Chapter 110 With the last shred of consciousness, Sydney managed to slide the thin silver needle beneath her skin. When she woke again, she was lying on a hotel bed. Her limbs felt heavy and useless, yet the room was empty, silent. There was no one else in sight. She did not have time to think. Instinctively, she grabbed her phone and dialed the one number etched into her memory. The call barely connected when the door opened. Victor sauntered in with a lewd grin. He blinked in mild surprise to see her awake. "Well, well. Not bad. Must be nice to be a doctor.
That dose would have knocked anyone else out for hours, and here you are, up in ten minutes?" Sydney knew it was thanks to the needle that had slowed the drug's effects. Still, the dosage was far too strong. She had no strength to run, no chance to fight. Whoever had planned this had intended to leave her no escape. Hiding her trembling hands beneath the quilt, she glared at him. "Victor! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" "What am I doing?" He raised a brow and strolled closer. "Isn't it obvious?" Her eyes burned red, and her voice hoarse but sharp as steel.
"You're insane!" "Tsk, tsk. If I'd known the drug made your voice this soft when you're mad, I wouldn't have waited all these years." He bent down and inhaled the scent of her hair, heat flashing in his eyes. "Young lady, even your hair smells sweet." Sydney forced her shaking body still and said through her gritted teeth, "Julian and Caleb are still downstairs!" "So what?" His grin turned vile. "The elevator broke three minutes ago. We're on the 21st floor. By the time they get up here, I'll already be done with you." He had done this kind of filthy thing countless times.
What thrill remained if it relied on mutual consent? Everyone knew Caleb's heart belonged to someone else. For the sake of the Hampton-Sterling alliance, would he risk a war over a nominal wife? Hardly. As for Julian, Victor indeed feared him. But even if Julian wanted him dead, he would still have to get past Eloise. Worst case? Victor might take a beating. Still, it did not matter. So long as Victor had Sydney, it was worth it. His obsession with her had grown into a gnawing addiction. The more unattainable she was, the more it drove him mad. Meanwhile, the auction was wrapping up.
The organizers fussed over Julian when his phone vibrated. He glanced at the screen, brows tightening. Just as he was about to answer, the call cut off. His expression went stone cold. In the next instant, he spun on his heel and strode toward the exit. He tried calling back, but the number was already powered off. Elliot, who had been at his side for years, instantly sensed the change. "Mr. Sterling, what happened?" Julian's face darkened. "Did you see her?" Elliot froze for a heartbeat before realizing whom he meant. "I saw Ms. Wilson a little while ago. She headed toward the elevators.
She must have left. But..." He hesitated. "Say it!" Julian's voice cracked like a whip. "She seemed off. In a rush. Like something was wrong." The more Elliot thought, the more unease gnawed at him. 1/2 Just then, Caleb and Penelope emerged together. Caleb frowned. "What's going on?" Julian pinned him with an icy stare. "Has Sydney contacted you?" Penelope's heart lurched violently. She had planned everything, yet she had never imagined Julian would attend tonight's auction. His reputation for ruthless efficiency was legendary. She forced herself to remain composed, hiding her reaction.
Then a thought struck her, and she smiled coldly. So what if they realized Sydney was missing? No matter how frantic they got, Sydney was doomed tonight. Caleb checked his phone and shook his head. "No." Julian's expression went glacial. "Have Peter lock down the entire hotel and pull the surveillance. You! Take a team. Search floor by floor. Find her," he ordered decisively.