Chapter 153

Amelia tried calling Maisie several times, but she never answered. "Just as I suspected, she stirred up trouble and then vanished. It never ends well," Amelia thought.

Fuming, Amelia switched to texting instead of calling and attached her booked flight ticket: "Maisie, I’m flying to Lunova tomorrow. Do you want to come with me?"

Maisie finally replied: "Are you going alone?"

Amelia: "Yeah."

Maisie: "I’m currently at the airport, preparing to board my flight home. Just to let you know, I’ll pick you up at the airport tomorrow."

Amelia turned to Landon for his opinion. "Wow, she's fast!" Landon scoffed before quickly telling Aaron, "Head to the airport and stop her."

Amelia hesitated, her voice laced with concern. "Honey, is this alright? After all, she’s still Daniel’s sister."

"The enemy is at our doorstep. We will fight back," Landon declared firmly. Amelia had become the leverage that the Meyers and Zuckerberg families used to control Daniel. Landon was resolute in his determination to exact revenge for crossing him.

An hour later, Maisie was forcibly brought into Landon’s office. Spotting Amelia there as well, she exclaimed angrily, "I came here in good faith to warn you, and you had me kidnapped?"

"Is this what you call passing along a message? You were trying to trick us into going to Lunova!" Amelia snapped, her voice filled with anger.

Maisie smirked. "That’s right, I tricked you. But you have to take the bait. If you don’t go to Lunova, Velmira will be destroyed."

"Let everything fall apart then! I’m done with this treatment," Amelia said darkly, her spirit completely crushed. All these troubles came from her declining health. She had resolved to let it all go, not wanting to burden her loved ones any further.

"Not receiving treatment? Who are you trying to fool?" Maisie scoffed. "Daniel is sacrificing his marriage just to help you."

Amelia’s chest tightened. She wanted to argue back, but the words were stuck in her throat. "Ms. Zuckerberg, there’s no need to rush," Landon said coolly. "I brought you here to discuss a potential collaboration."

"A potential collaboration?" Maisie asked in confusion.

Landon said coolly, "Norava has some beautiful scenery. Why not stay a few more days?"

Maisie’s pupils constricted sharply as she exclaimed in disbelief, "Are you going to keep me here, for real?"

"Amy is Daniel’s weakness, and you’re Joanna’s," Landon said coolly.

With a simple gesture, he signaled for someone to call Joanna immediately. "Ms. Meyers, your daughter is currently in our custody. If you want her to remain unharmed, please hand over Velmira."

Maisie was taken aback. Joanna, on the other hand, stood still at the unexpected threat.

Amelia blinked rapidly in astonishment, thinking, "So this is how you play the game? Brilliant!"

"Thank you for visiting Norava, Ms. Zuckerberg, and for this opportunity," he said coolly. "Please escort her to her quarters."

"Yes, will do," his man replied.

Maisie snapped back to reality and shouted angrily, "Amelia, you deceitful traitor! I came here to help you, and this is how you repay me? You had me kidnapped!"

Amelia said with a long sigh of relief, "Regardless of your intentions, you understand best."

Amelia thought, "Wow, I just learned a new trick today! Landon’s move may be ruthless, but it’s straightforward and incredibly effective."

Maisie screamed furiously, "Amelia, I hate you! If you dare to hurt me even a little, my mom will make you pay!"

Maisie’s furious screams echoed down the hallway, growing fainter as she was pulled away. Joanna listened to her daughter’s desperate shouts on the other end of the line, feeling her body trembling.

Joanna seethed internally, "Damn it! How could Landon hold Maisie hostage? Honestly, Maisie! There were countless ways to deal with Amelia—why did you have to rush recklessly to Norava like that? Look at the mess it has caused; it’s completely backfired!"

"Daniel! Landon kidnapped Maisie. You need to go save her right now!" Joanna hurried upstairs in a panic to find him.

Daniel was hunched over his desk in the study. Without looking up, he stated flatly, "I can’t save her. Landon wants Velmira, and he won’t stop until he gets it."

Joanna anxiously urged, "Didn’t I already promise to give you Velmira after you marry Edith? Tell Landon to calm down and let Maisie go first."

Daniel paused, pen in hand, and said thoughtfully, "Actually, there’s another way."

Joanna clenched her teeth, knowing there was a better solution–hand the medicine over to Landon, and Maisie could walk away unharmed. However, that would mean calling off Edith’s wedding plans.

"They’re doing all of this because of me," Daniel said, raising an eyebrow meaningfully. "You might not know this yet, but it was Landon who shut down Project Azureveil."

"What? How is that even possible?" Joanna gasped in disbelief. "He’s just an insignificant businessman from Norava."

Daniel chuckled warmly. "Why not ask Uncle how the Meyers family is doing these days?"

Joanna’s heart raced with fear as she hurriedly dialed home. When the call connected, Tyler cried out, "Sis, you finally have time for me! We can hardly make ends meet in Lunova anymore."

Joanna, deeply unsettled by his frantic wailing, snapped, "What on earth is happening?"

Tyler exclaimed, "I’ve heard that the Meyers family has been involved in suspicious activities–it’s the reason we were expelled from Project Azureveil. Now, all those fair-weather partners are cutting ties with us."

Whatever else Tyler was saying, Joanna didn’t hear a single word. Joanna finally realized that Landon was a predator lurking in Norava. She shuddered inwardly, thinking, "He’s even more terrifying than Daniel, and much harder to deal with!"

Tyler cried out, "All our suppliers have cut us off, and we’re completely out of money! What are we supposed to do now?"

Joanna’s face turned pale as she hung up the phone. They locked eyes, and after a long, tense stare, Joanna finally relented. "Alright, I’ll give you Velmira," she said, "but you must ensure that Maisie doesn’t get so much as a scratch and restore the Meyers family to its former glory."

"Joanna, you’re asking for two things, but we only have one bargaining chip," Daniel reminded her.

"Daniel! Maisie is also your sister! She’s part of the same family!" Joanna exclaimed.

Daniel let out a derisive laugh. "Landon is only interested in Velmira. As for the Meyers family business, that’s not my concern. The choice is yours."

"Daniel!" Joanna pleaded.

"Please see your way out." Daniel immersed himself in his work, paying no attention to Joanna. Joanna had no option but to return to the Meyers family for discussions.

After she left, Daniel finally looked up and exhaled deeply, filled with relief. "Finally free from these shackles! No one can manipulate me any longer!" But...

Chapter 153

Maisie, he thought, still feeling a sense of relief.

Daniel furrowed his brows as he pulled out the note that Maisie had left in the drawer. "Daniel, I couldn’t steal Velmira, so I'm heading to Norava. I hope you’ll understand what I mean by this."

Maisie had intentionally gone to Norava to provoke Amelia and rile up Landon. She put herself in harm’s way, compelling the Meyers family to concede Velmira. She defied Joanna and the Meyers family, all to protect Daniel.

"Maisie, thank you. I owe you one this time. I promise I’ll repay you someday," Daniel murmured.