Love the Second Time Around Novel

Chapter 75 Kidnapped

As | was in the midst of pondering over the call, Coraline took the initiative and toldabout it.

One of her relatives had called her. However, an accident had occurred, so they were occupied for the time

being. Hence, they wouldn't be able to cover.

The news causedto frown. They won't be able to cover? Isn't she supposed to be discharged tomorrow?

Does this mean that she intends to askto continue helping her?

Following that, Coraline added that she had plans to return to her hometown and tend to herself. She claimed

that there was beautiful scenery and people to keep her company. Finally, she asked if | could send her there.

| let out a sigh of relief. It seems like she won't botheranymore.

Although I've never visited Julius’ childhood home, he once mentioned that it was not very far away. | can send

her there and make it back on the sday. Besides, I've done countless things for her. I'll consider this as my

last favor!

After Coraline was made aware that she would be discharged tomorrow, she decided to return htomorrow

morning.

As she wanted to leave earlier, | was more than happy to comply with her plans.

The next day, | arrived at the hospital at the break of dawn. After filling in the paperwork to discharge Coraline, |

headed to the bus station.

Since it wasn't a special holiday, | managed to purchase the tickets with ease.

Our journey to Coraline’s hometown went by smoothly.

There weren't many bus stops in the small county. Thus, we got off the bus at the side of the road.

After we got down from the bus, | noticed many motorcycles around the area that were there to fetch tourists. |

prepared to hail one for Coraline and made plans to return hafter she was sent off.

All of a sudden, Coraline announced that she wanted to use the restroom and askedto follow her there. As

we weren't in a rush, | trailed after her without any complaint.

Yet, even after walking for a while, | didn’t see a restroom anywhere. In fact, there didn’t seem to be many

people around the vicinity as well.

Just as | opened my mouth to ask Coraline about our whereabouts, my phone began to ring with a call from

Dominic. Despite vanishing without a trace for so many days, it seems like he’s still alive.

“What?” | asked brusquely.

“Where are you?”

“Leavealone. | didn’t contact you when you disappeared, did 1?” | replied.

“Fine, we'll have a good talk when you are back,” Dominic uttered lowly after a brief moment of silence.

He put extra emphasis on the word good. Immediately, an array of provocative scenarios surfaced in my mind as

my courage vanished into thin air.

“I'm at Ho-" Before | could finish my sentence, pain throbbed at the back of my head as my vision plunged into

darkness. | promptly blacked out.

When | regained consciousness, | realized that my vision was still shrouded in darkness. My limbs were tied up,

renderingimmobile in a curled-up position.

Pain flared at the back of my head. What on earth happened to me? | remember talking to Dominic on the

phone. Then someone hitfrom the back. Also, where is Coraline?

Although | was clueless about my whereabouts and what occurred, | could feel my surroundings rocking back

and forth. The swaying motion leftextremely nauseous.

Additionally, my dizziness was amplified by the fact that my vision was covered. The darkness causedto lose

track of time.

After what felt like an eternity, the rocking motion cto a halt.

A rough grip latched around my arm and yankedupward. Once again, | felt pain flare across my body. | must

have fallen.

My perpetrator held no regard for the condition of my body. He continued to yankforward as he forcedto

stumble after him.

Along the way, | was thrown around. The rough handling caused pain to flare across my entire body.

After a few moments, the grip on my arm vanished as | was shoved into a pile of foreign material. The material

felt dry and scratchy when it scraped across my skin.

Right at that moment, my blindfold was ripped away. Instantly, a bright light flooded my vision and | caught sight

of a blurry shadow in front of me.

It tooka few moments before my eyes adjusted to the light, and | realized that the man standing before me

was none other than Julius himself.

| felt my brain go blank. “J-Julius, did you kidnap me?” | stuttered.

A wide grin tugged the corners of his mouth upward as he smiled from ear to ear. “Darling, it’s been such a long

tsince we last met. Didn't you miss me?” The words that spewed out of his mouth caused my skin to prickle

with discomfort.

“Are you crazy? We are divorced!”

Julius tilted his head to the side like he was in deep thought. All of a sudden, he exclaimed in a surprised tone,

“Divorced? Right, we are indeed divorced! Not only did you divorce me, you even demanded a huge sum of

money!”

The sight of his crazed expression caused my heart to pound uneasily.

Without any warning, Julius brought his face closer to mine. He even reached out a hand to caress my cheek,

asking slowly, “Were you happy with the five hundred thousand? Did you have fun spending it?”

“I-" Before | could reply, Julius slappedviciously across the face.

An unhinged look filled his sharp gaze as he cupped my face in his hands. “Were you happy with the money? Did

you have fun spending it?”

| ignored the throbbing pain across my cheek and questioned coldly, “I didn’t touch the money. My card was

frozen. Julius, where did you get the money from?”

Julius brushed my question aside. “You didn’t touch it? Then return the money to me! Quick, give it back to me!”

he demanded agitatedly.

Has he gone mad?

“My card has been frozen. How am | supposed to return it to you?”

“It’s frozen?” Julius seemed to stiffen with shock before he regained his composure. “What about your lover? Or

that lawyer? Aren't they wealthy men? Ask them to givethe money!”

| know why he kidnappednow. He must be after the five hundred thousand.

“Are you going to letgo if | give you the money?” | asked to test the waters.

Julius fixedwith a dark stare. “That's right. I'll let you go as soon as you get the money,” he said after a long

moment.

Although it felt like something was amiss, | knew that Dominic would be able to findas long as | contacted

him. | have to seize this opportunity and get myself rescued!

“Givethe phone. I'll call him right now,” | said after regaining my composure.

“Liliana, | know what's going on in that head of yours. Do you think that someone will rescue you the moment

you make a call?”

| began to panic when Julius unearthed my plans.

“N-no, didn’t you say that you'll letgo after getting the money?” | stammered.

My words brought forth a smile on his face. With that, he rose to his feet and left.

Seeing his figure vanish in the distance leftstunned. What does he intend to do? Although he’s not letting