Lounging leisurely on the sofa, Suzanne absentmindedly caressed her belly, replying nonchalantly, “How am I supposed to know where Natalie is? You’re asking the wrong person.”
Suzanne’s brazen attitude ignited a spark of anger in Laney. With a swift movement, she clutched
Suzanne’s arm, her grip tightening relentlessly
“This is your last chance. Tell me the truth—where is Natalie?”
Despite the pain radiating from her arm, Suzanne held her ground, retorting, “Why on earth would I know where Mr. Larson’s wife is? Don’t overstep.”
Laney’s fingers dug into Suzanne’s chin, her grip intensifying. The ruthlessness of her past role as a bodyguard shone in her eyes. “Don’t force me to get violent,” she threatened
Suzanne, caught in Laney’s menacing glare, began to panic. After a moment of shifty glances, she clutched her belly and cried out, “Please, let me go. I’m just a patient seeking a prenatal check-up from Jeremy. I swear I know nothing more.”
Laney hesitated momentarily before her eyes fell on Suzanne’s slightly protruding belly. She loosened her grip and asked skeptically, “You’re pregnant?”
Suzanne bit her lip, nodding pitifully. “Yes, for quite a while now. Please, show mercy and release me…”
Suzanne’s pitiable demeanor reminded Laney of her oer a moment’s hesitation, she released Suzanne’s arm
Brandon, however, wasn’t as compassionate. He
“Take her to the car,” he ordered stoically
No sooner had he issued the order, two burly men materialne’s arms, dragging her away despite her screams of protest
Despite her desperate struggles, Suzanne was unsuccessful in breaking free. In her panic, she shouted,
“Unhand me! Let me go right now! Do you realize whose child I carry? If any harm comes to this baby, you’ll face the consequences!”
One of the men, wearing a mocking smile, retorted, “Regardless ofl is unlikely.” They then unceremoniously bundled her into the car
Protecting her belly, Suzanne retreated to a
Larson, what are your intentions? I’v
Brandon casually leaned against the car windo observed
Hearing this, Suzanne patted her belly, a smug expression crossing her face. “Of course, this baby holds the key to my destiny.”
Brandon’s lips twisted into a cryptic smile. His tone was casual, yet there was an undercurrent of indifference. “Ever experimented with drugs? I’ve heard an infant born to a drug-addicted mother becomes an addict from birth. Fancy trying it out?”
Suzanne’s complexion blanched. Faced with h
His gaze icy, Brandon fixed his attention on Suzanne’s belly, his voicel me where Natalie is, I’ll ensure you and your child become drug addicts.”
The dangerous glint in Brandon’s eyes told Suzanne he wasn’t bluffing
Despite her fear, she clung to a shred of hope. “Brandon, you can’t do this. You’ll regret it!”
Seeing Suzanne’s ashen face, Brand
Suzanne straightened, her face grave, as though
“Because this child is yours!”
Suzanne asserted her words with confidence, a self-satisfied glint lighting her eyes
She seemed convinced that Brandon would show her mercy due to the unborn child, and might even treat her with care
What man could disregard his own offspring? Brandon must have already held a distaste for Natalie, the barren woman, but had to feign love for her due to the influence of the White family!
Now, as the bearer of Brandon’s child, the future heir of the Larson Group, she was sure that Brandon would alter his behavior towards her! Brandon narrowed his gaze, observing the conceited Suzanne with a playful expression, he queried, “Are you so certain the child is mine?” Catching the trace of a smile on
Brandon’s lips, Suzanne’s spirits soared as she saw a glimmer of hope. She nodded vehemently. “Of course! We can perform a paternity test once the child is born. One can’t fake such matters.”
Brandon scoffed and clapped his hands, commanding, “Inject her.”
No sooner had he finished speaking, a man slowly approached Suzanne, syringe in hand
Suzanne, trembling, watched the needle tip glisten under the light. Her body shook uncontrollably, her teeth clattering as she stammered, “Bran..
Brandon, you’ll regret this!”
Brandon merely observed with a wicked grin
Just as the needle was about to penetrate Suzanne’s skin, she screamed,
“Stop! I’ll tell you!”
The syringe paused. Brandon tilted hi
Suzanne, terror-stricken, wept openly. She recoiled and confessed, “I… I had her loaded onto a truck bound for an underground casino to deliver contraband. Jeremy really does treat her like a sister, and Natalie only ever gets the best. I was envious, and it seemed unfair, so… So I did it!”
Eyes aflame, Brandon stomped har
Suzanne screamed in agony,
Brandon increased the pressure on her ankle, and amidy, “If anything happens to Natalie, you’ll pay tenfold!”
With that, he hauled Suzanne out of the car and drove directly towards the casino without waiting for anyone else
At that very moment, an unremarkable truck was parked in a disorderly, deserted yard of the underground casino. A burly man adorned with a shiny gold necklace leaned against the truck, complaining, “Damn it,
Jeremy’s supply has been declining in quality, barely making a profit for our casino. We’re breaking our backs every day, and can barely afford his low-grade pills!”
His lackey lowered his gaze, inquiring, “What’s our next move, boss?” The burly man gave his lackey a kick, replying, “What can we do? Just try to keep afloat. Start unloading the cargo from the truck. No slacking, unless you want me to flay you alive!”
The men promptly started offloading the freight from the truck, grumbling and hurling curses at Jeremy as they worked
Amidst the commotion, a sligh
Natalie, with a backpack slung over her shoulders, huddled behind a car scene unfolding outside, hyper-alert to the movements of the burly men
Nervousness caused sweat to bead on her pale forehead, soon drenching her hair. The rank odor in the truck induced waves of nausea, but she suppressed it, biting her lip to prevent her presence from being detected
As time ticked away, most of the truck’s load had been removed. Devoid of its shielding cargo, the light from outside gradually seeped in, and the previously dimly lit truck suddenly seemed a lot brighter. Had
Natalie not been slight and been crouched behind the crate this w
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hole time, she would have been spotted long ago
Just then, a pair of grime-streaked hands reached in, poised to shift the crate hiding Natalie.
A pair of large, sooty hands descended on the box hiding her. Natalie’s pupils contracted and her heart threatened to leap from her throat. She gripped her backpack straps tightly, swallowing in terror, and remained motionless
“Boss, need to use the toilet.”
Suddenly a voice, impish in tone, from one of the lackeys outside interrupted the hand’s movement
The filthy hands withdrew from her box under Natalie’s nervous scrutiny
Another lackey chimed in, his voice dripping with sycophancy, “Boss, | have to go too. Only ten more boxes left. Let’s take a break and finish the job later.”
Quickly following was the sound of a scuffle
Through a crevice between the crates, Natalie saw a burly man, draped in an ostentatious gold necklace, giving his underlings a few good kicks while berating them, “Knew you were trying to slack off. If there’s less cargo, I’ll skin you alive!”
Unfazed by the beating, the lackey approached his boss, plastering a grin on his face. “Boss, no one would dare mess with your goods. Me and the boys will take a leak, grab a smoke to freshen up, and be right back
Won’t delay a thing.”
Exasperated by the lackey’s prattling, the boss waved him off. “Alright, get on with it but make it quick.”
The underlings showered him with more flattery before whistling their way out
As the echoes of their footfalls dissipated, Natalie exhaled a sigh of relief
Once she was certain that only the burly man remained outside,hind the truck’s door, peeking out to assess the scene outside
A desolate, decrepit courtyard lay before her, enclosed by a half-ruined wall. Overgrown flora sprouted in every nook and cranny, with wild vines snaking up fractured lintels and windows. Weeds ran rampant on the ground, amidst scattered debris
At that moment, the burly man was statione
This was her golden opportunity to escape
Biting her lip, Natalie held her breath and sou
A bead of sweat traced a path from her f
Seeing the man remained oblivious to her
Not too far from there stood the courtyard’s gate
Upon spotting the half-open gate and hearing the faint distant noise, a glimmer sparked in Natalie’s eyes
As long as she could make it through that gate and reach a place teeming with people, she would be safe!
Natalie’s heart pounded against her chest, a mixture of nervousness while clutching her backpack strap, ready to bolt through the gate
She cautiously inched towards the gate, the gleam in her eyes intensifying with each step
She was almost there!
Freedom from this hellish place was within her grasp!
“Stop right there!” A frigid, harsh voice echoed through the deserted courtyard. “Where do you think you’re off to?”
The cold, menacing voice brought Natalie’s escape to a halt. Her pupils contracted, her slender hand gripping the backpack strap trembled slightly, fear triggering a fresh wave of sweat in her palm, causing her entire body to shake involuntarily
Terrified, she twisted her head to confront the intimidating man, fear rendering her speechless
The burly man flicked his cigarette butt on the ground, crushing it under his foot. He then directed his gaze at the visibly frightened woman, his voice gruff. “Who are you? Why are you here? Why haven’t I seen you around before?”
Swallowing hard, Natalie stuttered nervously, “I… I came with my brother
I was searching for the restroom, got lost, and ended up here.”
“Got lost?” The burly man eyed Natalie with suspicion before conducting a quick scan of the yet-to-beunloaded goods on the ground. Everything seemed in order, so he dismissed her with a wave of his hand.
“Scram if you value your life!”
While the burly man found the woman’s presence odd, he placed high as the goods were intact, he preferred not to invite further trouble
Relieved, Natalie expressed her gratitude to the man and took off
In a stroke of bad luck, just then, the underlings who had left for the restroom returned, crossing paths with
Natalie
“Wait!”
Suddenly, someone stopped her
A henchman eyed Natalie’s profile with suspicion as they crossed paths; he paused her and studied her face
Without a moment’s delay, Natalie swiveled on her heels, her movements rigid from anxiety. She forced a chuckle, asking, “Can I assist you with something?”
Scrutinizing her, he stroked his chin and mused, “Have we met before, you seem familiar?”
His boss, looming behind, cuffed him sharply on the head. He scolded, “You’ve got an unhealthy fascination with good-looking women; you’re imagining things! Get back to the grindstone! Not even a heavenly beauty can hold up our shipment!”
The man didn’t pause for breath; he shot a brusque glare at Natalie
“Aren’t you heading off? Need me to point you to the exit?”
“Alright, alright, I’m on my way!” With a sigh of relief, Natalie hoisted her backpack onto her shoulders, sprinting towards the gate
As she dashed away, the henchman caught another glimpse of her profile. He blurted out, “Now I remember! She’s Jeremy’s little sister!” “What?” The burly man squinted. “You sure?”
Nodding furiously, he affirmed, “Positive! She’s Jeremy’s sister! I’ve seen her before! She’s definitely here on a spying mission for Jeremy. We can’t let her slip away!”
A recent visit to Jeremy’s lair had etched Natalie’s side-profile into his memory. He was struck by her grace, an image that had since been hard to shake
Had he not known of her ties to Jeremy, he might have tried to charm her
“Damn it! After her!” the burly man bellowed, leaving one henchman to guard their goods, leading the rest in a chase
Sounds of pursuit amplified Natalie’s sprint
Ahead, the noise intensified, peppered with the sounds of havoc and terrified shrieks. A brawl was underway
Yet, fear wasn’t her companion; it was a stroke of luck
Fate gifted her an escape route!
May the bedlam inflate! The worse, the better!
The heightened chaos outside boosted her odds of shaking off her pursuers
In the expansive courtyard, she raced as though her life hung by a thread
A diminutive door neared, the clamor magnified; a thrill coursed through her
Freedom was within reach!
Just a few strides away!
But in a heartbeat, a pair of strong hands clutched her backpack
“Ah!” Natalie’s shriek pierced the air. She swiftly shed her backpack, flinging it backward
The henchman, who’d grabbed her bag, staggered back a few steps, thrown off balance, still clutching the bag
The burly man steadied the henchman, cautioning, “Watch out, there could be explosives in there. She wouldn’t come unprepared.”
“Shoot!” Startled, the henchman hurled the backpack
The other henchmen halted, and one gave the bag a tentative kick. He yelled, “Boss, there’s nothing hazardous in there!”
They rapidly resumed their pursuit. As they sprinted, the burly man instructed, “We cannot let her get away! If Jeremy gets wind of our unloading site, he could turn the tables on us!” The slight delay was all Natalie needed. She neared the rusty old gate
She was close! She was about to touch the gate!
The uproar beyond the door amplified; a glimmer of hope sparkled in Natalie’s eyes as her slender hand met the doorknob
Despite her mighty tug, the door remained steadfast
Her spirit deflated upon seeing the burly men close in. She alternated between pushing and pulling at the door, pleading in alarm, “Unlock this door! Please, just unlock this door!”
The door merely trembled with each shove and tug, still resolutely shut
Her pursuers narrowed the gap, and a terrified shriek slipped from Natalie, she pounded the door, wailing,
“Help! Is anyone out there? Please, help…” Her plea was cut short as a pair of grimy, large hands muffled her mouth
“Mmmph…” Natalie’s fight was futile; her feet kicked the ground in desperation
But she was outnumbered and outpowered. The burly men subdued her with ease, dragging her to a decrepit security booth nearby, all the while silencing her protests
Just as they stuffed her inside, the gate swung open from the other side
An unfamiliar face peered in, stating his confusion, “I thought I heard someone, but there’s no one here?”
The sight of the man intensified Natalie’s struggle, but her captors held her firmly, allowing no movement
The man at the gate, still finding no one, concluded his misjudgment. He withdrew and secured the gate
Despair washed over Natalie. She questioned her chances of rescue now..
Meanwhile, Brandon had navigated to the underground casino that Suzanne had disclosed. This casino was a notorious hub for unsavory characters, teeming with violent clashes. Here, the weak were merely fodder for the ruthless
Especially a delicate beauty like Natalie. If those predators caught sight of her, she wouldn’t stand a chance
The thought of Natalie’s potential harm sent Brandon’s temper flaring
He gripped his gun tightly, barging through the doors of the casino’s front hall
The scar-faced overseer of the hall immediately gauged the intensity of the new threat. Just as he instructed his henchmen to handle Brandon, an astute thug interjected, “Boss, that’s the renowned boxer from Darkmoon. He’s a heavy hitter around here. We can’t afford to provoke him.”
The boss held his command, giving Brandon a
“Boss, he’s here looking for trouble. What’s our next move?”
“Approach him and inquire his business,” directed the boss. Along with a couple of henchmen, he ambled towards Brandon. He plastered a forced smile on his scarred face and questioned, “What brings you here?”
A murderous glint twinkled in Brandon’s bloodshot eyes. He thrust forward a photograph of Natalie, his demand crisp and clear. “Give her back!”
The boss scrutinized the picture carefully, barkinecognize her? Return her at once, if you have her!”
One by one, the men shook their heads in denial. “Nope, never laid eyes on her before,” they chorused
Wearing an obsequious smile, the boss attempteken, my friend. None of us has seen her before
Perhaps, she isn’t here. You might want to search elsewhere.”
But Brandon wasn’t swayed. His cold gaze swept over the Jeremy’s goods, where is it? I need to see for myself!”
His words reverberated in the quiet hall
The smile clung to the boss’s face, but a glint of fierceness se access to their warehouse? Are you planning to snatch our stuff?”
Fear of Darkmoon didn’t equate to submission to oppression
Unfazed by the veiled threat, Brandon disregard inconspicuous rusty door at the rear of the hall
“Damn it, boss, he’s forcing his way in. H
Cracking his knuckles and neck, the boss wore a malicious grin, “He seems to know about our inner parking lot. Probably eyeing that truckload of goods. Well, we need not cower then. Men, arm yourselves!”
At their leader’s command, they scrambled for chairs and iron bars, storming towards Brandon.