Chapter 194

Chapter 194

Claire thought about the plan she'd been orchestrating for five years. She made the call.

A few hours later.

Francis sat in the villa, drinking while playing online gambling games.

Watching another hundred thousand dollars go down the drain, he refused to quit. He upped his bet.

Just as he was getting into the zone, three heavily tattooed muscle-bound men burst through the front door with hammers.

"Francis, you've racked up fifty million dollars in debt with us. How about it? Time to pay up, don't you think?"

The leader lit a cigarette, took a drag, and had the other two pin Francis down in front of him.

He blew smoke in Francis's face.

Patted his cheek.

Then he pulled out a knife and pressed Francis's fingers flat against the table.

"If you don't pay today, I'm chopping off your fingers one by one!"

"I don't have the money, but my daughter does."

"Just wait."

"My daughter called earlier—said she's coming back. Once she gets here, forget fifty million—she can give you a hundred million, no problem!"

Francis hadn't realized his debts had piled up this high over the years.

Watching the men pull out IOUs with vicious grins, Francis fumbled for his phone with trembling hands, about to call Claire.

Claire had already timed her arrival perfectly and walked in just then.

Seeing the villa in complete disarray, she showed no surprise whatsoever.

She calmly approached and pulled out a check she'd prepared in advance.

"Dad, the money—I can pay it back for you."

"But we're not blood-related, after all. This money didn't come easy for me. I can't just hand it over for nothing, right?"

"Here's the deal: help me with something. If it works out, when Brian gets out of prison, on top of what I already promised you both, I'll give Brian another fifty million dollars."

Claire's eyes held no concern for Francis whatsoever.

Only cold indifference.

Francis was too panicked to notice the iciness in her gaze.

He nodded frantically.

"Claire, I knew you cared about me the most."

"As long as you pay off my debt, I'll do whatever you say."

"Just don't tell your mother about this debt situation for now."

Seeing she'd achieved her goal, Claire subtly exchanged a glance with the three muscle-bound men.

She handed them the check. They left.

The spacious villa hall was left with only Claire and Francis.

"Claire, what do you want me to help you with?"

Francis assumed it would be something minor.

When Claire finished explaining, he froze in place, pupils contracting sharply.

His hands trembled just as badly as before.

When Jasper arrived in Suncrest City, the first thing he did was call Frederick.

"Frederick, where's Nora?"

"You're the one who hid them, aren't you?"

"Where did you take them?"

Jasper had no proof.

But Nora had mentioned that this trip to Suncrest City was because Frederick told her Evelyn didn't have much time left.

So Jasper was certain Nora's disappearance was connected to Frederick!

"Nora?"

"Jasper, what gives you the right to interrogate me?"

"I've checked—these past five years, even though I wasn't by Nora's side, she never once publicly called you her boyfriend!"

"Five years. You've been right there beside my wife, yet you couldn't win her heart. What right do you have to demand their whereabouts from me?"

"Hmm?"

Frederick was in the Kennedy Group's executive office.

While monitoring Nora's movements in the master bedroom on camera, he was also arranging for Brian's prison release.

Nora wanted Claire's shares—he was determined to deliver exactly what she wanted.

No one was going to stop him!

"If Nora isn't with you, you wouldn't be this calm hearing she and Elise have disappeared!"

"Frederick, I was only suspicious before that their disappearance had something to do with you, but now I'm certain!"

"You're the one who hid them!"

Jasper exited the airport.

He hailed a car and headed straight for the Kennedy Group.

"Elise is my daughter. Even if she's with me, what can you do about it?"

"Jasper, I suggest you mind your own business!"

"This is Suncrest City! Not Rosewood City!"

"Even if you're the legitimate heir of the Scott Family, you have no authority to throw your weight around in Suncrest City!"

On the monitor, Frederick suddenly saw Nora writhing violently on the bed, clutching her abdomen.

Worried she was sick or something had gone wrong, Frederick shot to his feet.

He stared tensely at the monitor.

He hung up on Jasper and drove home at top speed.

When he pushed open the bedroom door, he found a thin sheen of sweat on Nora's forehead.

Damp strands of hair clung to her brow, the ends soaked through.

"Honey, what's wrong?"

"Where does it hurt?"

Frederick noticed Nora kept clutching her abdomen. He reached for her hand, planning to call the family doctor to examine her.

He didn't notice that when Nora opened both hands, she held a sharp dagger.

The blade pressed against Frederick's throat before he could react.

"Frederick, unlock the chain and let me go!"

Nora hadn't thought of it earlier—years ago, after learning Frederick and Claire were involved, she'd hidden a dagger under the mattress to protect herself from Claire's potential attacks.

She'd kept the dagger for self-defense.

She never imagined that the blade she didn't use five years ago would come in handy now, by sheer coincidence!

"Honey, you love me."

"I don't believe you'd actually hurt me."

"These five years—you never forgot about me, did you?"

"The more you act like you don't care, the more you actually do!"

Frederick hadn't expected Nora to find a dagger. He had no idea where it came from.

Staring at the blade before him, he suddenly wanted to test whether Nora truly had no feelings for him.

"What about now?"

"Still think I have feelings for you? Still care about you?"

Seeing Frederick didn't believe she'd actually hurt him, Nora dragged the dagger across the skin of his neck.

She avoided the carotid artery.

But blood still flowed steadily from the wound.

Soon, Frederick's collar was soaked with blood.

"I've already contacted Claire. She'll sign the equity transfer agreement with us tonight. Even if you really want to leave, you can wait until after the agreement is signed."

"Didn't you say that's our marital property?"

"If you want it, I'll get it for you!"

Feeling the stinging pain at his throat, Frederick looked down mechanically and saw he was actually bleeding.

Nora had actually hurt him.

He shut his eyes hard.

Unwilling to believe it, yet forced to accept the truth.

He wasn't willing to give up.

Didn't want to let Nora go so easily.

But he knew clearly—even by force, he couldn't keep her!

"When is Claire arriving in Suncrest City?"

"What time did you arrange? What's the address?"

"I'll sign the agreement myself! I don't need you there!"

Nora no longer trusted Frederick.

Even if she had to sign an agreement, she wouldn't go with him!

"I'll tell you."

"Just put down the dagger!"

Frederick pulled keys from his pocket and unlocked Nora's chains.

With her legs free, Nora retreated toward the door, dagger still raised.

Just as Nora was about to escape the villa, a servant ambushed her from behind.

At the critical moment, Jasper arrived.

He rushed down, seized the servant's attacking hand, and pulled Nora behind him.