Nine thousand kilometers away from Germany, in the Cotai Strip of Macau.

The night was as brilliant as ever, with a river of traffic flowing through the neon wilderness. The world-renowned Sissi Crown Palace, famous for its sheer opulence, stood at the heart of it all. This was the third integrated resort built by the Sinclair Hospitality Group, following the Sinclair Grand Hotel and Sissi Gardens. Spared no expense, they had commissioned the genius architect Mr. Cooper and world-class interior designers, spending a staggering $5.4 billion to create this artistic palace—a seamless fusion of Chinese classical art and French Rococo style.

High-end fragrances perpetually filled the air, infusing the oxygen-enriched atmosphere with a sweet, fruity scent. Hundreds of speakers hidden in every corner allowed majestic music to float through the halls. Every evening at six, guests gathered in the garden plaza to watch the musical fountain show under the setting sun, followed by brilliant drone performances from the high towers as night fell.

The hotel was a pinnacle of luxury and comfort. Countless luxury brands and Michelin-starred restaurants vied for space here, but there was one particular haven built for those with a sweet tooth: the garden terrace on the seventh floor, named "Bella's Rabbit Hole". It gathered twenty-three world-renowned dessert brands, housing the finest chocolates from across the globe.

Few knew that the original inspiration for this massive project was simply the innocent wish of a three-year-old girl. "Daddy, princesses have palaces. Mommy and I want one, too!" "Mmm... and I want lots and lots of chocolate to fill my palace!"

Bella adored chocolate, so the world's chocolate was moved into her "Rabbit Hole". As the only beloved daughter of Leonardo Sinclair, Chairman of the Sinclair Group, and Lin Sinclair, a legendary actress who had remained at the peak of fame for over twenty years, she naturally had everything she desired. Her father would have plucked the stars from the sky if she asked.

Rumors suggested that this little princess had been protected with airtight security since birth. Even as an adult, she had never officially appeared in the public eye of high society, keeping a low profile that made her an enigma. Countless heirs dreamed of marrying into the family to secure their status, but none could even catch a glimpse of her.

Currently, the only known information about her was her name, "Bella," and a single blurry childhood photo her mother had posted on social media when the girl was three. In the photo, she had watery taohua eyes with soft lashes and pupils that glowed like sweet amber sugar.

Yet, this very princess—the "wealthy flower" raised in a sterile room, the beautiful bird in a warm nest—had recently vanished. For eight days, there had been absolute silence. She had effectively evaporated from the face of the earth.

"Leonardo Sinclair! What kind of madness has possessed you?! We agreed twenty years ago to stay out of each other's way! I haven't come looking for trouble, yet you dare provoke me?!"

As the angry roar faded, a tearful plea for mercy came from beneath a razor-sharp blade. "Ahhh—it hurts! Uncle Leonardo—please, have mercy! My dad really hasn't done anything lately—Ahhh! Dad! Save me!!"

The knife looked delicate, almost ornamental, but it was a military-grade close-combat dagger made of special materials, capable of cutting through iron like clay. It was held by a large, wheat-colored hand with long, powerful fingers. A scar ran across the web of the thumb, a sight that sent a chill down the spine.

The tip of the blade pressed against the boy's neck, drawing a thin line of blood.

"F*ck you! Take the knife away! That's my son!! If you hurt him, I'll never let this go!" Hugo Sinclair finally panicked. He knew Leonardo was a madman—a total psychopath. If pushed too far, Leonardo wouldn't hesitate to kill, especially since Macau was his territory.

In the luxuriously decorated suite, two groups of men stood in a tense standoff. The weeping boy was pinned to the sofa, with Leonardo standing behind him. Leonardo looked to be in his early forties, with sharp features and wheat-colored skin. He was dressed in a sophisticated linen shirt and suit trousers, his sleeves rolled up to reveal powerful forearms. With one hand, he gripped the boy's hair; with the other, he pointed the dagger at his throat. His dark eyes were calm, but they couldn't hide his sinister nature.

He smiled slowly. "Hugo, you'd better think carefully about what you've done lately".

"I haven't done a damn thing! If you hadn't kidnapped my son to Macau, I'd still be in Malaysia minding my own business!"

"Really? Nothing?" Leonardo's smile remained as he suddenly plunged the dagger into the boy's shoulder with a swift, ruthless motion.

A blood-curdling scream echoed through the suite, making everyone present fear for their own lives.

Hugo Sinclair jumped up, cursing wildly. Just as he tried to rush forward, a silenced pistol was pressed against his forehead, forcing him back. "What the hell do you want from me?! Leonardo, you're the big shot now, you control everything. You think you can just kill me in Macau? I told you, I did nothing! Nothing! Let my son go!"

The dagger sank deeper into the flesh.

Amidst the screams, Hugo broke out in a cold sweat. "Alright! Fine! I'll talk! I'll talk! Last month I snatched a few of your clients—a business deal worth tens of millions. Was that really worth this?! And... last week I called you an ungrateful white-eyed wolf in front of the Old Man. That's it!" "I swear! That's all!"

Leonardo narrowed his eyes, seemingly satisfied that Hugo was too terrified to lie further. He released the boy's hair, pulled out the dagger, and tossed it casually. The blade embedded itself firmly in a dragon fruit on the fruit platter, the red juice indistinguishable from blood.

"Alright. I'll believe you this once, Hugo. Yong, find the best doctor to bandage my nephew. He's a boy; it wouldn't look good if he were left with a scar." Leonardo patted the boy's sweat-drenched head and wiped the blood from his fingertips with a handkerchief, his casual tone suppressing the bloody atmosphere of the room.

Hugo was bewildered, unable to fathom why Leonardo had kidnapped his son and threatened them with knives and guns, only to let them go so easily. The man was truly insane.

"Leonardo, you bastard! You'd better hope your wife doesn't find out you're back to playing with guns—"

"Then keep your mouth shut, Hugo. We're all getting older. It's hard enough for us to get together; let's not spoil the mood." Leonardo's voice was gentle as he reached out to straighten the crooked gold Buddha pendant on Hugo's chest.

Hugo left in a fury with his men. Leonardo sat on the sofa, looking exhausted, rubbing his brow. He hadn't slept for days. Ever since he learned his daughter was missing, he had been in a state of high tension. At this point, he almost wished for a ransom call—at least that would prove Bella was alive.

"Boss, Miss Vivienne's plane has landed. I've sent someone to pick her up".

Leonardo nodded and lit a cigarette, wondering who else might hold a grudge against him. Over the years, he had cleaned up his business. His casinos were legal, and the old vendettas from Southeast Asia were a distant memory. Aside from his useless brothers in the Sinclair family and a Hong Kong group he'd fought three years ago over a gambling license, he couldn't think of any other enemies.

The German Police Commissioner had formed a secret task force to search near Baden-Baden and Württemberg, but they had only found a bicycle, an intact helmet, and an outdoor backpack. Inside were her passport, phone, water, sunscreen, and a wallet containing three thousand euros in cash, untouched.

Bella's companions said she had brought those items when they left France, passed through Switzerland, and entered the vast forests of Germany. That day, after cycling seventy kilometers, Bella had insisted on going into the forest while the others headed toward the hotel. They separated on a small path that didn't even appear on Google Maps.

Leonardo exhaled a cloud of smoke. Bella... where are you?He had hidden the truth from his wife, who was currently filming in the Northwest. If Lin knew, she would have a breakdown.