When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 332

“Jonah, is that you?”

Nancy’s voice trembled in the darkness as footsteps echoed closer. She thrashed against the ropes, panic clawing at her chest, but her arms and legs were tied up so tight she could barely move at all.

It had all happened so fast. Just an hour ago, she’d gotten a call—someone said there was a flower basket and an envelope waiting for her, but she had to pick them up herself. The name on the note was Mr. Watson. She’d asked what he looked like, and immediately thought of Jonah. Of course Jonah would be here. Lately, he’d been obsessed with Nelly. He would want her to know he was there for something this important.

Nancy had already talked to Nelly, and it really did seem like she was done with Jonah for good. In theory, Felix and everyone else should have been invited to tonight’s event, too. Nancy didn’t give it much thought before heading downstairs to pick up the delivery. If she ran into Jonah, she’d finally get the chance to ask him why he told Nelly about what happened between them. Maybe that was just human nature—knowing something was a terrible idea and wanting to do it anyway, just to see how bad it could hurt.

She’d barely stepped into a narrow alley when someone grabbed her from behind. A hand clamped over her mouth, a hood was yanked over her head, and everything went dark. The car ride felt endless, maybe fifteen minutes, before they dragged her into some unknown building. Her wrists and ankles were tied to a chair, and she was left alone in the pitch black.

Now, leather shoes tapped against the floor. The footsteps didn’t sound like Jonah’s. He always moved fast, practically charging everywhere, but this person was slow, almost lazy.

“Who are you?” Her voice was shaky, but she tried to sound brave. “What do you want?”

No answer. Just footsteps, circling her, back and forth. Maybe she’d been kidnapped for money. The thought made her heart pound even harder. Her breath turned shallow and uneven, and she jerked against the ropes, making the chair scrape loud and sharp across the floor.

A shock ran through her. She knew that voice. “Rudy?”

There was a pause. Then, as if he’d given up pretending, Rudy yanked the hood off her head. Light stung her eyes. Nancy glared at him, her anger burning through the fear.

He looked annoyingly perfect, dressed in a pale pink shirt, not a speck of dust on him. Meanwhile, she was a mess—hair wild, clothes dirty, cheeks streaked with tears. She took in the room: old wooden furniture, walls stained with years of dampness, the air heavy with a musty smell. It was just a cramped apartment, nothing special. She was tied to a leather chair next to a tiny balcony, a strip of daylight barely filtering in.