Chapter 9
Inside the Federal Police Bureau, Olivia sat in her chair, looking visibly upset.
She found the whole situation absurd. Back home, where the laws were strict, she and Julian had never gotten caught. Yet somehow, they’d gotten detained in a country where the laws were supposed to be more relaxed.
Julian sat beside her, his expression just as grim. The air around him was thick with a dangerous, oppressive energy.
Since the day Olivia met him, he’d always carried himself with a lazy, laid–back attitude. His words could be annoying, but he’d never once come off as someone with a temper. This was the first time Olivia had seen him actually angry.
She thought, Well, fair enough. Anyone would be pissed after getting dragged into a police bureau.
Just then, Julian’s voice came quietly from her side. “You really don’t recognize me?”
Olivia looked over, puzzled. “Are you famous or something?”
Julian’s expression darkened. “So when you chose me back then, it wasn’t because I looked familiar? You just thought I was hot and had a good body, huh?”
Olivia looked even more confused. “What else would it have been? Who hires a guy because he looks familiar? Wait, why would I think you looked familiar? Have we met before?”
“No.” Julian turned his head away, his face cold.
I knew it,” Olivia said. “I mean, my memory’s not amazing, but you’re way too good–looking. If we’d met, I definitely wouldn’t have forgotten you.”
Julian let out a cold laugh.
As they spoke, dozens of jeeps pulled up outside the police bureau. Among them were several armored vehicles, forming a tight perimeter around the building.
A group of heavily armed men poured out of the vehicles, storming into the bureau with overwhelming force.
At first, the officers at the police bureau thought it was a riot and prepared to call for backup to drive them away.
But the moment they saw who was stepping out of those vehicles, their legs nearly gave out from under them, panic flashing in their eyes.
They worked for the Astorne Family. The Astornes were a powerful warlord clan with influence spread across all of East Nytherra. Their scale and manpower far surpassed even the Federal Military.
In regions under their control, government offices still existed, but they all had to operate under the Astorne Family’s watchful eye.
This particular police bureau had always been careful to stay out of their way. They had never had a run–in with the Astorne Family before, so no one could understand why the Astorne family had suddenly shown up in full force to surround the bureau.
Some of the newly hired officers were already so frightened their legs had gone weak and they couldn’t move.
The senior officers were panicked too, but they managed to stay somewhat composed and quickly ran inside to find their chief–Jenson Hart.
When Jenson heard that the Astorne Family had surrounded the bureau, he stumbled back in shock, almost falling. Then he immediately rushed outside.
By the time he reached the entrance, someone was already approaching with a team in tow.
Jenson instantly plastered on a smile and greeted them politely, “Sir, is there a reason you’ve brought so many people here? If there’s anything the Astorne Family needs, the Federal Police Bureau will spare no effort to cooperate.”
He had barely finished speaking when the young officer leading the group kicked him hard and sent him flying.
Jenson didn’t get angry at all. After getting up, he even smiled and praised, “Sir, you’ve got such strong legs. No wonder you made it into the Astorne Military.”
The young officer shouted angrily, “Cut the flattery. How dare the Federal Police Bureau arrest someone from the Astorne Family? Are you trying to declare war on us?”
Jenson’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground in fear, scrambling to explain, “We didn’t arrest anyone from the Astorne Family, Sir, you must be mistaken.”
The young officer kicked him again. “Are you questioning the Astorne Family’s intelligence network?”
Jenson felt utterly hopeless. Since they’d come to the bureau, there was no way they had the wrong place. The Astorne Family’s intel never made
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mistakes.
Jenson was furious. He thought, Who the hell grabbed someone from the Astorne Family? Even arresting the president’s son would’ve been better.
than this.
In the observation room, Julian heard the commotion outside and instantly figured out what was going on.
With a few swift movements of his hands, he unlocked the cuffs. Olivia looked at him in shock.
Julian said, “I’m going to check it out.”
When he reached the door, he turned back, leaned down beside her ear, and muttered softly, “My name is Julian Hudson. Don’t forget it again.”
Then he gently bit her earlobe before getting up and walking away.
Olivia gasped in pain, let out a soft cry, and glared at his back, both embarrassed and annoyed. She thought, ‘There are cameras in here. He really
has no shame.
“Julian Hudson,” Olivia murmured his name under her breath. “Never heard of him.”
She didn’t think much of it and figured Julian must’ve mistaken her for someone else.
Olivia’s goal was to get pregnant as soon as possible. She didn’t care about anything else.
Julian stepped out of the observation room and immediately saw several Federal Police Bureau officers with swollen, bruised faces timidly leading the way, followed by a group of armed personnel wearing the Astorne Family’s signature gear.
Walking in the middle was Julian’s direct subordinate, Major General Noel Levitt.
When Noel saw Julian, his face lit up with joy, and he hurried forward, about to speak.
But with just one look from Julian, Noel instantly turned meek, swallowing the words he was about to say.
It wasn’t until they reached the entrance of the police bureau that Julian finally came to a stop.
When he saw the swarm of armed soldiers and armored vehicles outside, Julian’s expression grew even gloomier.
Julian ordered, “Withdraw immediately. Go tell the chief that once I leave, he can release the person inside. And warn them–tonight’s events are not to be leaked, including the name, appearance, or identity of the person who was captured with me.
“If her identity gets out, I’ll personally lead a team to level Dorgate to the ground.”
Noel saluted. “Yes, my lord.”
Julian got into one of the vehicles. Given the situation, he had no choice but to leave.
His whereabouts had been exposed. Someone had clearly leaked false information to mislead Noel, or else Noel wouldn’t have recklessly brought such a large force to raid the Federal Police Bureau. Julian needed to go back and get to the bottom of it.
*****
Olivia thought the police in Darcoln were surprisingly considerate. Not long after Julian left, the police officers began bringing her all kinds of delicious food.”
Her handcuffs were removed, and they even swapped her chair for a plush sofa. The officers even brought in a pianist so she could enjoy music while she ate.
Even the chief, Jenson, came to apologize. If Olivia hadn’t caught him in time, he almost would’ve dropped to his knees asking for forgiveness. When Olivia asked why, he simply said it was for arresting the wrong person.
Olivia was eating alone for a while when she suddenly heard footsteps coming in.
She thought it was Julian coming back. While looking up, she asked, “Where did you go? Come eat something with me. The food here’s not bad. Wait, why is it you?”
The moment she looked up and saw who it was, Olivia’s expression darkened, and her cheerful tone turned cold.
Dylan looked even more upset than she did. He sneered, “Who else did you think it would be?”
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