“Travel safely. Send word when you arrive.”

By the time the sun began to set, the duke’s carriage was already waiting outside the dormitory. Joshua saw Bella off as she stepped inside. He had promised to send guards with her in case of trouble, and, true to his word, two were already seated at the front, keeping watch.

‘It’ll be fine.’

On the way to the station, Bella read and reread the head butler’s letter. She was on her way to catch a train, yet her unease refused to settle.

“Keep your head down!”

The carriage swerved sharply in response to the driver’s frantic shout. She ducked instinctively, unaware of what had prompted her reaction. The carriage lurched as the driver slammed on the brakes.

Crash!

The impact came before she could scream. Her world spun violently. The shriek of twisting metal and shattering glass erupted around her as the carriage overturned and slid down the slope.

A piercing ringing filled her ears, and then suddenly there was silence.

Bella forced her eyes open, taking uneven, desperate breaths as she fought to stay conscious. Her head throbbed as though it were splitting apart from the force of the impact. The ringing in her ears would not stop. Warm blood streamed down her face from what felt like a deep cut on her forehead.

“Is… anyone…?”

She forced the words out and called to the others who had been travelling with her in the carriage. But the men in the front seats hung limply over their chairs, showing no sign of movement.

Smoke began to curl inside the overturned carriage. She tried to pull herself free, but her body refused to obey her. Whether due to injury or the haze clouding her mind, she could not move.

Then, the door was wrenched open. A cloth was thrown over her head.

***

Article after article dominated the headlines, and Logan fielded a constant stream of calls.

Business partners began announcing that they would reconsider their terms, citing growing concerns about Fraser Enterprises — its reputation was inextricably linked to his own. Meeting after meeting left him with barely a moment to breathe.

Overwhelmed by work and struggling to contain the scandal, he had no time for personal feelings.

Consequently, he failed to give Bella the attention she deserved.

He convinced himself that resolving the scandal as quickly as possible would be best for everyone.

Then he was informed that Bella had received news of her godmother’s deteriorating condition and intended to travel to Netherwell.

Given the circumstances, he wanted her to stay in the capital. But this time, Bella refused to yield.

She had a reason — one that she could not ignore — to witness her godmother’s condition first-hand.

Although the public scrutiny that had once focused on her had shifted to him after their engagement was announced, the press still refused to lose interest in her.

With no other option, he arranged for bodyguards to accompany Bella until she reached Netherwell safely. He needed reassurance that she was protected. If something did happen, he wanted to be able to control the situation.

He believed that, given enough time, he could handle any crisis that erupted.

He always had.

He had the power. He had the money. Problems could be resolved so long as he responded appropriately. But this confidence did not last.

“I apologize, Your Grace. There’s something urgent I must report…”

Jeremy entered the conference room during an ongoing meeting. Normally, nothing would have compelled him to interrupt.

Breathing heavily as though he had run all the way there, he approached Logan, bending close to his ear as though there were no time to spare.

“Jack Hunter has escaped.”

For the briefest instant, killing intent flickered across Logan’s face. It vanished just as quickly. His expression returned to its usual composure as he lifted his gaze to Jeremy.

“Is the information certain?”

“Yes, having read the article in this morning’s paper, we contacted the prison. They confirmed the escape and issued a warrant for Jack Hunter.”

Images of Jack Hunter shouting from inside the prison surged through Logan’s mind, along with the fury in his voice as he vowed not to let him go once he was free.

“We’ve tightened security at the estate and the hotel, and we’ll be providing additional protection for you and Sir Vincent.”

Logan slowly lowered his pen onto the desk.

Increasing security in anticipation of retaliation from an escaped convict was only logical. But his thoughts were elsewhere.

It was Bella’s safety, rather than his own, that was on his mind.

“Bella.”

It was a simple question. Yet Jeremy could not answer immediately.

The pause alone was enough to send a chill of foreboding through him.

“As of now, after receiving word that her carriage left the university grounds en route to the station, we have not been able to establish contact.”

After a brief hesitation, he admitted it outright, as though there was no point in concealing the truth.

Logan did not react immediately.

His face remained calm, but the air around him grew noticeably heavier. Silence descended, as if the atmosphere itself were sinking.

“Confirm her safety first.”

Logan issued the command without emotion. But there was the faintest tremor in his voice.

“It has been confirmed that Miss Bella did not board the train to Netherwell.”

The update came an hour later. By then, the tension on Jeremy’s face was no longer something he could conceal. He continued with the next report.

“And… we have received word that the carriage Miss Bella was traveling in was involved in an accident.”

Logan’s gaze shifted to him.

An accident.

His clenched fist tightened further.

“Where?”

“The accident occurred on the road leading from the university into the city center. As this area has yet to be developed, it may take time to find any witnesses.”

The road leads from the university, which is located on the outskirts of the city, into the center.

Logan mapped the location in his mind. It was an undeveloped area with open fields stretching far and wide. There was no reason for a carriage to crash there.

Jack Hunter’s escape.

And now, the accident involving Bella’s carriage.

Logan required no further explanation.

This was no mere misfortune.

“Take me to the scene.”

***

By the time they arrived, the road had already been cordoned off by the police. The Imperial Police, who had got there first, were conducting a thorough investigation. Beyond the red cordon was a devastating sight.

The carriage that had plunged down the embankment was completely mangled. Its steel frame had collapsed completely inwards and shards of shattered glass lay scattered across the road.

Although the police were carefully examining the scene, Logan understood the truth the moment he saw it.

This was no mere accident.

Stepping over the scattered debris, he entered the crash site. A short distance away, the bodies of the bodyguards who had been inside were lying covered with white sheets.

“Bella.”

In response to his question, the police officer slowly shook his head. Having been informed that the carriage belonged to the Frasers, he addressed the duke with careful formality.

Despite the visible devastation, the impact inside the carriage had not been severe. At the moment of the crash, the two men seated at the front were most likely still alive.

They had not died as a result of the collision.

They had been killed by stab wounds to the neck.

“It appears the perpetrator took her.”

The officer’s gaze shifted towards the open rear door and the seat where the missing woman had been sitting.

That alone was enough to confirm it.

She had been alive.

As the report continued, Logan stepped closer to the wreckage. Something among the scattered debris caught his eye. He knelt down and reached for it.

It was a low-heeled shoe, its surface smeared with dirt. It was the same pair that he had personally put on her feet on the day of the Founding Festival.

There was no mistaking what it meant.

Only then did Logan draw in a slow, steady breath.

‘Get a hold of yourself.’

Bella was still alive.

They had taken her.

That meant there must be a reason.

Slowly rising to his feet, Logan surveyed the scene, the shoe still clenched in his hand. Jack Hunter must have had a reason for taking her. And that purpose was clear: revenge against him.

“Find Jack Hunter. Whatever it takes.”

To bring Bella back, he was prepared to do anything.