"Axel, help me!"

"Hey, is your name Zuri? Simon talks about you a lot," the woman who had just called Simon "honey" said.

"Oh dear, let me introduce you. This is Lily, my new manager. The company chose her for the job," Simon explained so that Zuri wouldn't misunderstand.

"But she called you 'honey'?" Zuri asked.

Simon gently stroked Zuri's hair. "That's common in the entertainment world. They call people that to seem familiar," Simon explained, looking at Zuri, who also looked at him.

"Are you angry about that? If you don't like it, I'll tell Lily not to call me that," Simon said, trying to calm Zuri down.

"Yes, I don't like it," Zuri said without feeling embarrassed.

Lily looked unhappy but quickly smiled to cover it up.

"Relax, I won't call Simon that anymore," Lily said, looking at Simon meaningfully.

She is so annoying. How could Simon like her? I heard rumors that the Harrison family was struggling financially, and that she ended up marrying an older man for his money. It seems like a difficult situation. I can't imagine being forced into a marriage like that."

Zuri heard Lily's thoughts. A smile played on Lily's lips, but it was a mocking one. Zuri didn't like that one bit.

"If possible, just change your manager. She's not a good manager. She doesn't seem to take her work seriously," Zuri spoke without mincing words. That made the smile on Lily's face disappear and be replaced by a frown.

"Honey... never mind." Simon tried to calm Zuri down and looked at Lily to leave immediately.

as soon as Lily left. Zuri smiled and hugged Simon again. "Hmmm... it's been a long time, and I've missed you," Zuri said as he tightened his hug, and Simon returned it. They stood there for a moment, lost in their reunion, making up for the time that had passed.

"Miss, it's time to go back. You can't stay out there too long." Anya, seeing that all was not well, asked Zuri to come back immediately.

Zuri released the hug and composed herself. "Please, Anya. I have to stay. It's not too late." Zuri still didn't want to go back.

Sensing something was wrong, Anya tried to warn Zuri. "Miss, we must go back now or Mr. Liam will forbid you to go out again. You promised to come back before nightfall, but it's already late." Anya already had the uncomfortable feeling from earlier that someone was watching them.

"Go home," Simon said. Zuri hesitated, her heart attached to this moment, but finally nodded. "I'll call you later."

"I'll wait for your message," Zuri said quietly, trying to smile despite her troubled heart. Simon nodded as he gently stroked Zuri's cheek.

"Calm down, everything will be fine. I promise," he said, giving Zuri a sense of calm.

Zuri turned and walked towards Anya, who was waiting patiently for her at the exit of the restaurant. She turned back to Simon, hoping that his last look would reassure her that things would stay as they were. But there was a dark shadow behind Simon's smile that made Zuri hesitate. She quickly dismissed the feeling, reassuring herself that everything would be fine.

Simon's presence brought a sense of peace to Princess Elara, who was currently living as Zuri. For a moment, she forgot her hatred for Prince Tristan. She hoped that Liam, who looked very much like Tristan, would not interfere with her love for Simon. Perhaps this time would be different. She smiled gratefully at the thought of seeing Simon. Liam had given her the freedom to be with Simon, and she was thankful for that."

Anya led Zuri to the car waiting outside. Liam's bodyguard was at the wheel, taking them away from the restaurant.

Zuri and Anya sat in the backseat. Zuri felt like she was going back to jail.

As the city lights faded behind them, the luxury car sped down the long, dark highway toward the tunnel. The screeching of tires broke the silence, followed by a deafening roar. A large black car suddenly appeared, veering from the left lane and aggressively tailing them.

"Someone's following us!" Anya's voice sounded panicked, her face grim.

Liam's bodyguard accelerated the car, but the black car behind him came closer. Two more cars appeared from the side, surrounding their car from the left and right. Liam's bodyguards tried to swerve, but the road was narrow and the other cars were too close.

"We've got to get out of here!" Liam's bodyguard shouted, accelerating the car to the speed limit. The engine roared loudly as they entered the long, dark tunnel.

But the pursuers didn't give up. One of the cars overtook from the left and tried to crash into the side of Zuri's car. A loud bang was heard as the two cars rubbed against each other, causing Zuri to stagger in her seat.

"What do they want?! Who are they?!" Zuri screamed, her breath coming in short gasps. She tried to remain calm, but there was no hiding the horror she felt. Anya, though tense, tried to calm Zuri down.

"Calm down, miss, it's going to be all right!" the bodyguard said loudly, her voice trembling slightly.

"The dim light from the tunnel walls did little to illuminate the darkness.

The bodyguard tried to maneuver quickly, passing several other cars as they passed through the tunnel. But suddenly, one of the unknown cars shot forward and slammed into the side of Zuri's car, causing her car to swerve. The brakes suddenly clicked loudly as her car was forced to stop in the middle of the tunnel.

Before Zuri could even register the impact, the car door was ripped open. A tall man, his face covered by a balaclava, scanned Zuri and Anya with cold eyes. Satisfied, he grabbed Zuri's arm and dragged her out of the car.

Anya screamed, trying to stop them from taking Zuri, but her struggles grew weaker. A blow to the head knocked her unconscious.

Zuri kicked and struggled, but the man was too strong. She was dragged into one of the black cars that had been following them, the back door already wide open.

Though Liam's bodyguard had been eliminated earlier, he still tried to approach the black car. Two warning shots from one of the gangsters forced him back.

"Don't you dare!" one of the gunmen shouted, his gun pointed straight at the bodyguard's head.

Within seconds, Zuri was inside the unfamiliar car. As soon as the door was shut, the black car sped off, leaving the scene. Inside, Zuri felt scared and confused, her body sandwiched between two large men who didn't say a word.

The streets were eerily silent as the black car exited the tunnel and plunged back into the dark night, taking Zuri to an unknown fate.

"Axel, help me!"