Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 297

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Please Come Back, My Love

Chapter 297

Ethan’s POV

I stared at her, my mind racing. Five minutes. Elena bound to that chair, Lila unconscious on the mattress, and Nancy with that knik glinting in her hand like a promise of violence.

The weight of what I’d done—what I’d helped orchestrate–crashed down on me all at once. I’d told myself I was protecting Elena by going along with Nancy’s plan.

But looking at Elena now, seeing the raw terror in her eyes as she stared at her unconscious daughter, I realized how catastrophically wrong I’d been.

“Well?” Nancy’s voice cut through my paralysis like glass. “Make the call.”

I pulled out my phone with trembling hands, trying to look like I was following orders. The device felt impossibly heavy, slick with the

sweat from my palms.

“Speaker phone,” Nancy commanded suddenly, her voice sharp with suspicion. “I want to hear every word.”

My blood ran cold, but I nodded, selecting my head of security. I had to be careful, had to make this sound like I was following Nancy’s

orders.

I hit dial and waited, my heart hammering so hard I was sure Nancy could hear it. He picked up on the second ring.

“Boss?”

“It’s Ethan,” I said, putting on my most authoritative voice. “I need you and the team to maintain your positions on the lower floors. Stay alert for any suspicious activity, but do not interfere unless I give direct orders.”

Nancy nodded slowly, seeming satisfied with the call.

“Understood, sir. We’ll hold position.”

“Good. And keep the perimeter secure. No one gets in or out without my authorization.”

“Roger that, boss.”

I hung up and slipped the phone back into my pocket, but Nancy was still watching me with those calculating eyes.

“I need to use the restroom,” I said suddenly, gesturing toward a door in the corner of the warehouse space. “All this stress… my

stomach…”

Chapter 297

Nancy’s eyes narrowed for a moment, then she waved dismissively. “Fine. Make it quick.”

I nodded and walked toward the small bathroom, my mind racing. Once inside, I quickly closed the door and pulled out my phone, my fingers flying across the screen as I opened WhatsApp and typed a message to Julian:

[Elena and Lila kidnapped. Warehouse district, 47th and Industrial. 3rd floor. Come NOW. Armed and dangerous.)

I hit send, praying it would go through. The message showed “sending…” for what felt like an eternity before finally switching to “delivered.”

I quickly deleted the conversation thread and flushed the toilet for cover, then returned to the main room.

“Feel better?” Nancy asked, her tone mocking.

“Much, thanks.” I tried to keep my voice steady as I walked back toward my original position.

For the next few minutes, Nancy seemed calmer, pacing slowly around the room while keeping the knife trained on Elena. But I could see

her mind working, processing something that didn’t quite add up.

“You know,” she said after a moment, her voice taking on that dangerous, silky quality I’d learned to fear, “I’ve been thinking about that

phone call.”

“What about it?” I tried to keep my voice casual.

“You were very specific about maintaining positions and securing the perimeter. Almost like you were… preparing for something.”

“I was just being thorough—”

“Were you?” She stopped pacing and fixed me with that calculating stare. “Because a real stand–down order would have been simpler. ‘Pull back, we’re handling this internally, don’t interfere.“”

I could feel sweat beading on my forehead. “Nancy, you’re overthinking this-”

“And then there’s that convenient bathroom break.” Her eyes narrowed. “You seemed awfully eager to get some privacy.”

“I told you, my stomach-”

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