"What's the meaning of this nonsense, Willow? How did I get here?" Alder's voice was sharp, irritated, his brows furrowed as he shifted against the restraints. Confusion clouded his eyes.
"Willow, answer me!" he demanded again, his tone rising with impatience.
"I just wanted to see you," Willow replied softly, her voice a mix of longing and guilt.
"Is this how to see someone?" Alder asked, glancing around the dimly lit room, his gaze finally dropping to his tied legs. His suit was crumpled, stained, and dirtied. "Why am I this dirty?"
Willow looked apologetic. "I couldn't carry you alone… so I had to drag you in from the car."
Alder stared at her like she'd completely lost her mind. After a long pause, he said flatly, "Untie me."
"I can't. I can't tame you on my own, so I can't untie you yet," she said, sounding almost regretful.
"Willow!" Alder called her name with gritted teeth.
"Call me Will," she answered, smiling sweetly, as if that would ease his anger.
"Don't get me mad," he warned, his voice dropping dangerously.
"I'm sorry," she said with a pout and turned to leave—probably to get something.
---
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, in the Smith and Montclair households…
"They're not at the airport," one of the men reported, shaking his head.
"That means they're still in the country," Leif concluded grimly.
"The police checked surveillance footage," another officer said, holding a file. "Looks like the person in question—Alder—followed willingly."
"It doesn't matter. We still want to find them," Laurel snapped.
"Please help me find him," Flora's voice rang out. She stood in the center of the room, still in her wedding gown, her face tear-streaked and puffy.
After her plea, she broke down sobbing.
"Flora, calm down," Sage said gently, rubbing her back in comfort.
"We'll try to track them down soon," one of the policemen added with a nod.
---
Back to Willow and Alder…
Willow returned to the room holding a tray.
"I brought you food," she said with a soft smile.
"I don't want to eat," Alder replied bluntly, still annoyed.
"I can't let you die of hunger—that would add to my crimes," she said with a forced grin.
"You have to untie me so I can eat," Alder said, attempting to reason with her, trying to trick her.
But Willow only gave a knowing smile and, to his horror, sat on his lap.
"What are you doing?" Alder asked, his frown deepening.
"Feeding you," she replied with a playful raise of her brow. "Your favorite—pasta."
"Get up, Willow," Alder growled, trying to keep a straight face despite his rising frustration.
But she ignored him, lifted a spoonful of pasta, and brought it toward his mouth.
"Willow, get off my lap," he said, voice taut with irritation.
"Are you getting horny?" she asked shamelessly, a smirk dancing on her lips.
"Willow..." he groaned, barely holding in his anger.
"Eat, and I'll stand up," she bargained sweetly.
Alder tried a new tactic. "Willow, can you untie me?" he asked in a calm tone, hoping logic would reach her.
But she only shrugged. "If you don't eat, I won't stand up."
Knowing how stubborn she could be, Alder gave in with a sigh and opened his mouth. She fed him, bit by bit.
"Do you like it?" Willow asked, hopeful.
"I don't," he said flatly.
"You're probably saying that because you're angry," she replied, not taking offense.
After a few bites, Alder muttered, "I'm okay."
"Alright," she said with a nod, handed him some water, and gave him a quick peck on the lips before running off, likely to drop the dirty plate.
She came back and grabbed a chair, turning it around to straddle it backward, facing him with her hands resting on the backrest.
"Willow, does any of this make sense to you?" Alder asked, his voice now more exhausted than angry. "What exactly do you want from me?"
"I miss you," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Do you?" Alder asked, looking her in the eyes.
"Yes… I miss your touch," she said, raising her brow in a teasing manner.
"Willow, don't get me mad," Alder warned again, but his frustration was rising dangerously.
"I really don't want you to be mad at me," she said with a pout, looking genuinely sad.
"Willow, what's wrong with you? Don't think you can leave for years, then come back and act cute to get your way."
"I wasn't acting cute," Willow defended herself. "But if you like it cute, I'll do that for you," she added with a smile.
"Can you untie me?" Alder asked again, ignoring her attempt to play.
"Will you stay with me if I untie you?" Willow asked hopefully.
"In your dreams," Alder shot back coldly.
"Then how can I release you? I can't handle you alone."
Alder exhaled deeply, trying to stay calm. "Willow, I'm not comfortable in this state."
"I'm sorry, baby," she murmured.
"Willow Larkspur!" Alder shouted, frustration boiling over.
"Don't raise your voice at me," she warned, her expression turning cold. "You know I'm fragile."
He ignored her this time.
She stood, walked over, and straddled him again, placing her hands on his shoulders flirtatiously. Her face hovered close to his, as though she wanted to kiss him.
"Willow, get off me," he said sternly.
But she slid her hands down his arms to his wrists, touching the rope. "Does it hurt?" she asked softly, her lips just inches from his.
"No, it doesn't. I like it when I'm tied up," Alder said, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
Willow smiled. She moved her hands back to his shoulders. "Do you like this?" she whispered, then slowly leaned in and kissed him.
He resisted.
"Do you like that?" she asked again.
"You just assaulted me," Alder replied, voice sharp. "That's crime number three."
"Three?" Willow asked, tilting her head.
"First, you kidnapped me. Second, you restricted my movement. Third, you assaulted me. Not once—but twice."
"Since my crimes are so many, one more won't matter," Willow said with a mischievous grin. "Like… taking off your trousers and doing anything I like with you."
"Do you really think my family won't find me soon?" Alder asked.
"It's not that easy to get here," she said confidently.
"Really?" he replied, raising a brow.
"Yes," she nodded firmly, unaware of how ridiculous she sounded.
Then she pulled out his phone. "Your fiancée really loves you," she said, her voice a little sad. "She's been calling nonstop." The phone lit up again—Flora was calling.
"See? She's calling again." Willow showed the screen before tossing the phone on the nearby couch, screen-down—not knowing the call had connected.
---
On Flora's side…
"He picked up!" Flora exclaimed.
"Alder, are you there?" she asked frantically.
"Put it on speaker!" Juniper urged.
---
Back to Willow's side…
"It's midnight already… Why is she still calling?" Willow muttered. "She probably called 158 times." She smirked. The missed call counter was at 175.
"Because she's not like you. She cares about me," Alder said sharply.
"I care," Willow replied, her face falling.
"Then untie me. My hands are numb," he pleaded.
"She tied him up," Flora whispered in horror through the call.
"No," Willow said defiantly.
"I can't believe you care so much about me and tied me up this hard," Alder muttered, baffled.
"Ask for anything else—I'll give it. But not your freedom," she said. Then with a bittersweet smile, "You can ask for anything else. Especially… my body. I'll give that to you in a heartbeat."
"I can see you really care about me," Alder murmured sarcastically, but Willow heard it.
"I love you the most," she teased.
Alder just closed his eyes, exhausted.
"It's time to sleep," she said lightly.
"Am I supposed to sleep like this?"
"I really want you to sleep beside me, with your hands all over me… but I can't risk you strangling me to death," she said playfully.
---
On the other side of the call…
"She's so shameless," Laurel snapped.
Reed, who was still with them, looked stunned. The normally quiet Willow was uttering words he never imagined she had in her.
---
Willow's side…
"I feel cold," Alder lied, hoping she'd untie him.
Instead, Willow got a duvet and wrapped it around him gently. "This should be okay for the night," she said and curled up on the long couch nearby.
"I'll keep you company here," she added with a flirty smile.
"Do you think you can hold me here forever?" Alder asked.
"I don't need forever. Just a few months with you," she said softly.
"My family will find me. Do you want to go to jail?" he warned.
No answer.
"Willow?" he called.
Still nothing.
"Okay… fine. Will?" he said, using the name he used to call her before.
Willow perked up, kneeling on the couch. She beamed at him. "That isn't enough to get me to untie you, sweetheart. Be good and let me sleep. I'm so tired," she said and lay back down, a dreamy smile on her face.
"You're really heartless," Alder muttered.
The phone died. The call ended.
---
Back on the other side…
"Why does it feel like they're flirting?" Sage thought in disbelief.
---
Back to Willow…
"Good night, handsome," she said gently.
No response.
"Good night, Alder."
Still nothing.
"Your anger issues has really gotten very bad."
---
Back to the Smith…
"Did you get their location?" Juniper asked the tracker.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Then let's go get him. Now," she ordered.