Patrick's limbs were beyond his control, his body betraying him as he followed Vivienne's retreating steps.

Behind him, Gillian's heart-wrenching cries for her father echoed through the air, but he was powerless to respond. Patrick finally felt the command of his body returned when they reached a secluded cabin on the ship.

But now, with both Percival and Anna guarding the door, escape was an impossibility.

"Kneel," Vivienne commanded, her voice serene as she sat on the seat representing authority.

Patrick fell to his knees with a thud, not out of compulsion but from the sheer force of Vivienne's presence.

His legs tingled with numbness, sharp pains shooting through his knees as if a thousand needles were pricking them.

Beads of sweat formed on his brow, trickling down his temples and disappearing onto his shoulders.

Vivienne sat with her legs crossed, her slender neck held high with disdain, a hint of scorn in her gaze.

As Patrick knelt, Vivienne wondered what her mother had seen in him. How could such a spineless man be entrusted with the critical technology of bionics?

She regarded him with contempt and curiosity, slowly pulling the small "Morning Glory" from her pocket and tossing it at Patrick.

Instinctively, he caught it, his forehead bulging with veins, paralyzed with fear.

When he saw what it was, he finally heaved a sigh of relief.

He had thought she had thrown a knife at him!

"Madam, what is this?" he stammered.

Vivienne raised an eyebrow, her voice calm. "A miniature bomb."

Shocked to his core, Patrick scrambled behind the couch for cover.

was a knife, but it was even worse -

mind tosses a bomb around like

could almost be certain of his innocence

your ship," she stated, her legs shifting position as she lounged back on the sofa,

Even if we set aside your presence on the ship, my daughter and I were there, too. I would never risk our lives by planting a bomb. This has nothing to do with

know," Vivienne murmured

rise, "Could this be connected

gaze sharpened as she looked at him. "You know

just find it odd. After the engagement party fiasco, I cut all ties with the Boyd family. But for the sake of the

and that he would represent her. I agreed, and during preparations yesterday, my men told me the Boyd family's head wanted to drop off a flora arrangement. I did not question it, but it's suspicious now that I think

then a signal beeped in her earpiece-it

The shipment had arrived.

the same time, Patrick's phone buzzed with a message. He wanted to check it but could not do so

yawned, her eyes

she

He knew Vivienne was not dozing off but contemplating his

matter of the bomb had touched a nerve, and his pale excuses and baseless suspicions held

increasingly anxious as his phone

shipment had arrived, just deliver

Why bother messaging him?

Leopold and Thomas had secured the docks, sealing off all incoming shipments and detaining the dockworkers. "Percival, we found it—it's Keco," Thomas reported, handing over a bag of what seemed to

market, identical to flour and often sold alongside grains to

furrowed.

Leopold before revealing

"Three tons."

Anna gasped. "How much?"

"Three tons," Thomas repeated.

Keco could profit

had anticipated a significant haul but had not imagined it would be

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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