Chapter 150
No.1
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.
“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.
No.2
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?
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.”
No.3
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.
Just before crossing into the metropolitan area, both vehicles screeched to a halt before a row of derelict structures.
Gigi stepped out of her car and marched straight into a narrow alley.
Isabella and Nathaniel moved quickly, staying close behind her.
Thunder cracked violently across the sky.
Intermittent flashes of lightning briefly illuminated the surroundings.
In those stark, electric moments, Isabella glimpsed a dilapidated zone behind the buildings.
A murky river flowed sluggishly beyond the alley.
No.4
It was shocking that such a neglected area existed in Westchester.
The front façades of the buildings were deceptively intact.
But hidden behind them lay this forgotten wasteland.
Wild, untamed grass grew everywhere.
Isabella’s instincts screamed that Harrison was here.
Sure enough, near the riverbank stood a crumbling bridge.
It led to a rusted metal door set into a concrete hub.
As they approached, muffled voices echoed from within.
Isabella’s brow furrowed.
No wonder Maxwell’s team had failed to locate this place during their perimeter search.
No.5
Who would have imagined such a hidden spot behind these structures?
She turned to Gigi. “Stay here. I’ll check it out.”
“No,” Gigi insisted firmly. “I’m part of this. I need to face it myself—for closure. Only step in if you see I’m overpowered.”
Without waiting for a reply, Gigi strode onto the bridge.
The storm raged on, thunder roaring, lightning flashing.
Yet Gigi’s slight frame moved with unshakeable resolve.
Isabella observed the transformation.
Gigi was no longer the rumored girl-next-door.
She had become a fighter, reclaiming what was hers.
Isabella retreated, concealing herself behind a thick tree trunk.
No.6
Nathaniel positioned himself beside her, muscles taut, ready to spring.
The hub was rectangular, roughly a dozen square meters.
It had once served as a shelter for the homeless.
Over time, occupants had added a metal door for protection from the elements.
Inside, the space was cramped and dim, lit only by a single flickering candle.
Arabella was on her knees, hands and feet bound tightly.
Her eyes were red-rimmed, pleading. “Harrison Winslow, you have to stop this! It’s a crime! You’ll go to prison—”
“Shut up!” Harrison snarled, gripping her throat. “Even if I don’t, you’ll have Isabella Montgomery send her lawyers after me! I’ll end up in jail regardless! What will I have left when I get out? Nothing! Haven’t I treated you well all these years? How can you be so cruel?”
“Me? Cruel?” Arabella choked, her face flushing from the pressure. “I gave you my youth! I borrowed money for you whenever you asked, even when I had none!”
“You made me the other woman! You blamed everything on me! Did you ever care about my feelings? Who’s the heartless one here?”
No.7
Her voice was raw with pain and betrayal.
Harrison’s rage boiled over. “Because you’re a fool! You chose to be with me! You brought this on yourself!”
“I don’t have time for this. If you don’t drop the charges, I’ll ruin you!”
He shoved her away violently.