Chapter 253:

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When I successfully made it out, I headed straight for the embassy.

It was the one place Bella had described to me, and I carefully studied the map she had provided.

As I ran through the night, the wind whipped my hair back and howled in my ears, but I didn’t feel tired. I felt victorious and exhilarated as I ran to meet the people I loved and had missed. Finally, I had avenged Lucas.

Another thing I was thankful for was that the embassy wasn’t far from Tavon’s mansion. With vigor pumping through my legs, I made it in a few minutes.

I was breathing hard when I reached the embassy. I saw one of the notices posted on the wall announcing my disappearance and tore it down.

I rushed to the embassy staff behind the counter and pointed to my picture on the paper. “I’m the one here,” I blurted out, pressing it in his face next to my own.

“Call Mark Torres from GT Group and tell him Sydney has been found.”

The embassy staff’s eyes widened. She tapped a colleague with his back turned and whispered something in his ear. The colleague turned and smiled at me. “Miss Sydney,” he nodded.

The lady smiled too. “I’ll be right back,” she said and left.

The embassy staff returned a while later with a wide, infectious smile. “We’ve informed GT Group, and a private flight is being arranged for you.”

𝖲𝗁𝖺rе 𝗒𝗼𝘶𝘳 𝘁𝗁𝘰𝘂g𝗵𝘵s 𝗈𝘯 𝗴a𝗅𝗻𝗼𝘃𝘦𝗅ѕ.𝘤𝗼𝘮

I nodded. “Thank you.”

“You can wait in the VIP waiting area. I’ll lead you there.”

I muttered another thank you and followed her to a reception area, fancier than most. Thankfully, I was alone once the staff left.

There was a chilled bottle of orange juice and some snacks. I guzzled them down—I hadn’t realized how hungry I was.

I ran my fingers through my disheveled hair. “I must look like a mad woman,” I muttered as I settled onto the inviting plush sofa.

Just as I sat down, something vibrated in the back pocket of my jeans. I frowned and quickly pulled it out, remembering Bella had given me a phone that couldn’t be traced. With it, I could reach either her or Scarlet in case I ran into trouble. By the time I brought the phone out, it stopped ringing.

I tapped on the contacts icon—only two numbers were saved: Bella and Scar. I swallowed hard.

Just as I moved to call Bella back, the phone started ringing again. I picked up immediately.

“Weren’t you going to pick up?” Her cool voice sounded through the speaker.

“I was,” I replied simply.

“Did you know,” she began, and I could hear the smile in her voice, “the gun I pointed at your head the last time we met before Italy was just a toy?”

I raised my brows. I should have known.

“You always played with me, and finally, you got played by me, you fool.”

I ignored her words and said instead, “Sister, come back with me. I’ll take very good care of you.”

We both knew it was the first time either of us called each other by that term—sister.

Bella, as expected, replied sarcastically, “Go back for what?” She scoffed. “I neither want to stay in a mental hospital nor a prison, thank you very much. I’m fine here—much better than you.”

I sighed. “Then you must be happier than I thought. I hope you truly are.”

The line fell silent between us for a while. Then she blurted, “Whatever. It’s none of your business!” Before hanging up.

I smiled.

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