Chapter 256
“David, get me out of here! Tell them to let me go! I don’t want to stay here!”
David pressed the knife harder against my neck. “Send her over! Then I might consider your proposal.”
Though David loved money, he wasn’t stupid enough to take unnecessary risks.
If Henry used Scarlett as leverage against him, demanding my release in exchange for her safety, there was no way he’d agree. I was his golden ticket–what use was Scarlett to him?
If it weren’t for the fact that she’d given him a son, he would have kicked her to the curb years ago. Other men’s wives cooked, cleaned, raised children, kept house, and brought in money without missing a beat. But Scarlett? She could barely handle basic housework, completely useless for anything else.
Without him supporting her, this woman would have starved on the streets.
But if Henry truly threatened Scarlett, David couldn’t just ignore it completely. After all, she was still
his wife.
“Let her go!” David shouted impatiently at Henry. “You have no right to hold my wife!”
Henry responded with nothing but cold contempt, making no move to instruct his security team to release Scarlett. Instead, his lips curled into a chilling smile. “You want me to release her?” He paused for effect. “Sure. On one condition: you release Sophia first!”
In Henry’s mind, David was utterly brainless Why should this lowlife get everything he wanted?
David’s face contorted with rage at Henry’s response. “She’s Sophia’s mother–your mother–in–law! Aren’t you afraid she’ll hold a grudge against you for this?”
Henry’s attitude infuriated him.
As the older generation, he and Scarlett deserved respect. Yet this arrogant young man not only disrespected him but had the audacity to restrain Scarlett. How was that acceptable?
With David’s arm crushing my windpipe, I could barely breathe, let alone speak. I could only wait silently for an opportunity.
Henry completely ignored David’s protests, his gaze growing colder. “Whether she’s my mother–in- law or not is for Sophia to decide, not you.” His voice remained steady but carried unmistakable force. “Release Sophia now, and everything remains negotiable. I’ll give you the money you want. But only if you let her go first.”
1/4
Chapter 256
Despite the distance between us, I could see the concern in Henry’s eyes. He had clearly noticed my distress. My face felt hot, my mouth open as I struggled to get enough air. David’s grip was too tight, making it difficult for me to breathe.
Seeing this, Henry immediately offered a higher price, desperate to save me from suffocation.
David glanced down at me, finally realizing my face had turned red from lack of oxygen. He loosened his grip slightly, allowing me to catch my breath.
Only when my breathing returned to something approaching normal did Henry’s expression soften
slightly.
Meanwhile, Scarlett struggled against the security guards holding her shoulders, completely immobilized. Looking at Henry’s threatening expression, she tried pleading:
“Henry, dear, I’m your mother–in–law! Is this any way to treat family?” Her voice adopted a saccharine tone of ingratiation.
“You can see that my husband isn’t exactly even–tempered, but he won’t hurt Sophia, I promise. Just let me go to him, give us the money we agreed on, and we can all remain one big happy family.”
Henry gave her only the briefest glance before breaking into laughter. “You’re truly shameless. How could Sophia possibly have a mother like you?”
No wonder I had never mentioned my family during our marriage. Now he understood–parents like these were worse than having no parents at all. He couldn’t blame me for disowning them.
Scarlett had no response to Henry’s cutting words. She turned her face away, unable to meet his penetrating gaze that seemed to see right through her facade.
Henry dismissed her completely, taking several steps forward before stopping abruptly when David tensed defensively. He raised both hands in a non–threatening gesture.
“Mr. Hernandez,” he said calmly, “Sophia isn’t well. Look at her face–she’s pale and can’t even speak.. She’s likely experiencing hypoglycemia.”
He paused. “How about this: take me as your hostage instead. Let her come to me. If you agree, I’ll add another million dollars to what I’m already paying.”
The moment Henry mentioned an additional million, David’s eyes lit up with undisguised greed. Without a second thought, he agreed immediately.
“Take off your watch and belt,” David commanded Henry. “Throw them on the grou
Unlike me—a woman with no fighting skills and little physical strength–Henry could pose a genuine
threat.
2/4
Chapter 256
By removing his belt, Henry would need to hold up his pants with one hand, effectively limiting his ability to fight back. David had once seen someone use a watch as a weapon, smashing it against an opponent’s temple with enough force to create a deadly wound. Fearing Henry might possess similar skills, he demanded the watch’s removal as well.
After a moment’s hesitation, Henry complied. David kicked Daniel’s leg. “What are you waiting for? Go pick them up!”
Daniel’s eyes gleamed with greed as he stared at the luxurious Patek Philippe watch. The moment he picked it up, he fastened it around his own wrist. “Dad, does this watch look good on me?” he asked, admiring it.
David nodded appreciatively. “Not bad! Your brother–in–law’s possessions are all top quality. Keep it -consider it a welcoming gift from him.” Daniel was practically dancing with joy.
By now, the crowd of onlookers had begun to disperse, quietly slipping away as plainclothes officers moved among them.
When SWAT teams and detectives appeared, the spectators realized the severity of the situation and feared being caught in the crossfire. They vanished silently, replaced by undercover police officers.
Henry exchanged a meaningful glance with them before walking toward me.
Throughout this entire ordeal, I hadn’t spoken–not out of fear, but because I’d been waiting for an opportunity to save myself. Earlier, when David had been choking me, I’d struggled to breathe, briefly oxygen–deprived. Now that my breathing had normalized, my mind was working clearly again.
Seeing Henry approach like some kind of guardian angel sent a wave of reassurance through me. Despite our ongoing divorce proceedings, his presence at this moment stirred something deep inside
- me.
His willingness to risk his own safety to save mine was something I couldn’t ignore.
If I truly didn’t care about him at all, why would his arrival affect me this way?
Still, I wished he wouldn’t come closer.
The distance between us wasn’t great—just a few seconds of walking–but I didn’t want him
endangering himself.
As he approached and David began to loosen his grip in preparation for the exchange, I made my
move.
With all my strength, I kicked backward sharply, my foot connecting solidly with David’s stomach.
Simultaneously, Henry reacted to my sudden movement with perfect coordination!
3/4
Chapter 256
His foot swept toward David’s legs while his fist flew directly at David’s face.
Chapter Comments
LIKE
