’t know who these people were, Charles was away, and protecting her was his responsibility. Hanging up, he slammed the accelerator, tailing the fading trail.

There was no time to wait for August’s backup. Manfred pushed the car to its limit and caught up just as the mysterious vehicle reached a landing pad where a helicopter was ready to take off.

Jumping out, Manfred launched himself into a brutal fight with the shadows.

He was no match for them, despite his skills and training. Blood poured from wounds, his body battered and aching. Yet, fueled by sheer determination, he pressed on.

Amidst the chaos, he heard the leader’s voice, cold and clear in perfect English: "No time to waste—take him with us!"

Wiping blood from his mouth, Manfred grinned fiercely. For now, at least, he was still close to her.

Janice slowly awoke, her head heavy and body aching. The dim, shifting shadows around her made the room feel eerily cold.

Where was she?

Flashing back to the moments before her capture, panic surged through her. Her wrists burned from the red marks left by tight restraints, and a scream tore from her throat.