Chapter 276

Chapter 276

Although Daryl had replied to Thora saying he didn't know, he was quite certain that Francis's situation would be resolved today.

After all, the outcome would either be success or failure.

Of course, Daryl didn't think it would fail.

And indeed, things turned out just as he expected.

Later that afternoon, Francis returned to the villa under Daniel's escort.

He had lost a lot of weight, but his spirits were fairly good. When he saw Daryl, he was half-lying on the sofa being examined by the family doctor.

"Francis." Daryl walked in, and seeing Francis's bloodshot eyes, the concern on the tip of his tongue came out as a bland remark: "Your wife and child are waiting for you at home."

He thought Francis would be most worried about his wife and son.

However, Francis only asked, "Why did you come here?"

Daryl froze.

Before he could say anything, Francis spoke again immediately, "Didn't you see the message I sent back? Or did you see it but not understand it!"

His voice was somewhat hoarse, but at this moment, he completely disregarded protecting his throat. His questions came like thunder, instantly exploding in the room.

"No, Francis, I saw it." At first, Daryl didn't understand what Francis was angry about, but seeing Francis's tear-filled eyes, his mind instantly cleared. "I saw it, and I understood what you meant."

"Then why did you still come?" Francis really couldn't understand Daryl's thinking.

He had clearly stated that those people's target was William, and to draw William out, they definitely wanted to use him to exchange for Daryl coming to America.

Once Daryl came to America and was caught by them, those people would use this to threaten William.

Even if William eventually returned to Thalassia unharmed, there would probably be a rift between him and Daryl, and then all the efforts he had made for the Johnson family and for Daryl would be wasted!

Francis naturally didn't want Daryl to be stupid enough to walk into a trap.

But he hadn't expected that Daryl would actually come.

"I... Dad told me to come." Hearing this, Daryl finally understood what the other person was thinking. He took a deep breath and looked straight into Francis's eyes, speaking each word deliberately.

Hearing this, Francis's eyes stiffened, then his facial expression twitched a few times before instantly returning to calm. His voice was even more hoarse than before: "I understand. Wait until I return home."

Hearing this, Daryl immediately looked up at Francis, his eyes bright. "You're going back?"

Francis nodded, raising his palm to cover his eyes, his speech slow and low: "He doesn't take you seriously."

In the eyes of the Johnson family's head, Caspian Johnson, he indeed treated his eldest son, on whom he placed high hopes, differently from his younger son.

He rarely participated in his younger son's upbringing. In his view, everything in the family should be inherited by the eldest son. As for the younger son, just buy him a fund and support him that way.

Because Caspian held this view, when Francis wanted to take his wife and child abroad, Caspian was the one who opposed it.

However, because he had continuously been giving Francis more authority before, his opposition was basically useless.

And the most infuriating thing was that to prevent him from kicking Daryl out of the family, Francis had transferred all the company's property rights and shares early on.

Most of the company's real power was in Daryl's hands, with William as the proxy.

He had no chance to interfere at all.

So after Francis was kidnapped, Caspian kept demanding that Daryl go to America to rescue Francis, even though Daryl had said more than once that his going to America wouldn't be of any use.

"Dad heard the message I sent back, right?" Francis still held a glimmer of hope.

But Daryl nodded. Just this simple action was enough to instantly make Francis's heart sink halfway.

"He heard it."

Daryl even spoke up.

Seeing Francis's expression, Daryl felt inexplicably pleased. He had long known that Caspian was dissatisfied with him. Caspian even thought that the one who should leave the country was Daryl, not Francis.

Although Daryl himself thought the same way, honestly speaking, when this kind of thinking came from his own father, it was really quite disgusting.

Therefore, when he realized that Francis was dissatisfied with Caspian over this matter, Daryl had the idea of tattling.

And after a brief rest, Francis also noticed Daryl's expression.

He knew very well that Daryl was now using him as a weapon.

But he didn't mind.

After their mother died, only he and Daryl had each other to depend on. Caspian's inaction made their situation difficult.

If he and Daryl hadn't accompanied each other growing up, how could they be who they are today?

Caspian had played no part in this.

Moreover, Caspian really should be dealt with.

Francis's eyes darkened as he began considering how to teach Caspian a lesson.

Both Francis and Daryl had serious expressions. Normally, no one would come to disturb them, but the person entering now happened to be Daniel.

As Francis's right-hand man in overseas business, Daniel wasn't afraid of Francis and Daryl. In fact, he had long seen through Francis and Daryl's empty threat nature.

"Boss." Daniel knocked on the door first, then didn't enter. When Francis looked over, he spoke: "The matter you promised me before - can it be fulfilled now?"

Daryl had never heard of any agreement between them. Hearing this, he couldn't help but be curious. He immediately turned to look at Francis, lowering his voice, though Daniel could still hear him.

"What matters?"

Francis smiled, first looking at Daryl, then at Daniel, his voice calm: "Don't worry, I remember everything."

Hearing this, Daniel breathed a sigh of relief, then pointed outside. "The special forces people want to talk to you. I told them to come back in an hour. What do you think?"

As he said this, his eyes moved back and forth between Francis and Daryl. He probably guessed that Francis and Daryl still had a lot to discuss, but he wasn't sure, so he was confirming now.

"Okay, thank you." His thoughtfulness quickly gained Francis's approval. Then Francis smiled and sighed: "Really don't want to be my personal assistant? It pays better than being a photographer."

"No thanks." Daniel touched his nose. "I still prefer photography more."

"But your skills are average," Francis spoke bluntly.

Daniel smiled. "The way you put it - photography skills can be improved with practice."

Daniel quickly left, and the next second, Daryl leaned in again: "What? He's resigning?"

"I'm planning to change careers." Francis spoke very calmly, his gaze toward the door, sighing: "Besides, this kind of business that's constantly on the edge and always afraid of being investigated - no one really wants to do it."

Daryl nodded knowingly: "No wonder you're planning to return home. So you're planning to change careers? But what about what you promised William..."