Chapter 119 Finn and Cleo Are Kidnapped
The banquet was winding down.
As the guest of honor today, Ava naturally had many people toasting her. Although Joshua was by her side and they didn't dare get out of line, some things were unavoidable. She was feeling a bit dizzy now, stumbling a couple of steps, but fortunately Joshua was there to steady her.
"I'll take you home."
Ava waved her hand, "The guests haven't left yet. It wouldn't be right for me to leave first."
The people nearby tensed up at her words, and then a cold gaze swept over them.
That look clearly asked: Still not leaving? Want me to invite you to spend the night?
One person immediately caught on, put down his glass and stood up, "Mr. Thomas, Ms. Davis, I have something at home, so I'll be leaving first."
"Right, right, we have things at home too. My wife is waiting for me."
Those who could talk with Joshua were undoubtedly big shots among the wealthy. Seeing them quickly leave with bowed backs, the others didn't dare stay any longer.
So a whole group of people stood up in unison and said their goodbyes.
Ava blinked at this scene and looked back at Joshua.
Joshua seemed to sense her gaze and looked down at her.
"Can we go now?"
"..."
"Finn and Cleo are still playing... hide and seek with Hayden." Ava said somewhat helplessly, meaning she still needed to find Finn and Cleo.
Joshua put his arm around Ava's shoulder and led her forward, "No rush. I'll send someone to find them and have him bring Finn and Cleo back to you later."
Ava didn't think that would work. For some reason, her heart had been jumping anxiously all day, and she wouldn't feel at ease unless she personally brought Finn and Cleo back.
Ava lifted her skirt and stubbornly walked out, "I'll go find them."
Joshua never had any way of dealing with a stubborn Ava, so he immediately called Hayden.
A few seconds later, Hayden answered. Before Joshua could speak, "Hayden! Finn and Cleo... are missing!"
Joshua's hand gripped the phone tightly.
Joshua was close to Ava, and Hayden's voice came clearly to Ava's ears along with the howling cold night wind.
Ava was like someone struck by lightning, frozen for several seconds before reacting. She anxiously grabbed Joshua's phone and asked urgently, "What did you say?"
Hayden was running and searching, his voice breathless, "Ava, I was just in the hallway with Finn and Cleo, and when I turned around they were gone. But don't panic yet, I've already sent people to look for them. They shouldn't have gone far..."
At this moment, Ava could almost hear her own heart beating violently.
Everything happened so suddenly. The feeling of unease grew stronger. She immediately called Finn and Cleo's watch phones.
Turned off!
Turned off!
Ava had never felt such intense unease. She lifted her skirt and ran out.
After running a few steps, her high heels became a huge hindrance. Ava's heel caught on her skirt, and her body stumbled uncontrollably.
Joshua frowned deeply, took three steps forward and caught Ava, "Calm down. I've already ordered the entire Veridian Heights to be locked down. No one can get out. I'll help you search."
Ava bit down hard, "Go to the surveillance room."
Veridian Heights was too big. There were hundreds of private rooms alone. Searching like this would be like finding a needle in a haystack. Ava desperately adjusted her breathing, forcing herself to calm down.
The two rushed to the surveillance room, where Hayden had already arrived, "Joshua, Ava."
Hayden's head was lowered heavily.
"Did you find anything?"
"Yes." Hayden immediately replayed the surveillance footage he had pulled up for them.
They could clearly see Finn and Cleo being carried away by two men in black when people were flowing out.
The men in black deliberately avoided the cameras, wearing baseball caps, so their faces weren't captured at all. Clearly, the men had planned the kidnapping of Finn and Cleo in advance.
Ava's hands clenched at her sides.
Joshua's eyes were full of coldness, "Search. Send more people. Even if you have to turn the entire Veridian Heights upside down, bring Finn and Cleo back to me."
Hayden dropped his usual carefree attitude, his eyes now full of cold menace, "I'll go right now."
Daring to kidnap the Thomas family's children - these two were tired of living.
Joshua continued making calls.
"Mr. Thomas?"
"Deploy everyone to block every entrance and exit of Veridian Heights. Do a carpet search of every floor. Don't miss any corner. Without my order tonight, anyone who steps out of Veridian Heights is opposing the Thomas family."
"Yes, Mr. Thomas."
At the entrance of Veridian Heights.
Samuel led a fully armed team that had already blocked all exits of Veridian Heights.
All the lights at Veridian Heights were turned on. Over a dozen helicopters circled overhead. The entire area, centered on Veridian Heights, was bright as day.
All staff were on full alert. Tonight, all guests, no matter how prestigious, were stopped in place, because the Thomas family had just announced that stepping out of Veridian Heights meant opposing the Thomas family.
And those who opposed the Thomas family had one outcome - death!
No one dared disobey, staying obediently in place.
Even with many questions, they only dared whisper among themselves. No one dared question the fully armed black-clad guards nearby.
For Joshua to make such a big move, something major must have happened.
Everyone was anxious tonight.
At this moment on the fifth floor, two men in black were carrying two drugged children, using their strong counter-surveillance skills to avoid the search.
They moved through the corridors at high speed, destroying cameras, instantly and silently hiding in a private room.
"Fuck, five hundred thousand dollars to kidnap two kids - I knew it wasn't that simple. What is this woman trying to do? Whose kids are these? Is she trying to get us killed?"
A scarred man with a twisted scar across his face threw Finn and Cleo onto the nearby sofa.
The other person observed the situation outside through the window and tried to reassure him.
"Fortune favors the bold. Nothing can stop us. After this job, we can go home and hold our wives and kids."
The scarred man angrily pointed outside, "Look outside yourself. We might earn this money but not live to spend it."
Now the entire building, not just inside, but even the outside walls were lit up bright by the helicopter lights. They didn't even have a chance to climb out.
The scarred man spat, lit a cigarette and made a call, "Are you trying to kill me?"
"Come to the top floor. I'll get you out safely."
The person on the phone promised.
"Are you sure we can leave safely?"
"I'm also at Veridian Heights right now. We're teammates. Protecting you is protecting myself."
The other person said again. The scarred man's murderous eyes narrowed, choosing to believe them for now, "Got it."
Mia hung up the phone nervously, pulled out the SIM card, broke it in half and flushed it down the toilet.
Katya was keeping watch for her at the bathroom door. Mia came out in a panic, walked out of the bathroom and tightly grabbed Katya's hand, already in a calm state.
"Have you taken care of everything?" Katya was shaking all over when facing the patrolling black-clad guards.
Mia gripped Katya's hand tightly, "Mom, I've taken care of everything. Don't worry, just do as I say, and I'll win back Joshua's heart soon."
As long as Ava died, or the children died, she would be the final winner.