He Wouldn't Claim Me — Another Man Did-Chapter 26 - 24: Adventure

After Isla Prescott agreed, it was Annabelle Leighton who hesitated.

"This is dangerous."

"I know."

It had been dangerous when Shane Sterling jumped into the river to save Sienna Prescott. It was that very danger that made Isla feel the debt she owed couldn’t be repaid with a simple meal or a gift.

From what Annabelle Leighton said, Shane Sterling’s younger brother was in a bad spot. If she could help out this time, it would at least lighten the weight of the debt she felt she owed.

Seeing Isla Prescott’s determination, Annabelle Leighton said, "Alright, then I’ll take you to meet someone."

"Who?"

"Don’t worry. He’s completely safe and trustworthy."

Annabelle Leighton took Isla Prescott to meet the police officer in charge of Chloe Kerr’s disappearance: Morgan Hayes.

According to Annabelle, many officers had given up on the case due to pressure from the Aevis Group. Only Morgan Hayes was still holding on.

Morgan Hayes was young, but he had a steady demeanor. Perhaps because he’d served in the military, his eyes held an uncommon resolve.

"Isabelle, this is Officer Hayes. Officer Hayes, this is Isla Prescott, a new member of the dance troupe. She’s willing to help us investigate Chloe Kerr’s disappearance."

Annabelle Leighton made the introductions.

Morgan Hayes was very cautious. He didn’t reveal too many specifics about the case. Only after confirming Isla Prescott was willing to help did he give her a task: he wanted her to find the exact location where Wendy Bell conducted her transactions with clients.

It was Isla Prescott’s first time dealing with something like this, and she was inevitably nervous.

Morgan Hayes reassured her, "We’ll put a tracking device on you and listen in the whole way. We’ll protect you."

"Okay."

The next morning, with red-rimmed eyes, Isla Prescott went to find Wendy Bell again. She apologized for what had happened the previous day and begged for another chance.

Wendy Bell asked her, "What’s really going on between you and Young Mr. Shaw?"

"I... I developed feelings for Young Mr. Shaw that I shouldn’t have, but he wasn’t interested in me. Yesterday, he was with Annabelle Leighton and..."

Isla Prescott looked as if she were on the verge of tears, unable to continue.

Wendy Bell knew Annabelle Leighton’s nature and could guess how she must have humiliated Isla Prescott.

"It’s alright." Wendy Bell put an arm around Isla Prescott’s shoulder. "I know you’re eager to get ahead, but sometimes it’s better to rely on yourself than on men. If you just focus on your dancing, your day will come."

"Then... what about the ’Springtime of Song and Dance’ performance?"

"I’ll arrange another meeting for today. Just wear the same dress and makeup as yesterday. We’ll leave early, and don’t mess up again. The higher-ups won’t be happy."

"Okay, thank you, Colonel White."

Wendy Bell didn’t suspect this prey who had served herself up on a platter time and time again.

In the afternoon, she took Isla Prescott and left work early. The two of them rode in a black Mercedes van, heading straight for The Crescent Hotel at Mount Arden.

After they entered the hotel, Wendy Bell took Isla Prescott’s phone.

"Colonel White, why are you taking my phone?"

"Have you heard about what happened with those famous hosts from Meritopia Television a while back? Their private conversation during a dinner party got recorded. A few complaints made over a meal blew up with public opinion and ended up costing them their jobs. See? Now, any leader with a bit of a name is extra careful at gatherings. As their subordinates, we have no choice but to comply."

No one could find fault with Wendy Bell’s explanation. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Isla Prescott handed over her phone and followed Wendy Bell. They changed elevators five times before finally reaching the reserved private room.

No wonder Morgan Hayes had been investigating for so long without pinpointing their meeting place. The hotel’s labyrinthine design was truly bizarre.

Isla Prescott felt a deep sense of uncertainty, but she had already committed. There was no turning back.

As she walked, she observed her surroundings, trying to memorize the route so she could provide Morgan Hayes with useful clues later.

Inside the private room, a man in a sharp suit sat at the head of the table. He was about fifty, wore gold-rimmed glasses, and looked scholarly and refined. If she hadn’t met him in this kind of setting, Isla Prescott would never have connected him with a sordid transaction.

"President Vance, my apologies for keeping you waiting." As soon as she entered, Wendy Bell pushed Isla Prescott into the seat next to him. "We’re late, so we’ll take three drinks as a penalty."

As she spoke, she filled the glass in front of Isla Prescott with wine.

Morgan Hayes had warned Isla to be careful about anything she ate or drank.

"President Vance, Colonel White, I’m sorry, but I’m allergic to alcohol. I’ll break out in a rash if I drink."

"No problem. You can have water instead."

President Vance was very agreeable and ordered a waiter to bring a bottle of Evian. The cap was still sealed, and he let Isla Prescott open it herself.

Isla Prescott used water in place of wine and drank her three penalty "drinks." Afterward, Wendy Bell left the room, using the excuse of taking a phone call.

In the vast private room, only Isla Prescott and President Vance remained. President Vance scooted his chair closer to Isla. At first, he just asked her some everyday questions in an avuncular tone—her age, the styles of dance she studied, and so on. But as he kept talking, his hand snaked around her waist.

Instantly, every cell in Isla Prescott’s body sounded an alarm.

’It’s starting.’

"President Vance, please don’t." Isla Prescott calmly brushed his hand from her waist. "Where did Colonel White go? Why hasn’t she come back?"

"She’s not coming back. The rest of the night is for you and me."

"What do you mean by that, President Vance?"

"You came here with Colonel White. Don’t you understand the rules by now?" President Vance’s hand wrapped around her again. "If you want the troupe’s resources, you have to pay the price. Wouldn’t you agree?"

His hand tried to slip inside her dress, but Isla Prescott wrenched herself away from him.

"Sorry, President Vance, but if this is how I have to get the troupe’s resources, then let me be clear: I’m not willing."

President Vance was unfazed by her resistance. "You have two choices today. One, you stay with me willingly. Two, you stay with me unwillingly. If you choose the first, I can guarantee you a meteoric rise in the dance troupe. If you choose the second, you won’t be walking out of this room."

Isla Prescott feigned a touch of fear. "Will I die?"

"You won’t die. But you’ll wish you were."

’So, that means Chloe Kerr might still be alive.’

Suppressing her disgust, Isla Prescott leaned closer to President Vance, feigning surrender. "President Vance, you’re scaring me. Why don’t you tell me... what exactly do you mean by ’wishing I were dead’?"

"You’re scared, yet you’re still asking?"

"I’m just curious."

President Vance gave a cold, sinister smile and stroked her head. "You will never see the sun again."

’Never see the sun again?’

’Could it be... they’re locked up in some basement?’

Isla Prescott wanted to probe for more information, but she suddenly felt a scorching heat rising from deep within her. Her breathing and heart rate quickened noticeably.

She hadn’t drunk any alcohol, yet she felt a drunken dizziness. The objects in the room began to spin before her eyes.

’Damn it! The unopened bottle of water was drugged, too!’

Realizing something was wrong, Isla Prescott quickly pushed President Vance away and ran for the door.

President Vance was calm and composed, not even bothering to chase her.

"You can’t escape," he laughed from behind her. "Even if you get past this door, there are countless more waiting for you."

Of course, Isla Prescott knew she couldn’t escape. She was just trying to buy some time. Her nail extensions and earrings were fitted with a tracker and a listening device. She believed Morgan Hayes had to be on his way to rescue her right now.

She reached the door and pulled it open with all her might, only for two burly bodyguards outside to shove her right back into the room.

SLAM!

Isla Prescott collapsed onto the carpet, her entire body weak.

President Vance stood up and walked toward her, step by step.

"Little girl, stop struggling. Be a good girl and submit to me, and tomorrow you’ll be the lead dancer in ’Springtime of Song and Dance’."

"I won’t... I won’t... If you touch me, it’s rape! You’ll go to jail!"

President Vance couldn’t care less about going to jail. Taking advantage of Isla Prescott’s weakness, he clamped a hand on her shoulder and ripped her dress.

Isla Prescott felt a coldness on her upper thigh, and her heart trembled with it.

Only then did she truly realize what a reckless decision it had been to suggest this plan to Annabelle Leighton.

"No..."

"Too late." President Vance took off his suit jacket. "I took the drug, too. It’s kicking in... enough for me to ’spoil’ you all night."

The old man went into a frenzy, tearing at Isla Prescott’s clothes. She fought back with everything she had, pushing and kicking. After one kick landed, he grabbed her by the neck and slapped her hard across the face.

Isla Prescott cried out in pain but didn’t dare stop, continuing to resist with all her strength.

The two were locked in a chaotic stalemate.

"Help! Help!"

Her strength was fading, and her willpower was slipping out of her control.

She didn’t know how long she had been fighting when, finally, a piercing alarm blared from outside the door.

The door to the private room was kicked open, and a group of people rushed in.

Isla Prescott lifted her gaze and saw Shane Sterling and Morgan Hayes at the lead—two tall, imposing figures, backlit as if wreathed in light, rushing toward her.

Morgan Hayes subdued President Vance, dragged him aside, and cuffed him. Shane Sterling ran straight to her.

"Isla Prescott, are you okay?" Shane Sterling’s eyes were a complex mix of worry, fury, and other unreadable emotions.

Isla Prescott only had enough strength left to give a faint shake of her head.

As her body went limp, Shane Sterling reached out and caught her, holding her steady in his arms.