Chapter 319

“Oh, you’re so pitiful,” the man said, gazing at Elyse with a mixture of sympathy and concern. Her mother had chosen her sister immediately, a blow that must have hit her hard, especially considering her sister cost four million more.

He saw an opportunity. Turning to Lanny, he asked, “Your wife has made her choice. What about you? Who will you save?”

Lanny’s response was urgent: “Mabel Lloyd. The one you priced at five million.”

With a sigh, the man removed Mabel from her sack and held her. Overwhelmed by fear, Mabel remained frozen, tears streaming down her face, her hair a mess.

Looking pleased, the man instructed, “Hand the case with five million to my man. Once it’s verified, your daughter will be returned.”

Glenda quickly passed the case to a tall, slender man in black. He swiftly counted the money, snapped the case shut, nodded to his boss, and disappeared. Satisfied, the man affectionately patted Mabel’s shoulder. “Congratulations! You’re going home.”

Even after her release, Mabel seemed disoriented. Was she really free?

The man called to Mabel, gesturing toward Elyse, who stood silently. “She’s your older sister. If not for you, we wouldn’t have abducted her. What do you have to say to her?”

Mabel turned to Elyse, whose expression remained hidden beneath the sack. A long silence stretched before Mabel’s face twisted with bitterness. She spat out the words, “I never considered you my sister. Go to hell, Elyse. I’ll live the life you never will.”

With that, Mabel rushed to her parents, flinging her arms around them. “Dad! Mom! I was so frightened. Let’s go home.”

Glenda wept openly; even Lanny’s eyes were damp. The man stroked his chin, unsatisfied with the reunion. After a moment, he removed Elyse’s sack.

Elyse’s eyes slowly opened, revealing profound sadness. She watched her family embrace, oblivious to her plight. She clenched her teeth, fighting back her emotions.

“Look, they’re leaving. They don’t care about you,” the man murmured, sensing Elyse’s feelings. “Are you willing to try again for yourself? They didn't spend nearly as much on saving you as they did on Mabel.”

Elyse bit her lip, trembling. Tears welled in her eyes, but she stubbornly held them back.

“They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease. If you don’t speak up, how will they know what you want?” the man grinned wickedly, his eyes gleaming with malice.

Elyse could contain herself no longer. She yelled at the departing trio, “Mom!”

Tears streamed down her face. She looked at Glenda with a mixture of hope and fear; the thought of her mother abandoning her was unbearable.

Hearing Elyse’s cry, Glenda stopped and slowly turned. The darkness was intense, even with the light on, and a vast distance separated them. Yet, Elyse clearly saw the coldness in Glenda’s eyes—a gaze as if she were looking at a corpse.

Elyse couldn’t accept this. She needed answers. “I’m your daughter, aren’t I? Why won’t you save me? Why?”

Tears streamed down her face, but Glenda remained silent, shielding Mabel as she quickly left.

The man watched Elyse’s tear-streaked face with an almost appreciative gaze, allowing her to cry until she stopped. Then, gently, he said, “Don’t worry. You long for your parents, right? I’ll help you find your real parents, ones who truly care for you.”

He gestured, and a subordinate approached to escort Elyse away. As she left, he gave a chilling smile that sent shivers down the spines of those who saw it.

At 2:00 a.m., Jayden stood in his study, gazing out the window. The moon was hidden by dark clouds, filling him with unease.

“Boss, I’ve got some clues,” Troy exclaimed, holding four cell phones. He pointed to one. “On this phone, Mabel has been chatting with someone overseas. I’ve traced the IP address to Marsey Island.”

“Marsey Island,” Jayden repeated, his expression clouded with confusion. “How could it be on Marsey Island?”

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