Chapter 1397
No.1
Nathaniel looked at her with affection before taking the driver's seat. As the car doors closed, the elevator doors shut automatically.
The elevator began its descent to the basement.
Nathaniel glanced toward the garage.
His voice dropped to a low warning. "For your safety, you need to lie down."
"Lie down?" Isabella frowned at the strange instruction.
Before she could question him further, he pulled her arm.
She tumbled forward, landing across his lap.
His clean, masculine scent filled her senses.
The position was completely improper.
No.2
She struggled to sit up.
"Someone's there," he stated curtly.
Two words. Grave and serious.
She immediately stopped moving.
The tinted windows of Nathaniel's car were no match for modern paparazzi equipment. Their high-tech cameras could see right through them. If a photographer captured Isabella sitting beside Nathaniel, Vivienne would undoubtedly show the evidence to Reginald Blackwood.
Isabella had no choice. She remained pressed against his thigh.
Nathaniel hit the accelerator. The car shot out of the garage.
The man hiding outside the mansion scowled. The car emerged from a different exit? That was suspicious.
Someone else must be inside. He raised his camera, focusing the lens on the vehicle.
No.3
He was startled to see only Nathaniel driving. No passenger.
How odd. Where was Isabella? Why use a different garage then?
The car accelerated onto the main road. Golden evening light glinted off its polished surface.
Once certain they weren't being followed, Isabella began to push herself upright.
A sharp pain shot through her scalp. She cried out.
Her hair was caught. Tangled in the zipper of his pants.
She tugged at the metal fastener in a panic.
Nathaniel had no choice. He swerved, pulling over beneath a large tree.
"Don't move," he commanded. "Let me handle it."
No.4
Mortified, Isabella dropped her hands.
Nathaniel carefully gathered her hair, moving it to one side. A single strand was tightly wound around the zipper's teeth. He tried to work it free gently.
His efforts only made it worse. More hairs became ensnared in the metal.
Isabella's neck ached from holding her head at an awkward angle. She shifted slightly to relieve the strain.
"How is it going?" she asked, her voice strained.
"Bear with me," he replied softly, his focus entirely on the delicate task.
Isabella finally relaxed her grip, noticing Nathaniel’s uncomfortable expression.
“It’s just hair,” she said quickly, brushing it off. “Don’t worry about it.”
He stayed quiet. She was right—it was only a few strands tangled.
No.5
“Where to next?” he asked.
“Let me check…” She pulled out her phone, scanning the intel Maxwell had sent. The map highlighted several properties owned by Harrison Winslow in the area.
She typed a quick message to Maxwell: [Searching this sector. You take the other zone. Stay alert.]
Maxwell: [Understood.]
She tucked her phone away. “Willowbrook District,” she told Nathaniel.
Willowbrook was an aging, neglected part of town. If Harrison had taken Arabella anywhere, this was the most probable location.
Nathaniel drove to the specified area and parked near a dilapidated house. Isabella noted the complete darkness inside—no signs of life—but she couldn’t rule out activity on the upper floors. “Wait here,” she instructed. “I’ll scout it.”
“No, you stay.” Nathaniel retrieved a compact surveillance drone. He assembled it swiftly, then piloted the device into the property’s perimeter.
“What is that?” Isabella frowned.
No.6
“A thermal drone. It detects body heat. Shows if anyone’s inside.” His focus remained entirely on the controls.
The drone navigated obstacles smoothly, entering Harrison’s house with precision. It began an automated sweep of the interior.
Isabella watched the data stream onto the screen, impressed. She had always considered her own inventions advanced, but Nathaniel’s tech was on another level entirely.
This was the unmatched Blackwood Corporation, after all.
After a few minutes, the drone returned. The thermal scan confirmed the house was empty.
They moved to the next property and repeated the process. Each search came up blank. They cleared the entire block with no leads.
Maxwell and his team combed through alleys and warehouses, eventually messaging her: [Nothing.]
They had hit a wall.
Isabella’s expression darkened. Harrison and Arabella had vanished without a trace. Would they ever find them?
No.7
A sudden flash of lightning split the sky, followed by a roar of thunder. Rain was coming. And if it started pouring, everything would become harder.
If Harrison had hurt Arabella, the rain would wash away evidence. The thought made Isabella’s stomach tighten.
Seeing her concern, Nathaniel pulled out his phone to contact his Ace Team. Just then, a small pink car pulled up beside them.
The window rolled down. The driver leaned out. It was Genevieve.
Isabella lowered her window. “What are you doing here?”
Genevieve’s eyes were sharp. “Follow me if you want to find them.”
Gigi slammed her foot on the accelerator and sped off.
Nathaniel immediately restarted his engine and pursued her.
The two cars headed toward the city limits.