Chapter 122 The Calm Before The Storm


    "When did you receive this message?" Spencer''s voice was heard in the meeting room even before he


    stepped inside.


    "Just now." George stood up and looked at the door where Spencer made his entrance. He was


    surprised to see himposed. Spencer had always been known for his temper, but his calm


    expression then at the face of imminent danger was inspiring.


    He could only assume that it was because Fiona was not involved in the new operation.


    Spencer''s eyes went to theptop on the table. The screen showed an email with several attached


    pictures.


    Upon closer inspection, he saw that the images were of Celine tied to a chair with a tape over her


    mouth. Her hair looked disheveled and her eyes only stared nkly at whoever took the photo.


    "She looks shaken, but she doesn''t seem to have any physical injuries," Leo observed.


    "Yes." Spencer nodded. Seeing Celine''s nk expression touched a special ce in his heart, but he


    felt as if his feelings for her were not as strong as before. Right then, the only thought that filled his


    mind was to rescue her. He was concerned for her safety, but he also mostly felt angry.


    Had it been Fiona in the photos, he would have probably lost his mind. He might have gone mad at first


    sight.


    Spencer sat before theputer and read the email.


    "We heard that Mr. Cheng had arrived in P City. We happen to have an old friend of yours. How about


    meeting with us tomorrow? We''ll be waiting for you by nine in the evening, ten kilometers away from


    the border of T Country, at that deserted security station. Come alone, Mr. Cheng."


    "What an ass!" Daniel, who had been standing nearby, could no longer keep himself from cursing. "Are


    they nning an ambush? Why are they asking Spencer toe alone?


    Do they want us to send him to certain death?" Eric kicked Daniel in anger. "Shut up!"


    "I didn''t mean that. I''m sorry." Daniel''s face was flushed with embarrassment.


    But Spencer never heard a word of what they said. He was immersed deep in his own thoughts.


    "I don''t think Spencer should go alone," Leo said bluntly. "But... I thought we''re going to save Fiona


    tomorrow night. Are we postponing that n?"


    "That''s not an option!" Spencer blurted out of nowhere. He nced at everyone in the room and


    dered, "I''m going to save Celine alone. George and Eric can go and save Fiona."


    "Are you crazy? You don''t know what you''re saying!" George mmed the table with his fists. "What


    will Fiona think if you go and save Celine? Did you even consider that? Fiona''s waiting for you!"


    The old Spencer would have gotten instantly enraged by George''s words, but he only kept quiet. He


    sat quietly on his chair, but everyone in the room could feel his restraint. He lowered his head slightly


    and said, "They demanded that Ie and save Celine alone. If I don''t follow their demands, they


    might do something unthinkable to either of them. What''s more, if I don''te back, you must promise


    to rescue Fiona and take her home."


    "Spencer!"


    "Spencer!"


    Eric and Daniel both cried out in protest.


    "There''s nothing left to discuss." Spencer had made his decision and there was nothing that would


    change his mind. "That''s it. You must rescue her yourselves. Failure isn''t an option."


    George''s tightened fists loosened slowly as a sense of powerlessness sank in his heart. Since he


    couldn''te up with an alternative n to rescue Fiona, he could only do as Spencer told.


    The atmosphere in the conference room began to feel ufortable.


    The next morning was dark and gloomy, and everyone could sense that something bad was about to


    happen.


    Meanwhile, in Cherry Grove Residence, there was only silence in Fiona''s bedroom.


    She had been sleeping on her side when she felt a chill run down her back, which prompted her to


    open her eyes.


    "Miss Ji, are you awake?" She heard Emily''s voice from behind as she stirred.


    "My back..." Fiona groaned. She struggled to sit up. "Something feels wrong with me."


    "Miss Ji, don''t overexert yourself! You had a surgeryst night. The medicines injected in you are


    probably still in effect. Please don''t get up," Emily exined as she rushed to assist her.


    ''Did I hear her correctly? Surgery?'' Fiona wondered but her mind felt like a total mess. It was only when


    she saw the IV needle on her hand that she realized what had happened. In panic, she grabbed


    Emily''s hand and asked, "What surgery did they do to me? Tell me! What did they do to me?"


    "They just removed the scars on your back! It''s for your own good. Look at how perfect your skin is


    now!"


    "Perfect?" Scowling, Fiona plucked the needle from under her skin and staggered as she made her


    way to the bathroom.


    "Come on! Miss Ji, what are you doing?"


    Emily rushed around the bed, but she had been toote. She could merely watch as Fiona locked the


    door behind her.


    "Miss Ji! Please open this door!"


    Fiona stood in front of the mirror,pletely ignoring Emily''s pleas. She turned her back to the mirror


    to check out her "new" body.


    There was a big slit on her dressing gown from the neck down to her waist, revealing her back and two


    scars that should be there but weren''t. Disbelieving her own eyes, she took a second look at her back.


    It was as if no scar had ever been there. Charles had reced her skin with a new one. It was the first


    step to her transition to a new and happy life.


    ''Is this what they called perfect?''


    With her hands sped behind her back, Fiona traced her skin with her fingers. She stroked the part


    where the scars once marred herplexion, undecided as to whether or not she should be happy to


    have such wless skin. But before she coulde up with an answer, a small ck mark on her


    shoulder caught her attention. That mark was not there before!


    What was going on?


    She reached for a towel and started wiping off the mark, but it seemed as if it was tattooed on her skin.


    "Miss Ji! Please let me in!" Emily rapped at the door over and over.


    All of a sudden, Fiona stepped out of the bathroom and confronted her.


    "What''s this mark on my shoulder?"


    "What mark?" Emily asked in confusion.


    "This one!" Fiona turned around and pointed at the X mark on her skin.


    "I don''t know." Emily shook her head. "Our sir said he wanted to leave a mark on your body. He wanted


    to leave his mark on you..."


    ''His mark?'' Unable to contain her disgust, Fiona demanded, "Where''s Charles? I need to talk to him!"


    Her voice was dripping with resentment.


    "He isn''t here today, Miss Ji. He said there is something important he has to deal with so he won''t be


    "He''s not here?" Fiona''s eyes lit up. "When is heing back? Will he be here tonight?"


    "He said he''d probablye back bright and early tomorrow."


    "I see." Fiona went to bed. "You can leave now. I want to rest."


    "Well, I need to ask the doctor to put back your IV, Miss Ji. The medicine will help with the


    inmmation. You have to take it since you''ve just been through surgery!"


    Fiona nodded. "Okay."


    It didn''t take the doctor too long to rece the IV on Fiona''s hand, after which her bedroom turned


    silent once again. She took out her phone from under her pillow and sent Spencer a text message.


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    There was a look of worry on her face as she typed.


    "Charles isn''t here in Cherry Grove Residence today. Will youe and rescue me? Is the n still


    on?"


    Spencer was in the middle of organizing the n to rescue Celine when he felt his phone vibrate in his


    pocket.


    His fingers trembled as he read Fiona''s message. He felt absolutely thrilled to hear from her.


    "Where have you beenst night? You didn''t send me a text message! Do you know how worried I


    was? Don''t worry, I wille to you as nned. We already had our men sneak into Cherry Grove


    Residence to learn about the terrain. It would be easy for us to rescue you if you can sneak out of the


    room without being noticed. But don''t take needless risks! Wait for me."


    "Charles was herest night, so I wasn''t able to send you a message. After that, I was so tired, I fell


    asleep and forgot. I''m sorry. I will figure out a way to sneak out tonight. Take care of yourself!"


    "Don''t let anyone know about your phone, okay?"


    "Don''t worry. I won''t."


    They sent more messages to assure one another that they were safe. But Spencer didn''t mention that


    he was going to save Celine, while Fiona didn''t tell Spencer about the surgery.


    Fiona was d to have a secret phone with her to contact Spencer. Little did she notice the red light


    from the surveince camera in the corner of the bedroom recording her every action.


    At that time, a ss shattered in the control room of X''s base.


    It was Charles who had thrown it on the floor, smashing it into pieces at his feet. His face was red with


    fury.


    He was watching the surveince video of Fiona''s bedroom and saw her send text messages on a


    phone she took from under her pillow. Seeing Fiona''s fair and calm expression disgusted him!


    Francis asked, "Should we...?"


    "Shut up!" Charles growled. "Let her send the messages! I''d like to see how Spencer is able to save


    both Celine and Fiona at the same time!"


    ''I''ll make you pay for lying to me, Fiona,'' he thought to himself.


    "Yes, sir."


    Charles remembered something and asked, "Who slept with Celinest night?"


    Celine had been yelling in her room all day long and Charles found her annoying. He decided to keep


    her secluded another ce so as not to disturb anyone in Cherry Grove Residence. But before he gave


    out his final instructions, an evil thought crossed his mind. Since she liked yelling all day long, why not


    let his men rape her so that she could yell as she liked?


    That night, Charles asked Francis to send men to Celine and spend the night with her. He was pleased


    to hear that she did moan very loudly throughout the evening.


    With a slight bow, Francis replied politely, "I assigned two random bodyguards to sleep with her, but I


    forgot who they were. If you must, sir, please punish me for my neglect."


    Charles waved his hand and smiled. "There''s no need to punish you. I''m very satisfied!"


    "Well, how about this evening?"


    "Have fun with them! I''d be very pleased if you can get Spencer and Celine out of my sight forever."


    Charles had been fiddling with a lighter as he spoke. When he opened it, the me illuminated his face,


    and cast his grim expression in a different light.


    "Yes, sir."


    "About Fiona..." Charles gave a dark chuckle before he finished his words. "She''s been here for several


    days, but I haven''t even tasted her. I can''t wait anymore. I''m making my move on her tonight."


    "Do you really think that Spencer would rescue Celine tonight, sir? I think he cares more about Fiona,"


    Francis said with a frown.


    Charles raised his eyebrows and said, "I''m not going to lose, regardless of whom he chooses to save.


    If he tries to rescue Celine, he will let Fiona down and she will give up on him. But if hees to


    Cherry Grove Residence, well, he can''t me me for being rude..."