Chapter 223 Into the Trap

Chapter 223 Into the Trap

Henry held his soft little son in his arms and glanced at his wife beside him, her eyes were gentle and warm. A deep sense of contentment filled his heart, and he felt that life had reached its peak. He wanted nothing more.

He raised his eyebrows at Sylvia smugly, his expression seeming to say, "See? Garth doesn't want me to leave."

Sylvia was amused by his childish pride and stopped urging him to go.

The family of three enjoyed a rare warm breakfast together.

John had probably gotten instructions from Henry, because the breakfast he sent over was ridiculously generous. It included not only dishes suitable for pregnant women but also cartoon-shaped treats that kids love.

Garth sat between Henry and Sylvia, fork in one hand and spoon in the other, eating until his little mouth was shiny with oil, his face full of satisfaction.

However, this harmony was broken by a sudden phone ring.

It was Katya calling.

Sylvia looked at the name flashing on the screen and casually answered, her tone light. "Katya, calling so early—do you miss me?"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end before Katya's voice came through, sounding strange, dry, and with a hint of trembling.

"Sylvia... I... I just wanted to ask if you've been doing okay lately..."

Sylvia stopped stirring her coffee, immediately sensing something was wrong.

Katya had always been straightforward and never hesitated when she spoke.

Sylvia probed calmly, "I'm doing fine. What about you? Your voice sounds weird—do you have a cold?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the voice on the other end suddenly changed to a cold, mechanical tone that had been processed and was impossible to identify by gender.

"Ms. Brooks, your friend is in my hands now."

Sylvia's pupils contracted sharply, and the air around her seemed to drop to freezing.

"If you want her to live, prepare ten million dollars in ransom. Remember, no police. I will contact you again."

Sylvia shot to her feet, knocking the plate beside her to the floor with a harsh crash. Her face turned pale instantly, but fury burned in her eyes. Her whole body went rigid, emanating a bone-chilling aura.

"What's wrong?" Henry noticed something was off immediately. He put down his utensils and strode to her side, supporting her cold, trembling body.

Garth was frightened, staring at Sylvia with wide, terrified eyes, looking uneasy.

"Katya's been kidnapped," Sylvia said through clenched teeth, each word icy cold. "They want ten million dollars ransom."

She had to go back right now.

"I'm coming with you." Henry made the decision instantly.

The two found Frank and Lisa and explained the situation.

"Sylvia, don't panic!" Frank's face looked terrible too. "But there's a mole in the branch, and Lisa and I can't leave right now."

John had given strict orders that no core members could leave until the mole was caught.

Lisa was so anxious she stamped her feet. She grabbed Henry's arm, more serious than ever before, and instructed, "Sylvia is pregnant now. She can't get too emotional. You have to take care of her and make sure nothing happens to her, you hear me!"

Henry nodded solemnly.

Half an hour later, a helicopter roared on standby at the island's helipad.

Sylvia held Garth and hurried onto the plane. She kept trying to call Katya's number the whole way, but all she heard was the cold automated message saying the phone was off.

Her heart sank steadily, her nails digging deep into her palms.

Henry pulled her and the child into his arms, silently comforting them. His deep voice carried a trustworthy strength. "Don't be afraid. I've already sent people to investigate. We'll have news soon."

Sylvia leaned against him, her mind in chaos, but one name kept surfacing uncontrollably.

She suddenly looked up, staring at Henry, her voice trembling slightly. "Could it be... Skylar?"

Besides her, Sylvia couldn't think of a second suspect so vicious and so familiar with the people around her.

Henry's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, and he was silent for a moment.

When he spoke again, those deep eyes held no warmth, only coldness and determination.

He looked into Sylvia's eyes and promised word by word, "Sylvia, don't worry. If it really is her, I won't hold back. I'll make her pay a terrible price."

The helicopter's roar tore through the city's night sky.

Sylvia held the sleeping Garth, her eyes fixed on the rapidly retreating lights outside the window. Her chest tightened with both cold fear and burning rage, making her breathing rapid and heavy.

Henry held her and Garth tightly in his arms, feeling her body's uncontrollable slight trembling, his heart aching beyond measure.

He had used his own channels to pinpoint the location where the kidnappers sent the message in the shortest time possible—an abandoned chemical plant in the suburbs.

The place was remote, desolate, with no surveillance—the perfect spot to hide a hostage, and also a perfect trap.

The helicopter landed on open ground near the abandoned plant, and bodyguards who had been waiting immediately came forward.

"Boss, the situation inside is unclear. Let us go in first," the head bodyguard said in a deep voice.

"No need." Henry refused directly. He took off his coat, wrapped Garth up tightly, and handed him to a bodyguard, his tone brooking no argument. "Watch him."

He turned to look at Sylvia, his deep eyes full of concern. "I'll go in with you."

Sylvia nodded. She understood that any attempt to dissuade him would be pointless now.

The abandoned factory was filled with the pungent smell of dust mixed with chemicals. By flashlight, they could see discarded equipment and cobwebs scattered on the ground.

The two walked one after the other, their footsteps on the dust-covered floor making faint scraping sounds that echoed in the empty factory, sounding particularly eerie.

After going around a huge reactor, they finally found Katya tied to a chair in a locked office.

Katya's mouth was sealed with tape, her hair was messy, and her face was as pale as paper. The moment she saw Sylvia, tears immediately welled up in those terrified eyes, and suppressed cries for help came from her throat.

Sylvia's heart felt like it was being squeezed by a large hand. She rushed forward and tore the tape off Katya's mouth with trembling fingers.

"Sylvia!" The moment the tape was removed, Katya broke down crying, her voice hoarse and weak.

"Don't be afraid, Katya. I'm here. It's okay now." Sylvia untied the ropes binding her while softly comforting her.

When the ropes came loose, Katya's body went limp and she collapsed into Sylvia's arms.

Henry stepped forward to check and said in a low voice, "She's just exhausted. No obvious external injuries."

Sylvia breathed a sigh of relief, but the fury in her heart burned even stronger.

This wasn't about money at all. This was a setup, designed solely to lure her back from the island.