Template placeholder with Chapter 328

Chapter 328:

Before Barrie could bring the car to a full halt, Wyatt flung open the door and jumped out.

Barrie followed him, his eyes catching dark red stains on the ground. He knelt briefly to inspect them before turning to Wyatt. “This blood’s still wet. They were here less than thirty minutes ago p>

Just then, a strange rustling stirred from the bushes lining the trail.

Barrie initially chalked it up to a gust of wind, but as the sound sharpened, he instinctively stepped in front of Wyatt to protect him, scanning the surrounding area warily.

𝘐ո𝘀t𝖺n𝘵 𝗮c𝖼e𝗌ѕ 𝗈𝘯 ѕ.𝖼o𝗆

Suddenly, a hand thrust out from the undergrowth, making Barrie recoil and Zainab stifle a cry of shock.

Unfazed, Wyatt pushed past Barrie and marched toward the bushes.

Barrie hurried after him, his voice low and urgent. “Mr. Stewart, hold on p>

Before he could finish, Wyatt parted the branches, revealing Collen sprawled in the dirt, blood-soaked and barely conscious.

“Collen!” Zainab’s voice cracked with anguish, her eyes welling up.

“Don’t move him yet!” Wyatt’s sharp command stopped Zainab’s outstretched hands mid-air.

Kneeling beside Collen, Wyatt assessed him carefully before barking at Barrie, “Grab the first aid kit from the car, and call for an ambulance p>

Wary of possible internal injuries, Barrie avoided moving Collen, focusing instead on cleaning his visible wounds.

The sting of antiseptic roused Collen, his eyes fluttering open.

Spotting Wyatt, he quickly said, “Mr. Stewart p>

A violent cough brought up blood, and Barrie gently helped prop up his head.

Gasping, Collen managed to say, “They took Mrs. Stewart… that way p>

Following Collen’s weak gesture, Wyatt spotted a narrow mountain trail, just wide enough for a single vehicle.

In a dim basement on the town’s western edge, Amelia stirred, her head foggy as her eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness around her.

Monkey had bound her wrists and ankles tightly. She writhed against the ropes, but the effort only brought sharp pain, with no give in the knots.

In the oppressive silence, every sound felt magnified. The creak of the door made Amelia snap her eyes shut.

As footsteps approached, a light flicked on, and a sudden splash of icy water hit her. Her eyes flew open, and her expression shifted when she saw the figure before her.

“Didn’t think you would see me again, did you, Amelia p>

Ricky’s voice dripped with cruel satisfaction as he stood before her, relishing her drenched, helpless state.

He continued, his tone venomous, “I was going to let you off, but you refused to spare me. Why did you dig into those things? Why are you so set on destroying me p>

His eyes burned with resentment.

Amelia had no desire to engage with him, but his warped accusations pulled a response from her. “Everything you’ve suffered is because of your own greed. My mother might not have loved you, but she gave you more than enough. Shares in the Flynn Group, the CEO’s title… they failed to satisfy you. You wanted too much p>

“Shut your mouth p>

Amelia’s words hit Ricky where it hurt, and he roared at her, his face contorted with rage, only for her to respond with mocking laughter.

That twisted Ricky’s expression even further.

He glared at her. “You don’t understand. Katrina tricked me. She owed me p>

“How did my mother trick you?” Amelia interjected before he could finish speaking. “Did she force you to marry her? Can you honestly say you didn’t do all those things because you wanted her wealth? Didn’t you p>

“Enough p>

Ricky’s hand lashed out, striking her face hard enough to make her lips bleed.

Amelia tasted blood as she licked the corner of her mouth, then raised her eyes to meet his.

With a calm, unwavering stare, she fixed her gaze on Ricky, sending a shiver of dread through him.

Her piercing look now was a haunting echo of Katrina’s.

Whenever Katrina was displeased, she would pin him with that same silent gaze.

She didn’t say anything, but it made him feel utterly diminished.

“Stop looking at me like that p>

Ricky’s fist tightened, his hand rising as if to hit Amelia again, but her unyielding stare stopped him.

Abruptly, he spun around and stormed out of the basement.