Love the Second Time Around Novel

Chapter 77 Out Of The Woods

| darted my eyes around, but all that greetedwere sloping hills and farmland. The place | had been kept in

appeared to be an abandoned granary.

Julius forged ahead within his arms, only stopping when he reached the side of the road. | sensed that he

was waiting for someone or a car. Incredulity flooded me.

Isn't he afraid that someone will see him?

Shortly after, a rackety van cto a stop before us. A tanned and stocky man proceeded to climb out of the

vehicle.

I didn’t recognize him, and | initially thought that he was Julius’ accomplice. But after listening to their

conversation, | felt that it wasn’t quite the case. Instead, it sounded like a car service.

Julius didn’t talk much to the man before he carriedinto the vehicle. The van promptly started moving again.

After stime, it cto a stop. By then, the sky had already lightened considerably.

When the man driving the van left, Julius carriedinto a small bungalow.

While we were on our way in earlier, small bungalows such as this littered both sides of the road. It was

exceedingly messy, and an unpleasant stench lingered in the air.

Julius placedon the bed before binding my hands and legs with the rope once again. Then, he left with the

tablet.

Hmm... he’s probably going to fiddle with the recording, but I really wonder how he’s going to send it to Dominic.

Jeez, 1 didn’t expect him to demand five million! | don’t even know whether Dominic can save me.

| wiggled slightly, but my hands and legs were securely bound. If only | could move, I'd get to the door and cry

for help even if | had to crawl there on my hands and knees!

Recalling my paralyzed condition then, a bolt of fear suddenly lanced through me. Ugh! What kind of drug did he

give me? If I'm to remain like this for the rest of my life, I'd rather he just kill me.

I had no idea what kind of place it was, but | kept hearing noises from outside soon after Julius left.

| was thrilled at first, thinking that someone was coming to my rescue. However, not a single soul appeared

though the racket grew all the louder.

Oh wow, he actually leftall alone in a populated place and went off by himself!

Laying on the bed, | tried my best to keep my eyes open while my gaze remained fixated on the door. I truly

hoped that someone would cin and save me.

Dominic clings tolike a burr that | simply can’t shake off when | don’t want to see him. But now that | need

him, he hasn't appeared even after such a long thas passed. How ironic!

Just then, I heard a click before the room door swung open. Julius was back.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and patted my face. A jubilant smirk tugged at his lips as he sneered, “I

didn’t know that he regards you so dearly that he would agree to pay five million without even an ounce of

hesitation.”

At his remark, a thousand questions promptly popped up in my mind.

Dominic actually agreed? Then, has Julius gotten the money? Is he going to letgo now?

“Don’t worry, for I'll certainly let you go after receiving the money.”

For sinexplicable reason, | didn’t feel the slightest bit of joy when I heard him saying that he would let me

go. Conversely, a chill ran down my spine.

The expression on his face was too bizarre, and the vicious glint in his eyes madewant to shy away from him

instinctively.

Julius grinned, baring his teeth at me. | saw him putting something into the mineral water again, and it was two

pills this time.

As before, he yanked on my hair and forced my mouth open, pouring the entire bottle of water down my throat.

The moment he released his hold on me, | slumped back onto the bed as though boneless. | could only watch as

he left again.

The first tthis happened, | was still aware although | couldn't move or speak.

Now, however, | gradually felt my head growing heavier. | started seeing double, and despite my best efforts to

keep my eyes open, | slowly slipped into the darkness.

| felt as though | was dreaming. Many people were calling out toin the dream, and someone even shook me.

The voices were very familiar—my parents, Dominic, and also Shannon. Their voices washed overin

complete pandemonium.

Such a dream repeated itself tand again, the voices becoming clearer each time.

In the end, | felt my mother’s presence right beside me, her voice sounding right next to my ear.

“Lili, Lili... Lili, I'm right here... Won't you please wake up, Lili?”

She seemed to be crying, and that prompted questions to flood my mind. What's wrong with her? And what

happened to me? Why is she askingto wake up?

On the heels of that, a sigh sounded.

| could tell that it cfrom my father.

What's going on here? Why does he sound so sad?

| seemed to see a sliver of light and something hovering on the edges of my vision. Is that... Mom?

My vision cleared, and | saw that it was indeed my mother who was weeping.

“Uh... M-Mom.” | tried several times before | could finally speak aloud.

“Lili?” Tears stained my mother’s face, and it was a completely different look from her usual aplomb.

“Dear, Dear, hurry up and call the doctor! Ask Dr. Baker to come! Lili is awake!”

I didn’t hear my father speak, but a flurry of flustered and urgent footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

My mother threw herself ontoand huggedtightly as she called my nrepeatedly.

“Mom, I-I'm fine.” | wanted to hug her back, but I couldnt lift my hands.

“Fine, you said? Do you know that you almost died?” She sobbed in anguish, but | could hear a hint of elation

bubbling out.

My father then cback with Dominic behind him. There were also several doctors, including Yvonne.

My mother was then pulled away by my father. The few doctors crowded in and started examining me. Dominic

was standing right beside my bed, so | could see him the moment | turned my head to the side.

He seemed to be much more haggard, with stubble lining his jaw. Besides, he was also very pale, his eyes

alarmingly bloodshot.

After Yvonne was done examining me, she asked my father to step out for a moment. Glancing at me, Dominic

followed as well.

Meanwhile, my mother sat down on the chair beside the bed and clutched my hand tightly.

By then, | was almost fully clear-headed. | remembered Julius and the fact that he drugged me.

“How long was | unconscious, Mom?”

I had lost track of tever since Julius kidnapped me, so | had no idea how long had passed.

“Three days. You were unconscious for three long days. Your father and | didn’t even dare believe it when Dom

phoned us.” As my mother spoke, her voice turned choked.

“Don’t cry anymore, Mom. Otherwise, your eyes will becswollen. I'll definitely be up and about in no time,” |

comforted her.

Wiping her tears, my mother nodded and asserted, “That's right! My daughter will definitely live a long and

healthy life, so I'm not crying anymore.”

| instantly felt much lighter when she ceased weeping.

As tticked by, | threw multiple glances at the door. When Dominic returned, | wanted to ask him whether

Julius had been apprehended. Also, there's the issue of the five million... He's probably not that dumb, right?