Chapter 321:

The moment Mabel yelled, a sharp kick sent her tumbling from her wheelchair. She lay still on the ground. Tobin slowly withdrew his leg and positioned Jayden in front of the frightened Glenda and Lanny, who bowed their heads, shivering.

"Does my presence upset you? What explains your expressions? Have I done something to frighten you?" Jayden inquired with a deceptive smile.

Lanny managed a feeble smile. "No, we're not upset. Your actions are baffling."

Jayden's voice hardened. "Isn't losing Elyse akin to losing family?" Fear constricted Lanny and Glenda.

Jayden watched the excavators demolish the house. "With Elyse gone, can this still be called home? There's no reason to keep it standing."

Lanny cried out. Jayden seemed deranged. Glenda tried to reach Mabel, but Jayden blocked her.

He fixed his gaze on Glenda. "Do you believe maternal love is the strongest form of love?"

"Perhaps," Glenda replied cautiously.

Jayden clapped his hands. Three bodyguards emerged from the shadows, two supporting an unconscious Mabel. "So, how far will a mother go for her daughter?" At his signal, the third bodyguard struck Mabel forcefully. She awoke in agony. "Dad! Mom! Help me! It hurts! It's killing me!"

The bodyguard's blows racked her body. She spat blood onto the ground. Lanny and Glenda watched in shock.

"He's a devil!" Lanny cried, dropping to his knees. "Mr. Owen, stop this! I'll confess everything! Please, stop! You're killing my daughter!"

"Go ahead," Jayden said coldly.

Lanny, stuttering, confessed everything. Jayden's fury intensified upon learning Elyse was still captive. He took a deep breath. "Teach her a lesson," he commanded the bodyguards before leaving with Tobin. The bodyguard delivered a final punch, cracking Mabel's ribs. Blood spurted from her mouth, and she passed out.

When the bodyguards left, Glenda sobbed, "My poor girl! Jayden's a monster! I won't let him get away with this!" Lanny, drained, slumped to the ground.

"Jayden was horrible. A murderous devil returned from hell," Lanny whispered, drenched in cold sweat. He saw the excavators, understanding Jayden's rage stemmed from their failure to rescue Elyse.

After receiving updates, Jayden rose from his wheelchair and went to the top floor of the Bayzee Group building, preparing for a helicopter rescue. At Templefail Harbor, they found it deserted except for litter. Tobin said, "I've dispatched someone to check highway surveillance. We should hear something soon."

Jayden gazed at the water. "They might not have taken the highway. They could have left by ship."

"By ship?" Tobin echoed. "Marsey Island is only accessible by ship."

Jayden instructed, "Check cruise records from the past few days. Ensure no internal cruises went unnoticed." Tobin nodded and left.

Two days later, Elyse was in a cruise cabin, vomiting repeatedly. A man spun a glass of whiskey. "I came for a drink, but you keep vomiting. How am I supposed to enjoy my drink?"

Weakened, Elyse realized she had seasickness. She wiped her mouth. "I didn't ask you to come. If you want to drink, go back to your room." ... ... ...