Chapter 311The phone was on loudspeaker, and Jaxon, who was seated nearby, had heard every word his father had exchanged with the kidnappers.Ken was beside him and they're both smoking. The smoke from their cigarettes curled into the air, mingling with the tense atmosphere of the room.Jaxon’s eyes flicked up briefly from his phone but returned to it as though the whole conversation didn’t concern him. Finally, his father will pay dearly, he thought.Across the room, Jackson, the kidnapper with the prominent scar across his cheek, ended the call and tossed the phone onto the table with a careless thud.He turned around, his expression cold and calculating, and he ordered the two other kidnappers who were holding the boy, “Take the kid away.”The two men nodded without hesitation, each grabbing one of the boy’s arms and dragging him into the back room. The child’s muffled cries faded as the door shut behind them.Jackson watched them go, his eyes narrowing slightly, before walking ov
Chapter 312“I think you might want to hear this,” Eric said as soon as the call connected, his voice tense. James groaned, rubbing his eyes as he rolled over in bed. “What is it?” he asked groggily, his voice thick with sleep. He had barely slept the night before, his mind racing over everything that was happening. The stress of work, the drama surrounding EMC, and now this sudden call from Eric—it was all too much to handle.Eric didn’t waste time. “It’s about a kidnapping case,” he said quickly, his words rushing out like water breaking through a dam. “It happened yesterday. Mary called me—”“What?” James interrupted, sitting up suddenly in bed, his heart pounding. “Mary? Claire? Are they okay? What happened?”Eric sighed, hearing the panic in James' voice. “They’re fine. They weren’t harmed, but…” He paused, and James could hear the hesitation, the weight of what was coming next.“But what?” James demanded, anxiety creeping into his voice as he kicked off the sheets and swung his
Chapter 313When James arrived at Diamond Ville, the guards at the entrance immediately recognized him. Though they knew him as a close VIP associate of Eric’s, they had no idea that James was the actual owner of the entire estate.As he approached in his sleek Bugatti La Noire, the security detail waved him down with their usual respectful demeanor. They straightened up, their movements sharp and precise. One of the guards stepped forward and greeted him with a polite nod."Good morning , Mr. Clarkson," the guard said, his voice formal yet familiar. "It’s been a while since we’ve seen you around here."James forced a tired smile, his mind still preoccupied with the kidnapping. “Yeah, it’s been a long night,” he replied, his voice betraying a hint of exhaustion. He handed over his access card, the one that would allow him into the inner sections of the estate. The guard took the card, but as he scanned it, he glanced up, noticing the weariness in James’s face. “Everything okay, sir?
Chapter 314"Hello, Gwen. There’s someone here to see you," Eric said as he stepped in. "He once helped me save my family when they were kidnapped."At the mention of that, Gwen looked up immediately.James entered fully into the room, his footsteps quiet as he moved toward the woman sitting on the bed, her shoulders shaking with soft sobs. She didn’t notice him at first. He approached slowly, not wanting to startle her. "Excuse me," he said gently, "I’m James Clarkson. Eric’s friend."She lifted her head, her face streaked with tears. She wiped her eyes quickly, trying to compose herself. Eric stood beside James, offering her a kind, reassuring smile.“I’m so sorry for what you’re going through,” James said, his voice soft but filled with concern. “Eric told me what happened, and I wanted to see if there’s anything I can do to help.”The woman sniffed, nodding slightly. "Thank you... I just... I don’t know what to do. My baby is out there, and I haven’t heard anything."James took a
Chapter 315Liam Carter stood before the mirror, fastening the last button of his shirt. His face was calm, but his mind was already racing. He glanced over his shoulder at Kai, who was lounging in an armchair, buried in the pages of a thick book. "Mr. Sterling and Williams. Anything about them?" Liam asked, straightening his collar with a sharp tug.Kai didn't look up immediately, turning another page before responding. "Still caught up in their shady dealings at EMC." His voice was low, detached, as though discussing some unremarkable triviality. "Same old schemes."Liam's jaw tightened as he slid into his tailored jacket, brushing imaginary dust off the sleeves. "This past week, we haven't been at our best. They might think we've forgotten about them." His lips curved into a cold smile. "Hmm… they just wait. They have no idea what's coming."Kai's eyes flicked up from his book, studying Liam’s reflection for a moment. He could sense the tension, the desire for vengeance simmering
Chapter 316As they drove through the city toward Carter Comb, the morning sun cast a warm glow over the bustling streets. Cars rushed past, and the sounds of the city created a lively backdrop. “There’s a meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. with Mr. Collen and the board members, I guess I should remind you that since you’re back,” Kai reminded him. He glanced at Liam as he navigated through the traffic.“Yeah, I remember,” Liam replied, his tone casual.“You know, Collen disrespected me while you were in the hospital. He had the audacity to undermine my decisions as acting CEO. The staff weren’t any better, either. They looked at me like I was some kind of intruder.”Liam chuckled softly, keeping his eyes on the road. “Is that right? I guess they didn’t get the memo that you were running things in my absence. What did Collen say?”“He just kept belittling my authority,” Kai replied, shaking his head. “I could tell he was annoyed that I was in charge. He kept asking for you, acting like I
Chapter 317Kai Nakamura sat at his desk, quietly flipping through a stack of documents. He had just resumed his role as Liam Carter’s personal advisor, and Liam had joined the board for the meeting. The air in the office felt still, almost too quiet, especially after everything that had happened recently.His phone rang, cutting through the silence. It was Gregor, the private investigator he had hired. Kai answered the call, his voice steady.“Sir, it’s Gregor. I’m ready to start the investigation on the attacks on Liam’s life. But I’m going to need access to some of the security footage from the company,” Gregor said, his tone calm but firm.Kai leaned back in his chair, considering. “You can come by the office to pick it up. I’ll make sure you get what you need,” he replied, glancing at his watch. "See you in a bit."“Alright, sir.”Ten minutes later, there was a knock at Kai’s office door. Kai looked up, straightening his posture. “Come in,” he called out.The door opened, and in
Chapter 318Mr. Sterling paced the room anxiously, waiting for the kidnappers to pick up. His fingers drummed against the mahogany table, his thoughts racing. When the call finally came, he snatched his phone, almost smashing it against his ear. "Hello?" His voice trembled, not with fear, but with pent-up rage. For days, he'd tried to reach the kidnappers, desperate to end this nightmare. But they only contacted him when they pleased, leaving him in the dark. "I've got your money ready," he said quickly. "Where am I sending it?"There was a long pause on the other end of the line, a muffled sound of whispering between the kidnappers. Mr. Sterling’s heart raced as he listened to the brief, hushed conversation. His grip on the phone tightened, and he could almost feel the sweat building on his brow. Finally, the kidnapper’s voice came back, cold and dismissive. “How much have you got?”“The amount we agreed on. Ten million dollars.” Mr. Sterling’s tone was firm, though the desperation