Chapter 366: Another Kidnapping
Just as Robert was about to turn his attention back to work, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen—James.
He hesitated, then answered. “Hello?”
“Jenny’s dead.”
James’ voice was rough and low, weighed down by exhaustion. “It’s hard to accept. We’ve worked together for years… I never thought it’d end like this.”
Robert went quiet. He didn’t know what to say. A long silence passed before he finally replied, “It was her choice. She must’ve thought it through. If that’s the case… she wouldn’t want anyone mourning her. Just think of it as the price she paid for her mistakes. Everyone pays eventually.”
“I get it,” James murmured. “But death feels like too high a price. There had to be another way.”
“You’re not her. You’ll never understand what she was carrying,” Robert said, voice tight. “Maybe, for her, dying was the only freedom left. Why force her to keep suffering?”
James didn’t respond at first. But when he spoke again, his tone had softened. “Maybe you’re right. But, Robert… now that we know it was all just a big misunderstanding… will you still be my friend?”
The question caught Robert off guard. For a long time, he didn’t answer. Then, in a voice rough with emotion, he asked, “Even after everything I’ve done… would you still want to be friends?”
“I told you—it was a misunderstanding,” James said gently. “Whether it was Will in the past or Robert now, you’re someone I truly admire. I don’t want to lose that. Let’s still be friends, okay?”
Robert smiled—really smiled—for the first time in a long time. “Of course.”
With all the dust finally settled, James and Laura began preparing for their long-awaited wedding.
After everything they’d been through, they weren’t taking any chances. James even cleared his schedule to help Laura decorate their new home. King and Victoria came by to lend a hand too.
They worked all morning. By the time noon rolled around, King and Victoria still hadn’t returned from their errands.
Laura glanced at the clock and picked up her phone. “I’ll call Mom. It’s getting late.”
The call rang and rang. No answer.
Frowning, she muttered, “Why aren’t they picking up?”
James took the phone and tried again. Still nothing.
His brow furrowed. “That’s not right. They never go anywhere without their phones. Something’s wrong.”
A chill crept up Laura’s spine. Her mind jumped back to the Greens’ recent kidnapping. That trauma still hadn’t faded.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
“Is Mr. James here?”
A young man’s voice called from outside.
James opened the door. A delivery boy stood there, holding an envelope. “Are you Mr. James?”
“Yes.”
“This is for you. A woman ate at our restaurant earlier and asked me to bring it to this address within the hour.”
James took the envelope, already suspicious. “Who was she?”
“She said you’d understand once you read the letter,” the young man replied. “And don’t worry—she already paid me.”
With that, the boy turned and left.
James stared at the envelope, unease tightening in his chest. He opened it quickly.
The letter read:
“James, Laura—
If you want to see your parents one last time, come to the summit of H Mountain.
Hurry, or you’ll be burying them instead.
And don’t call the police—unless you want all of us to die together.”
Laura had been reading over his shoulder. Both of them froze.
James’s voice turned sharp. “I know who this is.”
He turned to go.
“I’m coming too,” Laura said.
James paused. “No—stay here. It’s too dangerous.”
“The letter mentioned me too,” Laura replied firmly. Though pale, her voice was steady. “If they don’t see me, they might hurt my parents.”
James hesitated for only a second. Then “Let’s go together.”
They arrived at the summit of H Mountain.
The wind was brutal. Leaves tore through the air. And there—standing against the gray sky—was Emily.
A cruel smile curved her lips. “You want me to suffer? Let’s see who ends up wishing they were dead.”
Her eyes locked on Laura. “You took everything from me. My parents. My status. You made me a servant’s daughter. Do you think I’ll just let that go?”
Then her gaze turned to James, brimming with resentment. “And you. I gave up everything for you. But you never looked at me—not even once. Always Laura, Laura, Laura.”
She raised her voice, hysteria creeping in. “You say you love her? Fine. Today, I’ll find out just how deep that love really is.”
Behind her, King and Victoria lay bound and unconscious, slumped against a large rock.
Emily’s eyes glinted with hatred as she glanced back at them. “You kicked me out like trash—like a beggar. And now you want to enjoy family happiness with her?”
Her face twisted into a sneer. “Let me help you skip straight to hell.”