Chapter 281: What Kind of Demon is She

“Josiah, I think I might be in trouble.”

Madelyn headed to the restroom and immediately contacted Josiah. She informed him about being cornered at the restaurant and asked him to bring help.

After hearing her out, he could not help complaining. “Madelyn, don’t you think you’re being a bit too much? I’m a busy man, you know? All day long, it’s always something with you. Why don’t you give me some personal space? Also, when have you ever seen a man who spends all his time hanging around a woman? I’m telling you, this is seriously hindering me from getting a girlfriend!”

His aggrieved tone made her want to laugh, but there was no time to lose. She urged, “Cut the chatter and quickly send someone to help me out. You aren’t so cold-hearted that you’d refuse to help, are you?”

“That’s not necessarily the case,” he replied with a haughty huff. A moment later, his tone returned to normal as he said, “All right, I got it. Just wait.”

“Okay. I’m hanging up now.” With that, she promptly ended the call.

Then, she checked her appearance in the mirror before returning to her seat with a smile and sitting down.

“Madelyn, why were you gone for so long? Is everything okay?” Jillian asked worriedly.

“Yeah. Don’t push yourself if you feel unwell,” Janessa piped up, feigning concern.

Madelyn smiled. “Of course, I’m fine. It’s just a bit of stomach discomfort. Let’s continue eating.”

Hence, the other two ladies thought nothing of it.

“By the way, Jillian, what’s the time now?” Madelyn asked suddenly.

Jillian pulled out her phone in confusion to check the time. Just as she was about to read out the time, however, she saw on the screen a message Madelyn had sent five minutes ago. It went: We’re surrounded by Janessa’s men.

Her heart lurched.

Nonetheless, she knew she could not lose her composure and responded casually, “Oh, it’s one o’clock.”

“It’s getting late. We don’t have classes this afternoon, so how about going shopping after we’re done eating?” Madelyn suggested enthusiastically, seemingly oblivious to their situation.

Jillian and Janessa agreed.

When the trio finally finished their meal, they prepared to leave together.

A fierce glint flashed across Janessa’s eyes, brief but intense, and she suddenly clutched at her stomach. “My stomach doesn’t feel so good. Why don’t you two wait for me outside? I’ll go to the restroom and join you shortly.”

After saying that, she sprinted off and disappeared around the corner to the restroom in a flash.

Meanwhile, Jillian was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. “Madelyn, what should we do now? There are people everywhere outside. Will we be able to escape?”

Madelyn, however, responded with an artful smile. “What’s there to worry about? We’re not that weak.”

With that, the pair walked boldly to the restaurant’s entrance.

At that moment, Madelyn’s phone rang. She answered the call, and Josiah’s voice rang out clearly from the other end of the line. “Come upstairs to the cafe opposite. I’m waiting for you there.”

She gave a slight nod and ended the call.

In truth, she felt rather terrified while walking past the black vans. However, she passed through without any hindrance, which she found rather odd.

Soon, Madelyn and Jillian were meeting up with Josiah and Tristan on the second floor of the cafe across the street.

Madelyn immediately looked serious and asked a little nervously, “How are the preparations? I have a feeling that the people Janessa brought this time won’t be easy to deal with. Will you guys be able to handle it?”

In response, Tristan breathed a sigh of relief and replied, “You don’t say. These hidden assailants were no joke. Each of them was exceptionally skilled that they nearly got the better of us just now.”

“Fortunately, I went to the location you gave me last time before coming here. The people there recognized me and provided me with some backup. In the end, it was their assistance that barely allowed us to subdue those people in the car,” Josiah added, also sighing with relief.

Just hearing about it, Madelyn could almost picture how perilous the situation had been. She thought to herself how fortunate it was that the Oceanic Empire had intervened. Of course, she did not forget to thank Josiah and Tristan.

“A million thanks to you two handsome hunks. I’ll treat you guys to a meal next time,” she said, plastering a fawning smile on her face.

Josiah snorted. “It’ll be good if you can remember your promise. You owe me quite a few meals.”

She laughed, then moved a stool to sit by the window, ready to watch the drama unfold.

Within a few minutes, Janessa emerged from the restaurant.

Once she stepped outside, she began looking around in every direction. When she saw no sign of Madelyn, she could not help wondering whether Javier had already sprung into action.

A sinister and triumphant smile appeared unbidden on her face.

In the building opposite, Madelyn and the others felt a chill run down their spines at the sight of that smile.

Josiah sharpened his tongue and commented, “What kind of a demon is she? She acts one way in front of others and another behind their backs. Even a chameleon can’t change its colors as fast as she changes her demeanor. Why doesn’t she show this level of acting in her stage plays?”

The others wanted to burst into laughter when they heard that.

Janessa had arranged with Javier to meet up once everything was settled in a black sedan parked not too far away bearing a license plate that ended with 000. Hence, at that moment, she was happily carrying her bag and running toward the car as though on winged feet.

As soon as she got in the car, however, she let out a piercing shriek.

Inside the vehicle, Javier and several of his men were tightly bound with hemp ropes, and their mouths had been stuffed with white cotton. It was evident that they had been attacked.

Javier had not realized it was her, and the moment she opened the car door, he aimed a fierce kick at her. She screamed and fell to the ground.

“Have you lost your mind?” She was absolutely livid.

After recognizing who she was, he immediately wanted to apologize. However, with his mouth stuffed with cotton, he could not make a sound.

Janessa had no choice but to step forward and remove the cotton wads. Seething with anger, she demanded, “What on earth happened? Didn’t I ask you to keep tabs on that b*tch Madelyn? How did you all get tied up?”

He let out a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry. We were just about to approach her, but then a group of men in black appeared out of nowhere and took us all down. This is all thanks to their handiwork.”

“What?” Her expression shifted instantly.

Just then, the sound of a siren blared out from not too far away, growing closer and closer to them.

Startled, she urged, “The police are here. Hurry up and run!”

Javier was desperate to do so, but his hands had been firmly bound together, and it would take some time to untie the rope.

She was on the verge of losing her mind. She immediately reached out to untie the ropes, but it was too late.

Four police cars screeched to a halt beside them, one after another.