Chapter 225

Chapter 225

"Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is, if you want to see your woman and son again, follow my instructions." The voice on the other end instantly turned cold, carrying a warning.

Ethan’s senses sharpened instantly. “Prove to me Christina and Henry are with you?"

"Believe it or not, it's up to you. Ethan, My patience is thin. If you’re willing to risk their lives, forget this call ever happened." With that, the other party hung up directly.

Frustration surged in Ethan’s veins as he redialed, but the number was already disconnected.

Just then, Brice emerged from the hospital’s fluorescent-lit entrance, nearly colliding with Ethan.

"Ethan, what's going on? Where are Christina and Henry?" Brice demanded, urgency in his voice.

Icy wind buffeted them, but Ethan’s mind was crystal clear.

Elizabeth’s sudden collapse, followed by Christina and Henry’s vanishing, these two events connected together made him suspect that this was a setup from the start, designed to lure him away.

If that was true, the consequences would be catastrophic.

But who was behind it, and what was their purpose? Ethan had no answers.

"Christina and Henry have been kidnapped." Ethan said in a low voice.

Brice’s face drained of color. “Kidnapped?” he echoed.

"They've most likely been kidnapped." Ethan repeated, holding his phone up to Brice. "Someone just called me."

Without hesitation, Brice dialed emergency services. “We need the police!".

Ethan didn't stop him: "Calling the police is necessary, but I'm worried this isn't that simple."

As they spoke, Ethan’s phone vibrated with another call, this one from Joshua.

"Mr. Carter, your instincts were correct. Emily has escaped. She faked a suicide attempt a week ago, secured medical parole. According to police sources, this afternoon at five o'clock, the guard discovered the person in the hospital room was gone."

"Also, We’ve also located Uma. She was found unconscious in a storage room near the rehab garden. She was probably drugged, but she’s recovering now."

As soon as he finished speaking, Uma was wheeled out from the hospital lobby, her face still pale and looking weak: "Mr. Carter."

Uma’s account only confirmed Ethan and Brice’s suspicions: the kidnapping was no spur-of-the-moment act. It had been in motion for a long time.

Night deepened before the kidnappers made contact again, this time sending a photograph.

In the shadowy image, Christina and Henry lay huddled together in a cramped, dim room, both unconscious.

"Bring two hundred million. Come alone. No police. No tricks. Or they die.” The demand was curt, the call cut off instantly.

The authorities, already on-site. The officer in charge said: "The call was too short to trace."

But Ethan couldn't wait. Whether it was Christina's condition or Henry's safety, he couldn't afford any delay.

He had already anticipated the kidnappers would demand money and had prepared the funds in advance.

But he also knew that once the money was transferred to their account, not only would Christina and Henry's safety not be guaranteed, but the other party would immediately transfer the funds, making it harder to track them down.

Still, there was no alternative. He would risk everything for his family.

In the end, the police didn't stop him either. The other party was careful and calculating. He could only take the risk himself to draw them out, which would give them more chances to confirm their identity and location.

But the kidnappers had strong counter-surveillance skills. This kidnapping had clearly been planned for a long time.

After a labyrinth of dead drops and diversions, Ethan found himself blindfolded and ferried aboard a cargo ship, All around, the night sea raged, pitch-black and unforgiving.

On the sea surface at night, the waves were rough and it was pitch black.

"Ethan." A familiar voice rang out.

Ethan recognized it immediately, it was Emily.

He was released and the hood was removed. He found himself standing on the deck of the cargo ship, with the dark sea behind him.

Ethan didn't speak, his eyes fixed on Emily's arrogant face.

Seeing him like this, Emily laughed crazily a few times: "Long time no see, Ethan."

Ethan's brow furrowed tightly as he got straight to the point: "Where are Christina and Henry?"

Hearing him ask about Christina and Henry first thing, completely ignoring her.

Her expression soured. “Still obsessed with them? After everything, you don’t even ask about me?” Her voice trembled with resentment. "You never cared for Christina. She tricked you into marrying her. I was the one you loved."

"Ethan, have you forgotten? You didn't like Christina back then. She deliberately drugged you to become Mrs. Carter. The person you always cared about was me."

Ethan had no patience to dwell on the past with her: "You want money, I can give it to you. Now, I want to see my wife and son."

"Wife? Son? Ethan, didn't you two already get divorced? She's not your wife." Emily sneered.

"Where are Christina and Henry?" Ethan's tone grew heavier, his eyes full of impatience.

"Ethan, answer me first!" Emily screamed.

Ethan was too lazy to waste more words with her. He stepped forward, but was blocked by two burly men.

His eyes sharpened and he was about to fight back when he heard Emily's warning: "Ethan, try making a move! Here, if you don't do as I say, I'll throw Christina and her son into the sea to feed the fish!"

Then came the sound of mechanical chains sliding. The cabin door opened, and Christina and Henry were hoisted out with ropes, both still unconscious, their faces pale.

The chains turned, the cargo ship's deck hatch slowly opened, and they were suspended by ropes, slowly lifted up.

"Christina! Henry!" Ethan shouted desperately.

Christina’s eyelids fluttered. She woke, shivering in a thin hospital gown, the cold biting deep.

She found herself suspended high up, surrounded only by dark seawater.

She was wearing only a thin hospital gown, shivering all over from the cold.

On the deck not far away, Ethan was being held by two burly men, shouting desperately toward her: "Christina!"

"Ethan..." Christina was very weak. She wanted to respond loudly but could only make a faint sound.

Henry, beside her, was still unconscious, his small body red from the ropes cutting into him.

"Henry, Henry..." Christina called softly, but got no response.

Fear completely engulfed her. She could only gaze at Ethan, her lips moving slightly, but unable to make a sound.

"He called out, voice raw, “Don’t be afraid! I’m here!” Then to Emily: “The money is ready. One phone call, and two hundred million dollars will be transferred to your designated account immediately. Let Christina and my son go!"

Emily's long hair was blown wild by the sea wind. She sneered: "Your son..."

Ethan, held fast by the guards, could only watch, every muscle taut. He wouldn’t risk anything, not while Christina and Henry’s lives hung in the balance.