I looked at him incredulously. "Why are you saying this? Can you stop hiding things from me? I''m not a child!"


    "I haven''t hidden anything from you." He reached out, wrapping his arm around me. "They''ve caught the person, but it was an online transaction, and the identity of the other party is unknown." "Unknown identity?" I questioned.


    As assured me, "But it''s not Liora."


    "She''s ruled out!"


    "Yes! She wouldn''t be able to find such a person so quickly," As said confidently, "There must be someone else involved."


    I fell silent. Someone else?


    He pulled the nket up over me. "Get some sleep, hmm? Whoever he is, anyone who harms you won''t have an easy time."


    "Did you already know that Oliver was seriously injured?"


    "The position and depth of the knife were clear at a nce," he answered.


    "So... they intended to harm me?" I muttered. "Do you think the person that kidnapped my dad will..."


    My mind was spinning. I didn''t hold back my questions.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "They won''t touch your dad until they get what they want. Don''t worry."


    As''s answer was always reassuring.


    I closed my eyes, forcing myself to clear these thoughts. I really needed some rest. Otherwise, my energy wouldn''t hold up. The next events were still uncertain.


    As the ne took off, I fell asleep. I was truly exhausted.


    It wasn''t until the ne was about tond that As woke me up. Exiting the airport, Mike was already waiting there, looking anxious.


    I introduced As to Mike. Surprisingly, local officials were here to wee us. This was unexpected for both Mike and me. We each got into different cars. I rode with Mike while As joined the officials in another car. Mike''s car followed the two official vehicles.


    "Chlo, it''s my fault. I didn''t take good care of your dad. I never thought something like this would happen," Mike said apologetically.


    "Mike, it''s not your fault. This was a premeditated event. The kidnappers have already called us, and they want something from my dad. I''m sure even my dad didn''t expect this," Iforted him. "I should be thanking you and your wife for everything."


    "You''re being too polite. We''re family, aren''t we? I regret letting your dad stay at that hotel. If he were at my ce, those people wouldn''t have dared!"


    Mike was full of regret. However, I knew this wasn''t just a random urrence.


    "Mike, you know how my parents are. Even if you wanted them to stay at your ce, they would have to agree first. They are both very stubborn, and I''m helpless about it."


    "What kind of people are they? And why did they kidnap your dad? I''ve already reported it to the police. They''re working hard to investigate. After all, I still have some connections.


    "They checked the hotel''s surveince, but the cameras for that time were all blocked." Mike was a bit frightened as he said,"Chlo, I never expected this to be so serious. Kidnapping, of all things?" "It''s still unclear who is behind this. That''s why As and I rushed over. All the clues are here," I exined.


    Mike shook his head helplessly. "We always had good public safety here. Even the police say it''s the first time such an incident has urred. It is unheard of that a kidnapping case has urred," Mike spoke with indignation.


    I asked for more details.


    Our car followed the one in front, heading directly back to Bibury. The northern region had entered deep autumn, and the maple leaves aze with red hues. However, we paid no mind to it. We went straight to the local office building, where the police officers and Mike recounted my dad''s disappearance.


    The hotel surveince had been


    blocked from 11 p.m. the previous


    night, and it only resumed normal function half an hourter. This


    continged until Mike appeared at the room door, but there was no sign of how my dad had left.


    That meant my dad was kidnapped in that half-hour window.