Chapter 282 How Can Serenity Carry On?

Chapter 282 How Can Serenity Carry On?

Sullivan's face was full of smugness.

"Sophia, you owe me all of this. If you hadn't suddenly appeared and tried to take the Brown Group, if that bastard James hadn't stuck his nose in and taken the hit for you, I'd be worth hundreds of millions by now."

"I want you to watch helplessly as he suffers in Ironcrawl, to live with guilt for the rest of your life."

"I'm playing you all. Watching you run around everywhere, unable to solve anything in the end. This feeling is just so satisfying."

Byron's jaw tightened. "Take him back. Solitary confinement. Twenty-four-hour rotating interrogations. We must find out which compound James was sold to and which smuggling route they used."

"Don't waste your energy." Sullivan shouted as the police dragged him out. "I won't say anything. You'll never find him. He'll rot in some valley in Ironcrawl for the rest of his life, feeding mosquitoes and dogs."

The iron door of the secret room slammed shut, cutting off his crazy laughter.

The room instantly fell silent, leaving only Sophia holding the unconscious Serenity and a few police officers looking at each other.

The smell of disinfectant mixed with blood made it hard to breathe.

Sophia's mind went blank.

She hated James, had hated him for two lifetimes.

In her past life, he imprisoned her, destroyed the Brown Group, and caused Clara's death. She had woken up countless times at midnight swearing to make him pay in blood, to make him suffer everything she had suffered.

Sophia knew she shouldn't feel happy right now, after all, James ended up like this because he took that injection for her.

But a hidden corner of her heart was screaming that James deserved all of this.

What he did in her past life, and what he allowed Isabella to do—those were yesterday's causes.

Now, whether blind or trapped in prison, these were today's consequences.

Sophia walked out of the secret room. Sunlight hit her face and she squinted slightly.

This was what James deserved.

If she felt bad about anything, it was only that she had let Serenity down.

But Sophia had decided that whether James came back or not, she would treat Serenity like her own mother and care for her forever.

The ambulance siren soon grew from distant to near, and Serenity was lifted onto a stretcher.

Sophia followed into the ambulance, looking at Serenity's paper-white face, her chest tightening.

In her past life, Serenity had protected her and was pushed down from a high building by Isabella, remaining in a coma for over ten years until her death.

In this life, because of her, Serenity had suffered one devastating blow after another.

First James nearly became a vegetable, and now he'd been kidnapped and sold to Ironcrawl, his fate unknown.

At the hospital, Serenity was rushed into the emergency room.

Sophia stood in the corridor and dialed Calvin's number.

The call connected, and Calvin's voice carried a hint of urgency. "Ms. Brown, how did it go? Did you find Mr. Smith? I just saw Byron and his team bringing Sullivan back to the station."

"No." Sophia's voice was hoarse. "We were tricked. The person in the secret room was a decoy. James was sent to Ironcrawl by Sullivan's people early yesterday morning."

Calvin fell silent on the other end.

After a full ten seconds or so, he said in a heavy voice, "Ms. Brown, don't panic."

"I'll immediately take people to check all vehicles, personnel, and logistics heading to Ironcrawl in the past three days, plus all boats leaving the country and smuggling routes. We'll definitely find clues."

"Okay." Sophia's voice grew heavier. "I'm not panicking."

"You don't need to do too much, just cooperate with the police."

"Understood, I'll cooperate with the police." Calvin was startled, not expecting Sophia to say this.

Sophia put down her phone and looked at the emergency room with its red light on.

After what seemed like forever, the red light went out.

A doctor came out, removed his mask and said to Sophia, "The patient had acute myocardial ischemia and insufficient blood supply to the brain caused by extreme emotional distress. Fortunately, she was brought in time and is now out of danger."

"But her heart and mental state are very poor. She absolutely cannot endure any more shocks, or she could have a heart attack or sudden death at any time."

"I understand, thank you doctor." Sophia stood up and followed the nurse into the ward.

Serenity lay in the hospital bed, hooked up to an IV, eyes closed, brow tightly furrowed, mumbling continuously, "James... my James... don't take him away... please don't take him away..."

Sophia sat by the bed and gently held her hand.

Serenity's hand was ice cold and trembling constantly, as if it had been soaked in ice water.

"Serenity," Sophia said softly, "don't worry, he'll come back."

What Sophia didn't say was that even if James couldn't come back, she would still take care of her.

Serenity slowly opened her eyes. Seeing Sophia, tears immediately flooded out.

She grabbed Sophia's hand, crying but not daring to make too much noise for fear of straining her heart. "Sophia, what do we do?"

"James can't see, he can barely walk. In a place like that, those people will beat him to death... He's never suffered hardship since childhood, how can he endure it..."

"He won't, Serenity." Sophia gently patted the back of her hand. "James has a strong life force, he'll be fine."

She couldn't show panic in front of Serenity.

Serenity couldn't take it anymore.

Just then, the phone on the bedside table suddenly vibrated.

It was Nathan.

Sophia said quietly, "Serenity, I'll step out to take a call."

Serenity nodded numbly.

Sophia picked up the phone and tiptoed out of the ward.

"Sophia, are you okay?" Nathan's voice came through the receiver. "I just got word from Byron. James was sold to Ironcrawl by Sullivan's people—is it true?"

Sophia closed her eyes. After a moment of silence, she spoke, "Yes."

Nathan fell silent for a moment on the other end of the line.

"The Vasquez Group has been in the jade business around Ironcrawl for over a decade," he said. "We're well connected across all the local channels."

"If you need it, I can immediately arrange for people to look for him."

Sophia knew Nathan wasn't making empty promises.

The Vasquez Group's jade business covered all the major mining areas in Ironcrawl. To establish transportation and security channels, they had accumulated deep-rooted connections along the border over the years.

These forces reached far deeper into those lawless areas than official police could ever touch.

But... did she really want to use these resources to save James?

The man who had destroyed everything in her past life.

Waking up at midnight, she had cursed him countless times, wishing he would be torn to pieces.

Now he'd been sold to the hellish Ironcrawl, blind and physically weak.

All that awaited him was endless torture and death.

Wasn't this the retribution he deserved?

Two voices tore at each other fiercely in her mind:

'Don't save him, let him die there, this is what he owes you.'

'But what about Serenity? She can't take any more blows.'