Game of Love and Deception: The Billionaire's Ex Wife
Chapter 117: Kidnapped

Chapter 117: Kidnapped

Chapter 115: Kidnapped

The next day passed in a blur. Ashley barely got time with Lorenzo—they were both swamped with work. Her restaurant launch was tomorrow, and everything felt rushed and chaotic. She was still trying to get a handle on things when she got a call from one of the workers at home: Madison hadn’t returned since yesterday.

A cold worry settled in her chest.

Back at the Flynn residence, the same staff who’d told her Madison stepped out to buy something now admitted that Madison had actually gone to visit her sick mom at the hospital. She’d lied because Madison hadn’t wanted anyone to know where she was really going.

That alone was suspicious. But things only got worse.

When Ashley arrived at the hospital, Madison’s mother panicked. She insisted her daughter had left to return to the Flynn house that same evening—and never came back.

Ashley reported her missing to the police right away.

When they checked the hospital’s CCTV, her heart nearly stopped. The footage showed Madison being dragged into a black van by masked men. The license plate was fake. It was a planned kidnapping.

That same day, the police investigating the house attack called to say something strange had happened—the items they had collected as evidence from the attack on Flynn residence had gone missing. Someone had stolen them.

Ashley’s head spun as she drove back to the company. Everything was so confusing. Now so many investigations were going on that she didn’t even know which to concentrate on.

Madison’s disappearance, the house attack a week ago, her grandfather’s poisoning. Were they all connected? Did Madison know something she wasn’t supposed to?

Or was this all just a random kidnapping?

But if so... what did they want with her?

Madison’s sick mother had broken down completely when she learned her only child was missing. Ashley kept praying the police would find Madison soon—before anything terrible happened.

By the time she got to the company, her chest was tight with anxiety—but her heart lifted the moment she saw Lorenzo waiting outside.

A small smile broke through her frown. No matter how busy he was, he always came out to check on her now. She didn’t know when that little habit had started, but she loved it.

She stepped out of her car and ran straight into his arms, hugging him tight before pressing a lingering kiss to his lips. She didn’t care that staff were nearby and watching. She’d missed him badly.

"I guess I don’t have to ask if you missed me," Lorenzo teased when they pulled apart.

She blushed.

Instead of heading inside, they decided to stay in his car for a bit before he had to leave again.

"Did you find anything?" she asked once the car doors shut behind them. Lorenzo had offered to have Carl look into the financial manager’s embezzlement after Raphael casually brought it up in yesterday’s meeting.

"We found a photo," he said. "Your mysterious uncle met with Mark Sanchez at a popular hotel downtown—more than three times a few months ago."

Ashley’s curiosity sharpened when she heard a few months. He showed her the photos on his phone. Her hands trembled as she flipped through them. In one, her uncle looked too comfortable with Mark—too familiar. It looked like they were just eating together, like old friends. But her gut told her it was more than that.

"Did you find out why they were meeting?" she asked, still scrolling.

Lorenzo shook his head. "Nothing yet."

She nodded. "Please tell Carl to keep looking," she said softly.

She felt a bit guilty for constantly bothering him, but she needed answers—fast. And he happened to always know where to find one.

But Even if he didn’t uncover anything else, these photos were enough. She could get the rest of the truth by confronting Mark directly.

"You look so stressed out," Lorenzo said, gently brushing his thumb against her chin. "I really want to take you home right now. I could give you a massage."

He smirked, and her stomach fluttered.

Ashley swallowed, her cheeks warming as her mind wandered to what that "massage" might lead to. It was so tempting to say yes. But she still had work to do—and she needed to stop by the restaurant. Elara and Molita were there, but she didn’t want to dump everything on them.

"I can drive you back after I’m done," Lorenzo offered, pulling her gently onto his lap, his gaze burning into hers.

"You’re making it really hard to say no these days," she said with a playful grin, giving him a light kiss.

"That’s because I don’t want you to," he murmured, then deepened the kiss.

Her thoughts dissolved as heat rushed through her, pooling low in her belly. Her body ached for him. For a moment, she was ready to give in right there in the car, to have him just fuck her—but the risk of being seen by her staff held her back.

Still breathless, she whispered, "Take me home."

He didn’t wait for her to say it again. With a wicked grin, he started the engine and sped off like a man on a mission. Ashley laughed, the tension in her shoulders loosening just a bit.

But just a few turns away from the estate, her phone rang. It was Nicolas.

"Roseline wants to see you. I think she wants to talk," he said.

Her heart slammed in her chest. Just like that, her horny hormones raging a moment ago calmed.

"Are you okay?" Lorenzo asked, glancing her way as he slowed the car.

"Nicolas said Roseline wants to see me. Right now."

She bit her lip, feeling guilt rise in her chest. They wouldn’t be able to continue what they started—but this was about her daughter. Nothing was more important.

"Then let’s go," Lorenzo said, already reversing the car. He didn’t even hesitate for a second. Warmth bloomed in her chest.

On their way, her heart pounded harder with every street they passed, the station drawing closer with each turn. Roseline’s son was still at Lorenzo’s penthouse. Ashley had made sure he was well cared for, but guilt still gnawed at her.

What did Roseline want to say?

Was she finally ready to reveal where Vanessa was?

Hope bloomed in Ashley’s chest.

But then another thought crept in.

What if Roseline had somehow figured out they had her son?

What if this was all a trap?

They had planned to confront her after tomorrow’s event. But now, it was happening sooner than expected. She didn’t know if she should be happy or worried.

Lorenzo reached over, took her trembling hand in his, and gave it a soft squeeze. Then he brought it to his lips and kissed it gently. The gesture anchored her, calming some of the storm inside.

"Everything will be fine, baby. Alright?" he said softly, eyes briefly meeting hers.

Ashley gave a small nod, grateful for his presence— it was like a balm to her aching soul. She looked at him, seeing how the playful glint in his eyes had shifted into quiet concern.

"Thank you," she whispered. "I don’t know how I would’ve made it this far without you."

Lorenzo gave her a soft smile.

"You don’t have to thank me. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be. We’ll go through this together, get Vanessa back—and maybe, when it’s all over, we’ll take a sweet little vacation. Sound good?"

She nodded, a smile forming through the tension.

As Lorenzo’s car came to a slow stop, she realized they’d arrived at the station. Her heart skipped.

They stepped out and hurried inside together, meeting Nicolas halfway. Without a word, he led them toward the room where Roseline was waiting.

**********

Madison gasped awake, her heart racing as she blinked into the suffocating darkness. Panic gripped her chest as her eyes darted around, trying to make sense of where she was. A violent headache slammed into her skull, forcing her eyes shut again.

She’d been drugged. She could feel it in her bones—everything ached, her limbs felt heavy, and her thoughts were slow and foggy.

Faint memories trickled back, and her stomach dropped. She tried to move, only to realize her hands and feet were chained to the chair she sat on. She tugged, but the restraints held firm. The darkness made everything worse. She couldn’t see a thing, and the air reeked of something that turned her stomach.

"Is anybody here? Somebody help me!" she screamed, her voice cracking.

Only her echo answered.

Cold sweat broke out on her skin.

Her mother—God, no.

She remembered she had just left the hospital after visiting her, planning to take a cab to the train station and head to her aunt’s place like her mom suggested. Then a car blocked her path. Two men in black dragged her into a van.

And now... this.

She didn’t know how long she’d been out. Were they already looking for her? Had the police been called? What if they went after her mother next?

"Help! Please!" she screamed again, struggling against the chair. The chains clinked, metal biting into her skin. But nothing changed.

Her sobs filled the space—loud and desperate.

Then—she suddenly heard footsteps.

Her body froze, going completely still. She strained to listen, heart pounding so loud she thought it would give her away. The steps echoed, bouncing off the walls. It made it impossible to tell where they were coming from. She twisted in the chair, head jerking in every direction, trying to guess.

She suspected the drugs in her system contributed to her confusion.

Just then a door creaked opened from her right.

Light flooded the room, blinding. She squeezed her eyes shut, gasping at the sharp pain the brightness caused.

When she managed to pry them open, her gaze locked on the last face she wanted to see.

Raphael Flynn.

"You didn’t really think you could escape from me, did you?" he said with a calm, almost amused tone.

That cruel smile curved his lips—and Madison’s blood turned to ice.