Stella Hawthorne was almost back to the Joya Hotel when a van suddenly screeched to a halt right next to her. The aggressive maneuver startled her so badly she nearly dropped the bag of cookies in her hand.
Before she could even curse at the driver, three men leaped out of the vehicle. Without a word, two of them grabbed her arms while the third clamped a chemical-soaked towel over her nose and dragged her inside.
Her cookies fell to the ground, crushed instantly beneath their heavy boots.
Who would dare use such a pathetic, low-level tactic to kidnap her?
This cheap chloroform was virtually useless against her system—it just smelled overwhelmingly pungent. Honestly, if they’d warned her, she could have provided a much higher-grade anesthetic.
Still, she was undeniably curious about who wanted her abducted, so she let her eyes flutter shut and feigned unconsciousness.
She had only been in Cloudcroft City for two days. Aside from defeating Kyohei Sano and the Yaran Federation competitor at the auction, she hadn't offended a single soul.
The Yaran competitor seemed fine; he didn't strike her as a sore loser.
But Kyohei Sano? Ever since his defeat, his face had been thunderous, glaring at her with pure venom.
If looks could kill, she would have been a bullet-riddled corpse ten times over.
Was Kyohei such a sore loser that he wanted her dead?
Wait, that didn't make sense. She had worn a mask the entire time at the venue. She only took it off after separating from her bodyguards and stepping out of the car. Logically, Kyohei shouldn't even know what she looked like.
Did her kidnappers actually know her?
Did they have some sort of deep-seated vendetta?
Who could it be?
Far in the distance, standing by a flower bed, Kyohei Sano suddenly sneezed. He watched from afar as she was forcefully dragged into the van, a sinister smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
It seemed he wasn't the only one who despised her. Someone else was even more eager to deal with her. Clearly, she had a knack for making enemies.

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