Chapter 503
No longer burdened by the title of a high-society wife, Lacey had fallen in love with the life of an ordinary citizen. Every morning, she joined a group of older ladies for morning Zumba classes in the park, followed by browsing the local farmer’s market.
She loved watching the bustling crowds and listening to the chaotic chatter. Instead of finding it annoying, it sounded incredibly vibrant to her.
She found it fascinating that people would haggle for ten minutes over a few cents. She even mimicked them, bantering with the vendors. By the end of the morning, she had actually saved a couple of dollars.
Of course, Lacey didn’t care about the small change, but she marveled at how fun life could be. She even made a few friends who invited her out to pick fresh fruit and forage for wild greens.
Over time, she felt her bodyguards were just a nuisance. At first, she merely had them follow from a distance, but after a few days without any danger, she completely forgot Ethan’s warnings and secretly dismissed them.
All those other ladies never brought bodyguards, and they were perfectly fine.
Initially, Adrian’s men suspected a trap and didn’t dare make a move. Two days later, confirming she truly had no protection, they staked out a quiet, camera-free stretch of her daily route.
“Ma’am, I have a high-yield investment portfolio here. Care to sign up? Double your returns annually!” a young guy in a work uniform suddenly rushed out, grabbing her attention as she walked by with her grocery basket.
Before she could process it, a rag clamped over her mouth and nose from behind. Lacey instantly went limp. She tried to scream, but her voice died in her throat.
“I thought she was going to be a tough catch. Didn’t expect it to be this easy,” one of the kidnappers grunted, hoisting her up.
“Shut your mouth and get her back so we can finish the job. We don’t get paid until it’s done,” the other snapped. “If we screw this up, you’re dead p>
In her dazed state, Lacey heard the men arguing.
That evening, Mira was busy with corporate affairs when her phone rang. Glancing at the unknown number, she immediately rejected it.
“Spam calls p>
Her funds were yielding incredible returns, and with a new portfolio in the works, she was busy screening investments and locking in positions. She had no time for nonsense.
But the moment she looked back at her screen, the phone rang again.
“What is it? Speak fast,” Mira answered.
“Miss, it’s me, Mr. Grant p>
“Do you need something p>
“The group is facing a severe crisis and is on the verge of bankruptcy p>
Adrian had clearly put him up to this to avoid getting yelled at himself.
“I’m not a part of that family. You should know that p>
“But when the ship sinks, everyone on board drowns. You share the Mercer bloodline. The chairman and his wife have always cared about you. If you were in trouble, they wouldn’t just abandon you p>
“Stop right there,” Mira interrupted. “History proves that if I were in trouble, they would absolutely stomp on me p>
Mira was about to hang up when Wyatt blurted out, “I heard your mother, Lacey, is missing. The chairman said if you’re willing to help the company, he can mobilize resources to find her p>
Finally, the true motive.
If Mira guessed right, Adrian had already orchestrated Lacey’s disappearance. People without brains always ended up as pawns for others. It was pathetic.
However, it had nothing to do with Mira. She had only tipped Ethan off last time because she didn’t want Lacey’s humiliation to be too public This time, Lacey was on her own.
“Lacey has nothing to do with me,” Mira said flatly, hanging up and diving back into her work.
At the Mercer estate.
“She didn’t buy it. What now?” Wyatt reported to Adrian.
“That ungrateful bitch! She doesn’t even care about her own mother p>
Adrian was out of options. Thanks to Mara’s timely intelligence, Shane and Roxanne had cornered the Mercer Group Nightly. Liquidation loomed over their heads, and Adrian’s hair had turned gray in just a few days.
“Have someone stake out Rachel. If there’s an opening, snatch her at all costs p>
“Understood, Mr. Mercer p>
Adrian tossed him a stack of cash.
“Do this right. If the company survives, you’ll be the top hero and get the biggest bonus. You’ll be my right-hand man. Don’t worry, even if the group goes under I wont let you work for nothing
Wyatt had been with him for years and was one of his few confidants.
“Thank you, sir p>
While many executives were fleeing the sinking ship, Wyatt felt this chaos was his best chance to make a fortune.
After a moment’s thought, Adrian added, “I heard that rebellious daughter cares a lot about her martial arts coach. If we hijack him, she’ll have to help p>
“But you said it yourself—he’s a martial arts coach. He’s dangerous. How do we take him p>
Adrian scoffed. “Being strong doesn’t mean he’s invincible. What if we use drugs? Our backs are against the wall. We have to cast a wide net p>
Wyatt nodded. “I’ll have someone try, but it won’t be easy. Personally, I think using Lacey to threaten Ethan is a much safer bet p>
Wyatt’s mind spun, offering Adrian a strategic pivot. It was why Adrian favored him— as long as the pay was right, his brain worked wonders.
“Ah, that’s a great idea! Why didn’t I think of that?” Adrian smacked his forehead.
“You’ve been overwhelmed lately, sir. It’s normal to miss things p>
“But keep pushing the plans for Rachel and the coach p>
Time was running out; they had to attack from all angles.
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it p>
“Since time is tight, call Ethan right now p>
“Now? It’s eleven o’clock at night p>
Wyatt had been desperate to go home to his wife and newborn son.
“It doesn’t matter. The middle of the night adds terror. It builds suspense p>
Resigned, Wyatt picked up his phone, shooting a secret glance at Adrian. The man was completely out of his mind.