7 Chapter 7

Melissa woke up but her eyes are filled with darkness. She tried to move her body but a rope, which is tightly wrapped around her shoulder to waist and to her arms and hands, are preventing her from doing a small movement.

Even her mouth is being gagged by a small handkerchief to silence her mouth from producing noises.

Her eyes moistened as she doesn't know what's happening. Then, an idea appeared on her mind.

She closed her eyes and concentrated to release her psychic wave but nothing happened. She tilted her head as she was confused.

"Uhhh.. Why is it not happening now?" she asked herself inwardly and sighed. She felt so unlucky because of consecutive incidents revolving around her.

First, she was locked up by her abusive mother and almost starved her to death. Then, she was almost defiled by those five men. Fortunately, she escaped before it happens. Next, she heard her own mother's name from those stranger family, as if they know her mother's identity. Lastly...this is now happening to her, being kidnapped by them.

Suddenly, she heard a commotion outside. She leaned her head to the side to closely listen.

"Why are you here in my territory, Master Erwin Stone?" Cassie coquettishly said as she walked closely towards Erwin and leaned her seductive body to him.

Erwin frowned and pushed her away from him as his eyes looked around.

_________

Before they arrived here, Dane Stone found out Melissa's whereabouts immediately because of CCTV on the street concealed from the crowd.

Since they are from prestigious family, the management of old established restaurant near the hospital allowed them to check the CCTV. The other establishment also allowed them as they don't want to anger both the Stone and Santiago Family.

Dane is a lawyer but he was a hacker before as a career before his twenties. It is easier for him to use the equipments of the restaurant management to check every corner of the street until one camera pointed out towards the direction of the sea.

Since the city is near the sea, the establishments decided to scatter CCTVs until it reached the borderline of the sea.

Dane immediately type the time of disappearance of Melissa. They were stunned to see the appearing silhouette of Melissa and her confused head movement of looking around like checking where she is before she felt the strangers around her.

They also saw how the strangers kidnapped her and carried her towards the direction of Lando Lance's beach resort.

Dane's lips twitched and laughed at the dumbness of Lando Lance's subordinates. He sighed and told Erwin about Melissa's whereabouts.

_____________

Without having a search warrant, they searched around the entire resort to look for Melissa until they saw Lando's men packing their gears and equipments in every chest boxes.

Some men even moved other chest boxes from one place to another like separating by names.

"Wait! Let us check each chest boxes first before leaving the area" Erwin sternly said as his eyes turned cold and his body exuded an aura. As expected of the next head of Stone Family.

The men are looking at each other while frowning as if they don't look like it to let other people see the insides of each chest boxes.

Without waiting for the men's permission, Erwin ordered his subordinates to open each chest boxes and made sure not to leave one behind.

Instead of seeing Melissa on one of the best boxes, they saw many jewelries, golds and armaments on each chest boxes. This not only shows the wealth of Lance Family but also their dominance in terms of trading goods.

"None, sir" Alex solemnly said after checking all of the chest boxes.

Erwin's face darkened as he tried holding back himself from losing control of his emotions. They clearly saw one of Lando Lance's men carrying Melissa towards this direction but why is it they cannot find her despite of their meticulous search?

"Search the inside out of this resort. Don't leave any tiny spaces and check the CCTV footage. If there's a deleted footage, arrests all of them by force!" Erwin ordered without backing out. He doesn't want to stop.

There's something inside him, telling him to keep on searching. Otherwise, he couldn't bar to see the consequence if he failed to find her.

"YES, SIR!" his men saluted and vigorously search around.

Erwin doesn't like to wait. He searched every corner of the entire resort but they still haven't found Melissa.

"Melissa, where are you?" he murmured as his eyes filled with worries. He couldn't understand himself as why he is so desperate to find Melissa. He only meet her once but he already feels something warmth from those innocent and scared eyes of Melissa earlier.

He silently cursed his daughter - Louisa, for being such a brat! He always emphasized to be kind to others despite of their social standing but Louisa just listen without actions at all!

He sighed and brushed off his hair because of intense panic of Stone Family after finding out that Melissa is a Stone and Erson's biological daughter.

He couldn't believe how naive they are since Melissa and Louisa are almost look similar to each other, except their facial expressions, attitude and body language.

Lando Lance, Cassie and Carl walked outside and saw many people with military uniform. Indeed, the Stone Family is not an ordinary family to be reckoned with.

"ERWIN! DANE! Thank goodness, you are all here!" a familiar voice shouted as his tone showed how delighted he is but his tattered clothes and bruises or scratches on his body stood out. There's even a blood on his should as he leaned on the tree weakly.

Erwin and Dane turned around and saw Lando Lance... No, he looks like Lando Lance but why is there two Lando Lance in front of them? The Lando Lance with Cassie and Carl is standing on their right side while the weak and limped Lando Lance is leaning on the tree on their left side.

Just... what's happening?

"Who...Who are you? Why do you look like our boss?" Cassie asked as she stuttered and her eyes widened while scrutinizing the Lando Lance at the other side.