Chapter 511
**Chapter 511: Hiroto in Hiding p>
The flickering flames cast a warm, golden hue over Anneliese’s delicate features, illuminating her face with an ethereal glow. Her eyes were steady, reflecting a depth of resolve that Timothy found both captivating and unsettling. When she spoke, her voice resonated with a quiet intensity, a force that felt undeniably genuine.
Timothy observed her in silence, a whirlwind of thoughts swirling in his mind. There was something about her words that tugged at the corners of his skepticism, slowly chipping away at the fortress of doubt he had built around himself. He felt an unexpected inclination to trust her, piece by piece.
“So, you really won’t come after me for this?” he asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.
Anneliese’s expression shifted to one of genuine surprise. “Why would I?” she replied, her tone steady. “Selina is the one I despise. She hired someone to take my life four years ago, and I’ve carried that hatred ever since. I loathe her for the suffering she inflicted upon me. Back then, I blamed you for being complicit, for standing by her and helping her conceal the truth. But now, I understand—I was never your child. Naturally, you would protect her p>
“If you let me leave, then you are helping me,” she continued earnestly, her gaze unwavering. “You’re saving me. I should be thanking you. I would never bring harm
to you p>
Timothy felt a flicker of hesitation, a shadow of doubt crossing his features. He shook his head, trying to dispel the uncertainty that lingered in the air. “You make it sound so sweet,” he countered, his voice edged with skepticism. “But I still don’t trust a word you say. And Jonathan is no gentle man. So, stop trying to fool me p>
He knew all too well that even if Anneliese found it in her heart to forgive him, Jonathan was a man who held grudges close to his chest, never allowing them to fade into the past.
Timothy’s refusal hung heavy in the air, but Anneliese could sense a crack in his resolve. She pressed on, her determination ignited by the urgency of her situation. Selina wanted her gone, and Timothy was her only ally in this moment of desperation.
Time was not on her side; if she failed to sway him before Selina returned, the stakes would skyrocket.
“If Jonathan wanted you punished, he wouldn’t let you walk out of here today,” Anneliese asserted, her voice firm. “You have no conflict with him. He only cares about my perspective. If I don’t blame you, he won’t waste his time hunting you down p>
She leaned in closer, her tone dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “If you’re scared, I can remain silent. I won’t mention your involvement in this. You know I received five hundred million in the divorce settlement. I can pay you something for saving my life. With that money, you wouldn’t need to run p>
Her gaze was piercing, and she continued, “Mr. White, Selina abandoned the mother who sacrificed everything for her. Do you truly believe she will remain loyal
to you once you escape? She won’t. Just think about that for a moment p>
Her final words struck Timothy like a physical blow, the weight of her statement sinking deep into his consciousness.
No one understood Selina’s true nature better than he did.
He recalled the painful memories of his imprisonment, the way Selina had never bothered to visit him, never even attempted to rescue him from his fate. He remembered Mikita, who had traded her own children for Selina’s sake. Now, as Mikita faced the grim reality of prison, Selina hadn’t lifted a finger to help her.
It was clear to him: once Selina was free, he would be left to rot in the shadows of her past.
He thought back to the night Selina had assisted Hiroto in eliminating Calvin. If she had the capacity to kill once, what was stopping her from doing it again? He could easily find himself next on her list.
In contrast to Selina’s treachery, Anneliese had always been a woman of her word. She had a moral line she refused to cross.
Timothy had joined Selina in abducting Anneliese, driven by the suffocating weight of his debts. Occaton had become a prison in its own right, and he felt he had no way out.
But if Anneliese could provide him with that money, and he could avoid taking a life, perhaps a normal existence was still within reach.
“Would you really pay me?” he asked, his voice tinged with a flicker of hope. “I want two hundred million p>
His eyes sparkled with a desperate longing. Anneliese frowned momentarily, contemplating his request, before finally giving a slow, deliberate nod.
“You have a deal,” she said, sealing their agreement with a sense of finality.
Timothy narrowed his eyes, suspicion creeping in. “That was fast,” he remarked, unable to hide his surprise.
Anneliese let out a soft, weary laugh. “Look at my situation,” she replied, her voice tinged with exhaustion. “Do you think I have the luxury of arguing? My life is worth more than two billion. I can afford it p>
“I am Jonathan’s wife,” she continued, her expression serious. “But the Fullbusters have never accepted me. If news of a kidnapping gets out, my reputation will shatter. Even if Jonathan stays by my side, my standing in that family could slip away p>
“Mr. White, trust me,” she implored, her voice steady. “I want this buried more than you do. All I want is to return home before sunrise, without anyone being the wiser.” Her words washed over Timothy, dispelling the last remnants of his doubts.
The weight of a Fullbuster title far surpassed the value of two hundred million. He recognized that Anneliese was not a fool; she would ensure this remained a secret.
Meanwhile, Selina sped down the winding road, her heart racing as she repeatedly hit redial on her phone. Hiroto still hadn’t answered, and a knot of anxiety twisted in her stomach.
She was acutely aware that Jonathan’s people were on Hiroto’s trail, and he needed to outsmart them.
Tension coursed through her, but she fought to maintain her composure.
She believed in Hiroto’s ability to escape. He must have realized that Jonathan was keeping a close watch on him.
If he was not answering, it likely meant he was on the move.
As she approached the outskirts of town, a wave of relief washed over her when his alternate number finally connected.
“Uncle Hiroto, are you safe?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.
“It went well,” he replied, his tone reassuring. “Don’t worry. I found a place to hide. I called Jonathan and told him to wire one billion into the overseas account and arrange our private jet. He agreed p>
As the weight of their precarious situation hung in the air, both Anneliese and Timothy were left to ponder the choices that lay ahead, while Selina raced against time to ensure Hiroto’s safety.