Chapter 321The drive was long and quiet, the only sound coming from the engine and the occasional crunch of gravel beneath the tires. Eric stole glances at Gwen, who sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her arms crossed tightly against her chest. Her eyes were fixed on the road ahead, her jaw clenched as if she were holding back an ocean of emotions. After what felt like an eternity, Eric finally broke the silence."Gwen… are you sure about this?" His voice was gentle, almost pleading. "Going home right now won’t change anything."Gwen didn't turn to him. Her voice, when it finally came, was low and hard. "I need to feel like I'm doing something. I can't just sit around waiting for news, not knowing if my son is even alive out there."Eric tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "I get that, I do. But we need to be smart about this. You know James is going to confront Mr. Sterling, it appears he knows what's going on and now you’re planning to run around on your own. It’s risky. To

Chapter 323“No, let her talk,” Mr. Sterling replied.Gwen wiped at her eyes, trying to calm herself, but the weight of everything that was happening—the threats, the uncertainty about her son—was too much. She glanced at Mr. Sterling, whose cold, unblinking stare made her feel even smaller. Finally, her voice cracked, "I haven’t told Eric anything about you. I swear, I—"Mr. Sterling cut her off sharply, "Don’t lie to me, Gwen. I can see it in your face." He leaned forward, his voice lowering dangerously. "I told you to keep the identity of my son a secret and keep him away from the public eye as I have a lot of enemies. Do you not know Eric is my enemy? You think you can betray me? After all I've done?"Her lip trembled again, and she shook her head, her voice trembling. "No... I wouldn’t. I... I just want my son back. I didn’t say anything—Eric only knows that Charles is in danger, that’s all. He doesn’t know who the father is."Mr. Sterling’s eyes narrowed, studying her for any si

Chapter 325Eric grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair, his mind racing, and rushed out of his office without bothering to wait for his driver. His hand shook slightly as he pulled the keys from his pocket and made his way to the underground garage. He headed straight to one of the company’s official cars, a sleek black Audi A8, parked near the exit. The car was polished, its tinted windows gleaming under the fluorescent lights of the garage. He swung the door open, threw his jacket onto the passenger seat, and slid behind the wheel. The leather seats were cold, and the interior smelled faintly of a new car scent. He fired up the engine, the hum of the motor a small comfort amidst the chaos in his head. Without wasting time, Eric drove the car out of the garage and onto the street, the sleek vehicle gliding effortlessly through traffic. His hands gripped the steering wheel a little too tightly, and his foot pressed the gas pedal harder than usual. As he sped through the city

Chapter 327One of the officers, a tall man with broad shoulders, strode towards them with a purposeful gait. He had a chiseled jawline, peppered with stubble, and his deep-set brown eyes were sharp, constantly scanning the surroundings. His police uniform was neatly pressed, and his polished boots clicked with each step on the pavement. His badge glistened under the evening sun as he adjusted the belt around his waist, which held his radio and holstered firearm. His expression was neutral, but there was a trace of suspicion in his gaze as he approached the group.When he reached them, he nodded, offering a brief but polite smile. “Evening, gentlemen,” he said in a low, professional tone. “I couldn’t help but notice the gathering over here. Is everything alright? Is something going on?”Eric, feeling the pressure of the situation and not wanting to raise any alarms, quickly forced a smile and waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, no. Everything’s fine, officer. Just talking things over wi

Chapter 329It was Mr. Sterling who was calling Williams. He sat in his dimly lit office, his hands clenched into tight fists as he stared at his phone lying on the polished mahogany desk. The screen was dark, unresponsive—just like Williams, who had ignored his calls all evening.He’d tried Williams again and again, hoping he would pick up. But nothing. Mr. Sterling’s jaw tightened as frustration clawed at him.With an irritated sigh, he picked up the phone again, scrolling through his call log, where Williams’ name sat, unanswered, like a taunt.Mr. Sterling closed his eyes briefly, his mind racing back to the call with the kidnappers earlier that day. The kidnappers’ cold, steady voices still echoed in his ears, making his stomach chum with anger. He could almost picture them on the other end, calm, menacing, outlining their demands as though it were just business as usual: twenty million dollars, packed in cash, and to be delivered at an undisclosed location that they’d provide s