Chapter 18
Chris watched Henry leave, and all the frustration in his heart melted away.
Tonight?
Then he'd reluctantly go home and wait for Joanna to come crawling back to apologize.
Joanna, who had just left the hospital, hadn't even made it home when she received a call from Henry. "I'm out of the detention center. I don't have any money on me. Get your ass over here and pick me up."
"I'll transfer you money. Take a taxi home. Don't cause any more trouble before Chad's case goes to appeal."
Joanna had no desire to see Henry again. In fact, she regretted that he'd only been locked up for a few days.
Henry would definitely hold a grudge against her for not pleading for him that day. If she went, she'd surely get a beating from him.
"I'm your old man! I just got out, and you, my own daughter, can't be bothered to pick me up? Joanna, if you don't get your ass down here, I'll yank your mother right out of that hospital bed and drag her home to die!"
Chad's shamelessness was inherited from Henry. Father and son were equally despicable.
Her mother and Henry were legally married. If he wanted to take her mother from the hospital, no one could stop him.
The address Henry gave was in the suburbs.
The place was in the middle of nowhere. After the driver got to the general area, he refused to go any further.
Joanna had no choice but to get out and walk.
There were several construction sites that were not started. Joanna wasn't sure where Henry was and was about to call when, suddenly, something heavy struck her from behind.
Unable to bear the pain, her vision went dark, and she passed out the next second.
When she woke up again, Joanna could feel she was in a car. It was already dark outside.
She struggled a bit, but her hands and feet were tied tightly. Only her mouth could move.
Joanna glanced at Henry driving and suppressed her anger. "Henry! You tricked me into coming here! What exactly do you want? Aren't you afraid I won't handle Chad's case anymore?"
Henry couldn't take his hands off the wheel to smack her, so he grabbed some random trinket from the dashboard and hurled it at her hard.
"You've really turned rebellious! You don't even know to call me dad anymore. No wonder Chris said you've been disobedient lately. Is it because of that man who helped you last time? Joanna, do you have no shame? Do you even know you're married!"
Hearing this, Joanna understood everything. "You went to see Chris? Did he tell you to tie me up and bring me back? Henry, are you going to sacrifice me again for your own benefit?"
How could Henry be so heartless to her?
She was his blood, too!
Joanna's nose stung with tears. The sadness in her heart was no less than her resentment.
"Why put it so harshly? You two are husband and wife, not enemies!" Henry yelled at her impatiently. "Chris said as long as you go back and apologize, he won't hold the divorce thing against you."
"I didn't do anything wrong! Let me out of the car!" Joanna struggled a few times, her wrists bleeding from the restraints. "Henry, kidnapping is illegal. Do you want to go to prison with Chad?"
"You dare?!" Taking advantage of a red light, Henry leaned back from the driver's seat and slapped Joanna across the face. "You're my daughter! I'm sending you to your husband's house right now! What law am I breaking? If you don't settle down, don't blame me for drugging you!"
He sat back in his seat. Joanna then noticed the medicine box wrapped in a black plastic bag on the passenger seat.
She couldn't make out the label or what was inside, but given the circumstances, it sure as hell wasn't anything good.
Three years ago, Joanna had learned that in Henry's eyes, she, as a daughter, couldn't compare to his interests.
As long as there was a way to bring him benefits, Henry would sacrifice her without hesitation.
So she had to find a way to escape!
She observed the road conditions around her, knowing there were still 30 minutes before reaching Hillside Villa. She had to leave as soon as possible.
While twisting her body to grab the trinket that had been thrown at her, Joanna worked to lower Henry's guard.
"I'll apologize. Untie me. If Chris sees me like this, he'll think you kidnapped me to demand a huge ransom. You don't want him to cut ties with you forever, do you?"
Of course Henry didn't want that, but he wouldn't be swayed by just a few words from Joanna. "Don't get any funny ideas. I'll untie you when we get outside the villa."
Joanna said nothing, her long hair covering her expression as if she'd given up in despair. But actually, she was counting the time until the next red light turned green.
The next intersection was busier. If she could smash the window and bail out there, someone would definitely help her.
But she only had one chance. If she couldn't seize it, Henry would drug her and deliver her to Chris's bed.
Time passed bit by bit. The red light turned green. Just as Henry accelerated through the intersection, Joanna suddenly threw the trinket in her hand hard at the car window.
It didn't break, but she immediately slammed her head against it. Two hits and the glass gave way. She tucked into a ball and started squeezing through.
When Henry heard the commotion and tried to stop her, Joanna already had half her body outside.
"Damn girl, I'm taking you to see your husband! Why are you running? Do you have a death wish?"
"Bah! You go yourself!"
Joanna, ignoring the glass shards, crashed and smashed her way out, jumping from the car.
By the time Henry stopped the car, Joanna had already grabbed a piece of broken glass from the ground and cut through the rope.
She quickly ran toward where there were more people, blood trailing behind her.
Henry jumped out and started after her, but way too many people were already swarming around Joanna with their phones out, so he had to back off.
Joanna now had blood all over her head and body—definitely many wounds.
If he went over there, people would treat him like some criminal!
Damn it.
This girl had really grown some balls—actually had the guts to fight back now.
Henry didn't dare stay any longer and quickly drove away.
A passer-by stopped Joanna. "Miss, are you okay? Oh my god, do you need me to call the police?"
Joanna had jumped from the car on sheer willpower. She didn't dare stop for long, afraid Henry would catch up.
But now with so many people surrounding her, Henry probably wouldn't dare try to grab her again.
"Hospital... hospital, thank you."
After saying this, she passed out.
At the same time, Chris had deliberately finished work early today. Thinking of Joanna waiting for him at home, he was in such a good mood that everything looked pleasant.
But when he got home, there were no lights on in the villa.
Since neither he nor Joanna lived there anymore, the servants only came every few days to clean. No one was living here.
Chris had thought Joanna would have come back to tidy up.
"Whatever, she's probably on her way."
Chris consoled himself, went to shower and change into casual clothes, arranged for someone to come clean, and waited.
But time passed bit by bit. By daybreak, not a single person had appeared at the villa entrance!
Chris grabbed a water glass and smashed it on the floor.
Henry had dared to fool him!