Chapter 334: Humiliated With These Hands
Madelyn had made a frantic escape, her strength severely depleted. The young men pursuing her remained relentless and swiftly caught her. They seized her, grabbing her limbs.
“Who are you guys? Let me go!” she struggled.
“It doesn’t matter who we are. You’ve crossed someone you shouldn’t have,” they responded icily.
They hoisted her into a black van parked by the roadside.
“Help! Save me!” Madelyn screamed, struggling constantly. The men watched in exasperation, then stuffed a worn-out towel in her mouth and covered her head with a sack.
Two hours later, Madelyn awoke bound to a chair in a spacious, dilapidated building. Dust covered everything; the ceiling was bare scaffolding and rusty steel bars. Scrap metal and broken copper littered every corner. It appeared to be an abandoned factory.
Several individuals in black watched her closely, with two guards at the exit. Madelyn cursed her luck.
“What the hell is going on? Who would kidnap someone like me?” she wondered. “Could it be the Pigeon guy Mr. Septimus mentioned?”
Footsteps echoed from the entrance. Hayden Blume entered, followed by his subordinates. Madelyn realized he had captured her.
She glared at him. “I was wondering who would stoop so low, and it’s you. You’re despicable!”
Hayden was taken aback. “Who are you calling despicable?”
“You,” she stated contemptuously.
Rage choked Hayden. He slapped her.
Slap! A crisp sound echoed.
“You dare hit me?” Madelyn reeled, eyes wide.
“What’s wrong with that? Fight back!” Hayden roared with laughter.
“Release me!” Madelyn seethed, struggling against her bonds. She would have slapped him if she could.
Hayden’s laughter grew louder. “I won’t. So, what are you going to do? Hit me!” he taunted, adding provocatively, “Oh, I remember you were quite the show-off last time, weren’t you? Try it again.”
Madelyn, seething with resentment, spat in his face.
“You think you’re glorious? A loser like you is only capable of shameful deeds. Josiah is ten thousand times better than you! It’s unbelievable you’re a soldier. You’re useless trash!”
Hayden was livid. He wiped the spit from his face. “You’re calling me trash? Josiah is better? Fine! I can’t wait to see how he saves you!”
He gave a subordinate a knowing look. Alarm bells rang in Madelyn’s heart.
Meanwhile, at the Elite Club, a panicked Josiah arrived.
“Have you found them?” he asked Sebastian.
Sebastian shook his head. “Not yet.”
A middle-aged man in a suit approached. “Boss, the surveillance is set up.”
Sebastian said, “Let’s go.”
The surveillance footage showed Madelyn arguing heatedly with Wesley. She stormed off, visibly upset. Several individuals in black followed her. Madelyn sensed something and ran, but they chased her.
Wesley, initially tipsy, sobered upon seeing the footage. “I’m sorry, Sebastian,” he said remorsefully. “It’s all my fault—”
“What the hell happened?” Sebastian demanded.
Wesley explained the situation, apologizing again. “I shouldn’t have gotten so worked up, and I should’ve taken better care of her.”
Sebastian, though speechless, had no time for reproach. He frantically turned to Josiah. “Did Hayden contact you? Did he say where he was going?”
Josiah shook his head. “No.”
Suddenly, his phone rang. It was a text from Hayden: “I’m giving you one hour, Josiah. If you don’t find us, this woman can say goodbye to her hands. I remember how she humiliated me…”
Josiah’s face paled. “This guy’s an asshole!” he cursed.
“What is it?” Sebastian asked urgently.
Sebastian saw the text. Josiah’s grudge over Madelyn's humiliation at Felix’s banquet was clear. The air chilled. Sebastian’s eyes darkened, radiating a terrifying light. Wesley knew trouble brewed. This was bad.