"What exactly do you want?!" N demanded.


    Hearing the urgency and anger in her voice, Gabriel chuckled. "N, my original n was to be with you, have a child, and spend the rest of our lives together."


    The words filled N with disgust. But with Mason in Gabriel''s hands, she dared not provoke him. Who knew what he might do?


    Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she said slowly, "Your goal is me. Taking Buddy doesn''t help you. Just let him go, please."


    "N, that''s what I used to think," Gabriel replied. "But after Damon got me thrown in prison and ruined Nyce Tech, I''ve changed my mind."


    N''s grip on the phone tightened. "What do you want now?"


    "I want Damon to feel the pain I''m going through. Since I can''t bankrupt Prospectus Technology, taking Buddy will make him suffer as much as I have."


    "No! Don''t!" N trembled, a wave of terror washing over her. "Gabriel, I''m begging you. Don''t hurt Buddy. Please... Let me trade ces with him. Take me as your hostage instead. My life for his. Please? I''m the one you want."


    The line went silent, as though Gabriel were weighing her proposal.


    Every second of his silence stretched into an eternity for N.


    Finally, he spoke. "Fine. But how do I know you''re not lying to me?"


    "I''ll do whatever you want, as long as you promise to let Buddy go," she answered.


    "Alright. Wait for my call. And I suggest you and Damon don''t call the police. If you do, I can''t guarantee what might happen to Buddy." With that, he hung up.


    N''s eyes were red, her body shaking uncontrobly as she swayed on her feet.


    Damon steadied her, his voice calm but firm. "N, I won''t agree to you trading ces with Buddy. There''s no guarantee Gabriel will keep his word. What if he ends up controlling both of you?"  en


    Damon had stayed quiet during her call with Gabriel, knowing his voice might provoke him.


    Gabriel had already resorted to kidnapping Mason, abandoning any pretense of reason. Now, he was a desperate, dangerous man, capable of anything.


    N looked up at Damon, her gaze full of despair. "You won''t let me trade for Buddy? Then do you have another solution?"


    It was the only way she could think of. Even if Gabriel captured her too, as long as she could see Mason and


    he was safe, she was willing


    to take that risk.


    Mason was only five years old. Who knew where he was being kept? Was Gabriel hurting him?


    The thought of her son possibly suffering tore at her heart. She wished it were her in his ce.


    "N, my team is already working on tracking Gabriel''s location. As soon as we pinpoint him, we''ll rescue Buddy. Trust me, okay?" Damon pleaded.


    ?


    Mason had already been taken. If N fell into Gabriel''s hands as well, Damon would lose all leverage once Gabriel started threatening him with both of them.


    "If your team doesn''t find him before he calls, I''m going to do what I said," N replied.


    Damon frowned. "N, you need to stay calm—"


    "Calm? How can I stay calm? Buddy has been kidnapped! Every second he''s with Gabriel, he''s in danger! How can I calm down?" N cried.