Half-opening her eyes as she lay in the cage, Ariana felt worried about the children. Were they also captured? These people seemed professional, well-stocked with sedatives, which only added to the danger if they had the kids.

Her thoughts then turned to Holden.

By now, Holden must have known that something dreadful had occurred.

Ariana felt the urge to cry but restrained herself; conserving her energy was vital for her now.

When she felt somewhat stronger, she supported herself up against the cage walls and began to rattle the bars, searching for an escape.

At that moment, the door swung open.

A blinding light flooded in, making it hard for Ariana to see clearly. She realized she wasn't in a basement as she had thought.

When the door opened, she spotted a lavish chandelier in the next room, suggesting she was in a house, probably a villa.

Two men walked in, immediately capturing her attention.

One was tall with long hair cascading down to his waist. His features were beautiful.

The other man was shorter and stockier, his appearance seemingly innocent yet equally menacing.

"K, she's awake." The shorter man chuckled.

K, the taller one, moved closer, crouching to slide a plate of food toward Ariana just outside the bars of her cage. He uttered in a flat tone, "Eat."

Ariana clutched the bars of the cage and rattled them, her voice raspy as she demanded, “Who are you? Where am I? Where are my kids? What have you done to them? Why have you captured us? Let me out!"

She continued shaking the bars of the cage, wanting to escape.

K knelt before the cage, observing Ariana's rebellious gaze. Despite the grime and blood that marred her features, there was an undeniable beauty about her.

He glanced at her briefly before peeling off his gloves and extending his hand to gently move her hair from her face. But the moment his fingers crossed the barrier of the bars, Ariana bit him fiercely.

Weak in her hands but sharp with her bite, Ariana didn't stop until she tasted blood.

K jerked his hand away, rose to his feet, and muttered with a frosty edge, "Still got some fight in you, huh? Perhaps you're not as starved as I thought."

He turned his attention to the burly man behind him and instructed, "Spade, continue to inject her with the sedatives."