Before leaving, Carly exchanged a look with Lucy, signaling each other with their eyes.

Adam and Perry stood together. Perry checked the time. "Mr. Alvarez, Dr. C should be making an appearance any minute now."

Adam glanced at Perry. "Mr. Marshall, how do you know Dr. C?"

Perry didn’t answer the question directly. Instead, he said, "Mr. Alvarez, you know Dr. C too."

Adam frowned slightly. Celine had said the same thing to him before, that he knew Dr. C. Now, Perry was saying it too.

What were Perry and Celine trying to imply? Could it be that Dr. C was actually someone he knew? Had Dr. C been around him all along?"

At that moment, the host took the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending this evening’s banquet. The moment you’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived. Please welcome Dr. C!"

In an instant, all eyes turned toward the upstairs balcony. Everyone held their breath in anticipation of Dr. C’s arrival.

Adam lifted his gaze.

Sonia, Tracy, and Lucy had all moved forward. Sonia was practically trembling with excitement. "She’s coming! Dr. C is finally here!"

Everyone waited.

But as the seconds passed, nothing happened upstairs.

A hushed murmur spread through the crowd.

"What’s going on? Why isn’t Dr. C coming out?"

"Is she even here tonight?"

Even the host was beginning to feel uneasy. Dr. C was supposed to enter at this exact moment, so where was she?

The host quickly reassured the audience, "Please remain calm. I’ll go upstairs to check. Dr. C will be here shortly."

The host hurried up the stairs.

Tracy frowned. "Could it be that Dr. C isn’t coming after all? We’re all here just for her."
----
Adam frowned as he turned to Perry. "Mr. Marshall, this Dr.
C of yours certainly enjoys keeping people waiting."

Perry also found it strange. Celine had definitely arrived, so
why hadn’t she come out yet? Could something have gone
wrong?

Without hesitation, he strode toward the stairs, heading up
to check.

Adam was about to follow. He had
missed seeing Dr. C multiple times
already, and his curiosity about her
identity had only grown stronger.


But just then, a soft, melodic ringtone broke the tension.
His phone was ringing.

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Adam answered, and Carly’s panicked voice came through
immediately. "Adam, help me! Please!"


----
Adam’s fingers curled around the phone, gripping it tightly.
“Carly, what happened? Don’t panic. Take your time and tell
me clearly."

“Adam, |... Ah!" Carly let out a piercing scream before the
line went dead.

Lucy immediately turned to Adam. "Mr. Alvarez, what
happened to Carly?"

Adam’s expression darkened. "Carly is in trouble."


----
“How is that possible? She just went to the restroom. We
have to check right away!"

Lucy rushed to the women’s restroom.

Inside, the place was a mess. Signs.
of a struggle were evident
everywhere. Carly’s phone lay

shattered on the floor, broken into
two pieces.

Lucy picked up the damaged phone
and handed it to Adam, her voices
filled with urgency. "Mr. Alvarez
look! It’s Carly’s phone! Do yu u think
she was kidnapped?" Content
belongs to en.kikistories.Gom


----
Soon, Sonia and Tracy arrived at the scene.

Sonia’s face immediately paled. "Who would kidnap Carly?
Her heart condition is bad. She can’t handle this kind of
stress!"

Tracy turned to Adam. "Mr. Alvarez, you have to do
something! We have to save Carly!"

Adam stared at the broken phone in his hand, his
handsome face as cold as ice.

Just then, the soft, melodic ringtone chimed again. Another
call was coming through.