CHAPTER FIFTY ONE

OLIVER

I fixed my gaze on Dallas, studying her every move. Calling her beautiful was quite an understatement. She looked magnificent. The olive green, high slit gown clung onto her skin, mapping out her curves. Her hair was curled and styled into a beautiful updo. Her light make up accentuated her natural features. I felt the sudden urge to gouge out the eyes of any man who looked at her the wrong way.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, breaking my gaze on Dallas. I checked to see Ethan had sent a message to our group chat. I opened it.

ETHAN: @oliverkang and @xaviercarson you fucking son of bitches!!! (lots of angry emojis)

XAVIER: For God’s sake Hart, what’s the problem?

ETHAN: The problem is that you both disappeared from the city without telling anyone! That’s the biggest betrayal ever!

XAVIER: You disappear all the time too, you don’t see us complaining about it (eye-roll emoji)

ETHAN: Not to fucking Korea!!

ETHAN: @oliverkang you didn’t even give me a heads up. I’d have paid Aunt Jae-Suk a visit. Heard her daughter has become so hot now.

OLIVER: Your mother would kill you if she sees this. You know Jae-Suk is her biggest rival. She’d rather die than have her rival’s daughter as a daughter-in-law.

OLIVER: @xaviercarson you’re in Korea?!

XAVIER: Yes. I came for a business meeting a few days ago. I’d be returning to New York soon.

ETHAN: Bloody liar! You went there for your honeymoon.

OLIVER: …

XAVIER: It’s not a honeymoon. We’re not married.

ETHAN: Hello! You do everything married couples do. Your parents love her and vice versa, you’re practically married.

OLIVER: Is anybody going to explain what the fuck is going on?

XAVIER: My father thought it wasn’t nice that Brielle and I haven’t been spending time together. Brielle had always wanted to see the Lotte tower, so he arranged a trip for us.

XAVIER: @ethanhart how exactly did you find out about it?

ETHAN: I have eyes and ears everywhere. (winky eye emoji)

ETHAN: Since you both decided to go on a brotherly bonding without me, I’ve decided to make you pay. I’ll be organizing an orgy in both your penthouses in Miami and Vegas.

OLIVER: Don’t you fucking dare!!!

XAVIER: Don’t you dare!!!

@ethanhart left the chat

 @xaviercarson added @ethanhart to the chat

XAVIER: I will murder with my bare hands if you try it.

I was about to deliver my own string of threats to my thickheaded cousin when a call entered. My jaws as I saw the caller ID. It was a private number and it could only mean one thing. I darted my gaze around to check if there was anyone within earshot.

I was standing in a very hidden corner of the hall and it was almost impossible to spot me. Keyword: Almost. I can’t afford to make any mistake. All it takes is one passer-by overhearing my phone conversation, and everything will come crashing down.

I threw one last look at Dallas and took in the dreamy look in her eyes. I was sure everything would be worth it.

I walked out of the hall and into the safety of my car before I answered the call.

“Do you have him?” I asked immediately.

“Yes” A deep voice answered from the other end, sounding bored.

“I’ve sent you the address.”

“I’ll be there soon. Keep him alive.” I ended the call.

I checked the message on my phone and inputted the address into my car map. I drove the car out of the parking lot, my hands tightening around the steering wheel.

I sped through the roads of Seoul and got the place within fifteen minutes. The neighbourhood was a luxurious one, quite fitting for an Olympic lightening guy with an extremely shady side hustle.

I didn’t have to ring the bell as I was ushered in by the two men standing by the gates.

“Basement.” one of them said and pointed to a slightly opened door.

I took long strides towards the area he pointed to. I would have figured it out even if he hadn’t told me. I had seen a lot of houses with similar plans in Xavier’s sketches.

I walked into the basement to see a man tied to a chair, his face was so bloody that it was almost impossible to recognize him.

Ben, his torturer and one of my men, stood beside him, a baseball bat in his hand.

“I kept him alive like you asked, boss.” he smirked.

Everyone that has acquired my level of wealth and fame have done something similar to this maybe once or twice. I don’t usually like resulting to this measure except when it’s absolutely necessary. Not because I was afraid of the law, it’s because I don’t like getting my hands dirty.

I stretched my hand out and gestured for Ben to hand over the baseball bat. His brows creased, probably why I suddenly want to partake in this, but he didn’t ask any questions. I usually preferred been in the sidelines and watching the torture than actively inflicting the pain.

But I don’t mind a little blood on my hand this time. Just looking at him fueled the anger inside me. I brought out some white gloves from my pocket and slid them on. I might not mind his blood on my hand figuratively, but I wouldn’t want a splash of his blood on me.

I swung the bat and hit the bastard hard on the shoulder. His shrill cry of pain brought me immense joy. Just because I didn’t like partaking in the torture doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the victim’s cry.

“Good to know you’re still conscious.” I drawled.

“Please let me go, please. I already told you I don’t know anything about it.” he sobbed like a little baby.

His cries annoyed me even more so I took a swing at his kneecap, hitting him so hard that I could literally hear the bone crack. He let out another painful scream. Good thing he made his house soundproof, or I’ll have to be dealing with nosy neighbors too.

“Just tell me the name of the man who hired you and end this. Or I’ll keep shattering every bone in your body until you eventually die.”

“I swear, I don’t know his name, nor do I have his contact. He calls with a burner phone every time. I’m telling the truth. Believe me, please.”

“Think deeply about all of your conversations and see if you can get a clue. Until then the beating continues.”

“What- Argh!”

I swung the bat at his other kneecap.

“Wait! I remember something!” he yelled, suspending my bat mid air.

“Start talking.”

“He is french. I heard him utter a word in french during one of our conversations. He speaks English fluently like… like an American… but I’m certain he is french.” he said, between pants.

“Come on, dude. There are multiple people who speaks french in America. It doesn’t mean they’re all french. Dig a little deeper.”

“No, you don’t understand. It was … it was like a reflex. He doesn’t speak french, he is french.” He said, this time with so much certainty in his eyes.

My brows furrowed and I try to think of anyone related to Dallas that came from a french background.

Lucien was full American, and I knew for sure that he hadn’t set foot outside the country his entire life.

I could only think of one person who grew up in France, but there’s no way it’s him.

He had no reason to plot her death four years ago when he hadn’t even met her then.