Chapter 197
This message instantly diverted my attention.
Then he sent me a short video.
I quickly opened it. Through the footage, I could clearly see Sophia sitting in the driver's seat of that car.
Her eyes were crazed, her face twisted, as she drove straight toward where Ethan and I had been standing.
Before this, I'd always thought the car accident was just that—an accident. I never imagined Sophia had done it deliberately.
Back in Silverlight City, she'd haunted me like a vengeful spirit. Now, even here in Gravenford Kingdom, she still wouldn't let me go!
Even though this baby couldn't have been kept anyway, it shouldn't have been taken this way.
I touched my abdomen, still faintly aching, and for the first time had the thought that I wanted Sophia dead.
"Mr. Percy, we've arrived."
Teddy's voice from the passenger seat pulled me back.
I snapped to attention and looked outside. This was a small freight dock warehouse area still in operation.
Shirtless workers either clustered in conversation or sat resting.
When they noticed our car pulling up, all eyes turned toward us.
Leopold opened his eyes, ignoring the outside attention. "Have you locked down the location?"
Teddy tapped a few times on his tablet, zooming in on one of the highlighted yellow areas. "Based on Ms. Percy's movement trajectory, this thirty-foot radius is most likely."
Leopold pressed coldly, "Can't you narrow it down to a specific warehouse number?"
"Not at the moment." Teddy's voice dropped noticeably.
I stared carefully at the screen, then suddenly had an idea.
"Jason doesn't have an authentic Gravenford Kingdom accent, so you can eliminate the areas on both sides near the water and focus your manpower on the interior."
I gestured for Teddy to enlarge the map. After analyzing Jason's and his associates' living habits, I pointed to two warehouse numbers.
"It's very likely one of these two."
Teddy looked pleased. "Ms. Wipere, your analysis makes perfect sense. Then should we..."
Halfway through, he caught himself and carefully sought Leopold's opinion. "Mr. Percy, what do you think?"
I rarely interfered with Leopold's decisions. This was the first time.
If he didn't listen to me...
"Do as she says." Leopold issued the order flatly. "To be safe, Barry, position yourself at the exit. Don't let anyone suspicious escape."
I quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
After Leopold finished deploying personnel, he had Teddy stay in the car to ensure my safety.
I didn't refuse.
This place was full of unsavory characters. If something happened, I wouldn't be able to handle it alone.
"Yes, sir." Teddy immediately complied.
Leopold placed his hand on the car door, but didn't immediately get out.
Thinking he had more instructions, I looked at him questioningly.
Leopold simply pressed the door release and got out, his face cold.
The door closed again.
The noisy sounds were sealed outside.
Inside and outside the car felt like two separate worlds.
I watched Leopold lead his men deeper inside.
The people who'd been eyeing our car also shifted their attention, following them.
Only after Leopold's figure disappeared from view did I ask Teddy. "What are the chances of successfully rescuing Amelia this time?"
Teddy was reviewing the map. At my question, he stopped.
"Eighty percent. But if the person behind Jason is also here, it drops to sixty."
That didn't sound very promising.
I asked again, "Jason brought Amelia from Silverlight City to Gravenford Kingdom. Were you not discovered the entire way?"
"Of course, we were discovered. Otherwise, Mr. Percy wouldn't have followed them to Gravenford Kingdom."
I was slightly stunned. "Leopold came here to chase after Amelia?"
Teddy's expression shifted slightly. "Not just for Ms. Percy. Mr. Percy knew you'd already boarded your flight and came straight here without stopping."
"Really?" I didn't believe it. "Then what about Sophia? Why did she come to Gravenford Kingdom, too?"
"Because Jason's condition for releasing Amelia was to exchange her for Sophia. To stabilize the situation, Mr. Percy brought Sophia along."
At this point, Teddy's tone grew heavier. "Because of this, the relationship between Mr. Leopold Percy and Mr. David Percy is very strained. I heard David has secretly contacted all the board members, preparing to remove Mr. Leopold Percy from his position."
That tactic again.
Previously, Leopold had given up his position as heir because David had pressured him through the board.
Now he was using the same move.
"Ms. Wipere, actually..." Teddy's tone paused, as if hesitating. "Before you came to Gravenford Kingdom, Mr. Percy was very happy every day."
"Although he didn't show it on his face, I could sense his happiness. He not only had me compile pregnancy precautions but also had me create a comprehensive healthy pregnancy guide."
My chest warmed. I couldn't help lowering my eyes.
I hadn't known any of this.
But even if I had, I wouldn't have dared believe it. "So he really did value that child."
Unfortunately, they were destined to have no fate together.
Teddy looked surprised. "Mr. Percy doesn't just care about the baby—he cares about you."
"To accommodate your tastes, he had all the dishes you dislike changed. He was so meticulous that he even tracked your weight gain projections month by month."
I forced out a weak smile. "Really?"
Teddy seemed about to say more when suddenly a gunshot rang out from inside.
At that sound, his face changed. He immediately set down the tablet and moved to the driver's seat.
"What are you doing?" Seeing him about to start the car, I quickly stopped him. "Leopold and the others haven't come out yet."
But Teddy proceeded methodically, locking all the car doors before explaining, "Mr. Percy instructed beforehand that if we hear gunshots, it means the situation has spiraled out of control and we must leave immediately."
My chest tightened. Out of control?
Hearing the gunshot, the people outside scattered like startled birds.
Someone in a panic tried our door handle and pounded on the window, crying for help.
"Don't open the door!" Teddy hit the gas and drove straight out. "It's chaotic out there. Jason might be hiding among them. You can't take that risk."
I understood the logic, of course. I was just worried about Leopold and Amelia.
I still hadn't seen them.
Suddenly, in the chaotic crowd, I spotted a figure that looked exactly like Jason.
But he was alone.
And he kept looking back, as if afraid of being caught.
"Teddy, Jason is at your right front! Ram into him—we absolutely cannot let him escape!"
"But Mr. Percy didn't instruct me to do that." Teddy hesitated.
"Don't hesitate, listen to me! If we let him get away this time, catching him again will be much harder next time!"
Seeing him still wavering, I added, "Don't worry. If anything happens, I'll take responsibility."
Only then did Teddy's hesitation turn to resolve. "Then buckle your seatbelt and hold on tight."
The next second, the vehicle lunged toward Jason like a hunting beast.
Jason immediately sensed danger and tried to hide in the crowd.
But the crowd had already completely dispersed.
He had nowhere to hide. All he could do was stare at us with vicious eyes.
The next second, he suddenly hit the ground.
I couldn't tell if he'd been hit or dodged.
Teddy carefully stopped the car, looking around cautiously.
I was also searching carefully.
I heard glass shatter and quickly turned back to see Teddy slumped over the steering wheel, his face covered in blood.
"Teddy!"
Just as I was about to get up and check his injuries, a dark gun muzzle aimed straight at the space between my eyebrows.
Then Jason's vicious, sinister face emerged from behind.
He said, "Lucinda. Finally found you."