Captivation: Want Nothing But You novel Chapter 78

The next morning.

Rachel woke up exhausted, to her chagrin.

Not only had she fallen asleep at midnight, but she had also contended with many strange dreams, all of which made her sweat profusely throughout the night.

It took a few moments for her eyes to focus, and the ceiling came into view.

She sat up and looked out the window as the blazing-yellow sun rose slowly into the sky.She was lost in thought as sunlight covered every inch of the room.

Suddenly, her smartphone vibrated, jolting her from her reverie.

She looked down at the phone and saw a red dialog box that had just popped up on the screen.

It was filled with code that meant one thing: the search had failed, yet again.

Her eyes darkened as she closed the dialog box and clenched her fists in frustration.

She could no longer keep count of how many times she had seen the dreaded red pop-up of failure.

"Search Failed" were the two words that had been engraved in her mind, and it seemed she would be unable to forget it even in death.

Abby's whereabouts still eluded her.

Victor said he had sent Abby packing from the Bennet family's house but didn't take her away.

If that was the case, why couldn't she find her whereabouts? It was as though she had vanished into thin air.

Rachel had even hacked Apliaria's traffic monitoring system and sifted through all surveillance videos of every place within ten leagues of the Bennet family's house, the Sullivan Group's building, and the hospital.

However, the videos didn't turn up any trace of Abby's whereabouts—like smoke, she had completed vanished.

Frustrated, Shelia logged out of the monitoring system and checked the time at the top of the screen.

It was seven o'clock, and there wasn't much time left.

Rays of sunlight shone in through the glass door, illuminating the edge of the bed.

The warm, gold light soon covered the bed entirely, like a scene from renowned drama flicks.

As she basked in the sunlight, her eyes glimmered for a moment.She had made up her mind.

With a hint of determination in her eyes, she got from the bed a while later, took a shower and changed her clothes.

Then, she left the bedroom and went downstairs to the dining room.

As she walked into the room, she ran into Victor.

He had eaten breakfast and was about to leave.Lukas was also nearby.He didn't wake Rachel up early because he wanted her to sleep in, as she was pregnant.

Although he was surprised to see Rachel suddenly come to the dining room, he still walked over and respectfully greeted her.

"Good morning, Miss Bennet.Why did you wake up so early? Don't worry.I'll have the servants bring you a nutritious breakfast right away."

"Don't bother, Lukas.I'm not hungry," she replied in a hoarse voice, with her expression rather cold.

Yesterday, she ate an entire course of nutritious food and had vomited it all.

Now, she couldn't bear to hear Lukas recommend that she eat "nutritious" food; it made her want to puke.

Victor gave her the once-over and noticed how pale and exhausted she looked.

A trace of contempt flashed in his cold eyes as he said, "Do you plan to go on a hunger strike? Rachel, don't think I'm not aware of what you're up to.You present yourself as poor, weak, and out of options because you want me to pity you and release your friends, right? What a waste of time; I know you're just acting."

Rachel couldn't help but chuckle at the accusation.She found it funny that Victor could be this ridiculous while keeping a straight face.

‘'Acting? Me?’' 

Trying to win this jerk's pity by starving herself was an exercise in futility one she would be foolish to try.

She just didn't have the appetite to eat anything.

"There are still three hours left before ten o'clock," Victor coldly said, ignoring her chuckle.

"Give up this idea as soon as possible.Even if you kneeled right here, right now, I wouldn't relent because a woman like you deserves no pity from me.If you want to save them, there's nothing you can do but sign the agreement," he said and coldly walked past her, heading for the door.

However, he stopped dead in his tracks when he heard Rachel's voice a moment later.

Although she didn't yell, he clearly heard what she had just said.

"I will sign the agreement, but I have three conditions."

Victor turned around and narrowed his eyes with great disdain.

"Who do you think you are to bargain with me?"

Rachel didn't back down, though.

Instead, she looked him dead in the eyes and replied, "You're right-I'm worried about Andy and Abby, but I'm more committed to ensuring that my interests aren't compromised.If I have to choose between safeguarding my interests and saving them, I'll choose to protect my interests at their expense.Don't forget, even for a second, that the baby is in my belly.If I decide I no longer want it, do you really think you can stop me from doing anything?"

Suddenly, the corners of her lips curled up into a wry smile.