Chapter 373Mr. Sterling took a deep breath and pressed the call button, his fingers slightly trembling as he dialed the number of the kidnappers. Williams stood beside him, watching closely, his face expressionless but his eyes sharp with intent. The phone barely had time to ring before a rough, menacing voice picked up on the other end, as though they had been waiting anxiously for this exact call.“About time,” the kidnapper sneered. “We were beginning to think you were backing out. If you want to see your son alive, this is your last chance.”Mr. Sterling held the phone tight, putting on a performance of forced calm and fear. “No, please, I have the money. I’ve arranged everything. Just… just tell me where to go, and I’ll bring it,” he stammered, his voice quivering just enough to sound desperate.Williams, positioned right next to him, pulled out his phone, angling it subtly to avoid the kidnapper’s notice. He began pressing buttons, pretending to work a tracking application. He
Chapter 374The phone rang a couple of times before Kane picked up, his voice gruff and impatient. “What’s the deal, Williams? We’ve been waiting for hours. You finally got something, or are we still sitting around?”Williams, leaning casually outside against the wall of Mr. Sterling’s mansion kept his voice low, steady and calm. “Kane, something just came up, and it’s big. Listen carefully. My informants just told me Jack and his crew kidnapped the son of a top-tier entrepreneur—a big shot. This kid isn’t just any target; he’s got a rich father willing to pay anything to get him back.”Kane’s tone sharpened immediately, laced with anticipation. “That bastard. Where is he? And how do we get to him? I’ve been itching to teach him a lesson.”“Calm down,” Williams interjected firmly. “We’re not taking out Jack. Not yet. He’s our link to Scarface, and we need Scarface more than we need revenge. The kid they’ve got? That boy is our top priority, we must rescue him too at all cost.”Kane sc
Chapter 375Meanwhile, James and Gregor were huddled near the battered wooden table, speaking in hushed tones. The faint glow of the lamp overhead cast elongated shadows across their faces, highlighting the intensity of their expressions.Coincidentally, they were working on something that might lead them to the kidnappers.James felt more confident than ever that the kidnappers had fully fallen for the false messages he had sent using Ben’s phone. With this advantage, he began formulating a new plan to outsmart them.“What if we release Ben?” James asked.“Release him?” Gregor was confused. “What do you mean?”James leaned forward, his fingers drumming against the table. “Look, Gregor,” he began, his voice tinged with frustration, “I know this might sound stupid, but releasing Ben is the only shot we have at ever rescuing that boy. The kidnappers already believe the fake conversations we sent through his phone. If we release him, there’s no way he won’t try to locate the others. But
Chapter 376The adjacent room was dimly lit, with a faint hum from the overhead lights casting a sterile glow over the sparse furniture. Ben sat slouched in a wooden bed, his wrists bound in worn metal cuffs that had clearly seen better days, his wrists tight from the handcuffs. His face, still bruised from past scuffles, showed little emotion as Gregor strode in, holding a fresh set of cuffs in one hand and a neutral expression on his face. James followed close behind, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it onto a nearby table, where he had already placed Ben’s phone and his own.Gregor approached Ben without a word. The air in the room was heavy, tension palpable. “Alright,” Gregor said gruffly, his voice cutting through the silence, “don’t act funny. I’m just here to change your cuffs.”Ben didn’t resist. Instead, he raised his hands in surrender, his movements deliberate and slow. “Go ahead,” he said, his voice hoarse but steady.Gregor leaned down, fumbling with the old cuffs a
Chapter 377Ben’s heart pounded in his chest as he sprinted down Montgomery Street, the dim city lights flashing past him in a blur.The cold night air bit at his face, but the rush of adrenaline kept him warm as he ran faster, dodging potholes and uneven sidewalks. His legs burned, and his breath came in sharp, ragged gasps, but he didn’t dare stop. He couldn’t afford to. He didn’t know how much time he had before James or Gregor realized he was gone—before they started chasing him down.The street was quiet, almost unnervingly so. It was nearing midnight, and the usual buzz of the city had given way to a deep, almost suffocating silence. The only sound that echoed in the stillness was the rhythmic thud of Ben’s feet pounding against the pavement.The street lamps overhead flickered intermittently, casting long shadows across the cracked sidewalks, as though the city itself was holding its breath. The world around him felt both foreign and unfamiliar, and the realization that he had
Chapter 378Up ahead, he saw a dimly lit bar on the corner. The neon sign flickered in the night, casting an eerie glow on the sidewalk. Ben hesitated for a moment. He didn’t want to draw attention to himself, but the bar could offer him some answers. He could ask around, get directions—maybe even find someone who’d help him.As he approached, he kept his head low, making sure to avoid any lingering eyes. He didn’t want to attract any suspicion, not tonight. The bar’s door creaked as he pushed it open, and the familiar smell of alcohol and stale smoke hit him as soon as he entered.The dim interior was bathed in amber light, the kind of place that felt stuck in time—dark wood paneling, worn leather stools, and a long, polished bar. The chatter of a few patrons in the back corner mixed with the soft sound of a jukebox playing an old song from the ’80s.The bartender, a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard, glanced up from wiping down the bar and gave Ben a once-over. Ben met his gaze b
It was a late winter night and cold outside. The street was decorated with Christmas lights of various shapes, sizes, and colors.James Wane had just returned home from work with a bouquet of flowers in his hand to surprise his wife, Alisha.It is their third wedding anniversary. He was tired but happy, looking forward to having an intimate night with her tonight just like a few days back.He didn't buy her any gift but he had prepared her favorite dish in the morning before he left for work. He quickly parked his electric bike outside and headed to the door to surprise her with the flowers.As he walked in, he was surprised to see two people seated in the sitting room watching TV. One was a middle-aged woman who looked about 40 years old. She was dressed in an expensive Dior gown and had an expensive Dior bag with the same color as the gown.The other was a young man in his late twenties. He was wearing casual wear. It was the kind of clothing you wear when you're relaxing. A T-shi
James was still in shock. He had always believed that Alisha loved him as much as he loved her. But It seems that's not the case. The idea of a divorce was unimaginable to him. It was just a few days ago that they had shared an incredibly passionate night together, and he could tell how addicted she was to their lovemaking.He silently wished that this surprise visit from his in-laws was some sort of cruel joke, but as he looked at the divorce papers again and again and recognized Alisha's handwriting, reality hit him. He has been jilted. "Do you believe it now? You simp!" Kate mocked. "You have only but tonight to pack your things and get going. Idiot." Henry added. Alisha had told him that she had been working late at the office recently, using that as an excuse for her continuous absence.Now, it all made sense to him. The truth was hitting him hard. His wife, whom he loved deeply, had signed those divorce papers without his knowledge or consent.To make matters worse, it was