Chapter 322

With a shrug, the man lifted his glass for a sip of whiskey. Then, a thought struck him, and he remarked, "I'm Baxter Cutter. Just call me Cutter, like everyone else does."

Elyse vomited again. "You really know how to kill the mood," Baxter commented, his distaste evident. He took another sip of wine and asked, "Isn't it sad? You were almost free, yet here you are, stuck with me on this boat. Don't you worry you might never see home again?"

Patting her chest, Elyse scoffed. "Almost free? You've had your eye on kidnapping me from the start. Even during the so-called rescue, you knew I wouldn't be ransomed, didn't you? This was all part of your plan."

A spark of amusement lit Baxter's eyes as he looked at her playfully and inquired, "Oh, so you figured out early on that we had no intention of letting you go?"

Sarcasm twinkled in Elyse's gaze as she countered, "While I'm still puzzled why you also abducted Mabel, it's clear you all profited. Didn't you con five million dollars from her?"

Baxter wagged his finger. "You've got it wrong. That five million wasn't conned; it was a commission for a job she hired us to do."

"Commission?" Elyse's demeanor shifted to seriousness, her voice tinged with growing tension. "Who exactly are you?"

Observing Elyse's calm facade crumble, Baxter chuckled and lifted his glass for another sip. "You don't need to know who we are just yet. When we reach our destination, you'll find out exactly where your new home will be."

Baxter refilled his glass and raised it in a mock toast. "Welcome to hell, Ms. Lloyd."

Elyse's eyes widened in fear, and she bit her lip so hard it started bleeding. Perhaps the sheer terror masked the pain.

Baxter intended to continue their conversation, but a commotion at the door interrupted him. His face tensed. Setting his glass down, he walked towards the door.

Elyse recoiled, too frightened to glance at the disturbance.

When Baxter opened the door, he found his own men sprawled on the floor while several stern-looking bodyguards glared at him. His eyelids twitched—a clear sign of alarm. Baxter, accustomed to threats, immediately understood these newcomers were after him and Elyse.

"Hey guys, why don't we sit down and talk this out? There's no problem that can't be resolved, right?" Baxter suggested.

"Oh? What exactly do you want to discuss? Are you going to tell me about how you kidnapped my wife? How you plan to take her to the infamous Marsey Island to auction her off to your pervert clients?" Jayden smiled—an unsettling mix of gentleness and menace.

Baxter knew Jayden, having investigated him before their meeting. Jayden, now disabled, used a wheelchair. "How did a disabled man find him?" Baxter wondered, his expression grim. They had been so discreet that even the police had failed to locate them. How had Jayden succeeded?

Lost in thought, Baxter underestimated Jayden. "Looking for your wife? I know where she is. Let me show you."

Outnumbered, Baxter went on the defensive. He opened the door, gently lifted Elyse, and carried her outside. "Mr. Owen, here is your wife. She's unharmed. I've treated her well," Baxter declared, a sinister smile creeping across his face as he pressed a dagger to Elyse's chin.

(The ellipses at the end are unnecessary unless more text is to follow.)