Chapter 149 Lydia Is Leaving

Chapter 149 Lydia Is Leaving
"Uncle, you must have come to the wrong place. Lydia isn’t here!”
The blanket covering James was suddenly pulled back. 
His eyelids twitched, but he managed to maintain a calm facade.
Ethan narrowed his eyes and swept his gaze over the woman hiding under the covers.
He couldn’t help but chuckle. “She’s not here? Then tell your uncle. What kind of thrilling erotic game are you two playing?"
Dr. Mary flushed at his remark.
She sat up straight on the bed, placed her hands on James’s legs and feet, and explained, “Mr. Edwards, I’m giving James a massage to improve his blood circulation.
To prevent his legs and feet from getting stiff and numb from lying down for so long and to avoid problems like deep vein thrombosis.
We’re not what you think we are…”
"A massage, huh?"
Ethan’s gaze darkened. "You're not just trying to buy time by stalling me here, are you?"
James froze.
A man like his uncle was terrifying!
Nothing could be hidden from him.
James’s whole body went rigid. “Uncle, actually, we…”
Before he could utter the lie he was forced to tell, he saw his mother rush in.
"Ethan!"
Belle stormed in, frantic, and snapped, "You nearly shot James to death—what more do you want? I've already told you. Lydia isn't here. It’s no use turning the entire Mond estate upside down.”
“Belle!”
Ethan tossed the blanket back over James. 
He turned to face his sister. "Would you like me to shoot you a couple of times too? You’re making so much noise!”
Belle glared at Ethan. "If you kill me but spare James and Lydia, then go ahead..."
“Bang!”
The bullet whizzed past with a piercing whistle, grazing the major artery right next to her neck. 
The scorching bullet instantly left a trail of blood on her fair skin.
Belle’s eyes widened in shock, and the words she was about to say got stuck in her throat.
“Mom…”
James watched in horror. 
By a hair’s breadth, his mother would have been splattered with blood right then and there.
His uncle’s marksmanship had reached a masterful level. 
This was a warning.
“Sis, don’t let your tongue outlive you.”
After Ethan finished speaking, he holstered the gun at his waist and strode away.
Boris felt a chill run down his spine and hurried to follow.
His men returned after searching the area and whispered a few words.
Boris snapped back to reality and caught up with Ethan. “Mr. Edwards, we didn’t find Miss Hayes, her mother Rose, or Bowie and the others.”
Ethan strode quickly downstairs. "It's been so many days. There's no way Bowie would be stupid enough to stay here waiting for us to arrest him."
Boris asked, “Then where could Miss Hayes be? She didn’t hide Rose and Mom here. Where else could she have hidden them to evade our men’s search?”
Ethan asked, "Are you sure she didn't take anything from the hotel by the ST River earlier?"
Boris thought for a moment and recalled, "She didn't take any luggage, but she seemed to be clutching a small black cloth bag. It felt heavy. It looked like it contained cash as well as a small, rectangular notebook.”
"A passport? Is she trying to leave St. Island?”
Ethan’s leather boots thudded heavily on the ground as he strode out of Mond Manor and climbed into the specially modified, bulletproof Rolls-Royce waiting at the gate.
“To the airport!”

International Airport.
By the time Lydia arrived, it was broad daylight.
She waved to the people inside the black sedan; they were from James’s maternal grandfather’s family.
“Thank you.”
"You're welcome. We're just following James's instructions." 
The car sped off.
It had been a close call at Mond Manor—Ethan had almost caught her.
Lydia quickly headed into the airport to buy a ticket.
The ticket agent told her, “Except for first class, all economy and business class tickets are sold out.”
Lydia was taken aback. "They're gone that fast?"
"It's peak travel season. There's nothing we can do," the agent replied, sounding helpless.
Lydia rested her chin on the counter and glanced at the first-class price.
She clenched her teeth. "I'll take a first-class ticket to New Zealand, please."
Lydia grabbed the ticket and rushed off.
The airport announcement came on.
"Attention, all passengers!
Due to unforeseen circumstances, all flights departing from this airport will be delayed by thirty minutes.”
“Delayed by thirty minutes?” Lydia’s heart began to race.
It wasn't bad weather or a terrorist attack. 
Could a sudden flight delay mean that Ethan had tracked her down?
Besides him, who else had the power to reschedule a flight?
Lydia quickened her pace, went into a souvenir shop at the airport, bought a black hat, and put it on.
She pulled the brim of her hat down low, clutched the bag in her hand, and strode forward.
Meanwhile, on a beach somewhere...
An older man wearing a hat sat on a rock, fishing leisurely.
Seawater splashed onto his floral boxers. 
He turned his head to look at the man behind him.
"Bowie, since you're not dead, why did it take you so long to come find me?"
Dragging his battered body, Bowie took a few steps forward. "Ran into some trouble—Ethan's been hunting me down."
“You didn’t give away my whereabouts, did you?” the old man asked, lifting his hat as he eyed Bowie from head to toe.