Chapter 736: A Threat
Susan snarled, desperate. She couldn't understand Henry's transformation, finding it impossible to believe his descent into cruelty stemmed solely from her waning affection. She barely remembered falling in love with him; she realized her first youthful crush had been on Manuel. Even the details of her relationship with Henry were hazy.
Rage burned in her eyes; she felt like tearing him apart. Henry simply replied with a chilling glance. "Susan, from the beginning, my closeness to you was a calculated plan."
"What?" Susan gasped, her eyes wide.
"You're a well-bred lady; I'm an orphan. Do you believe destiny brought us together?" Henry sneered, mocking the idea.
"Henry, what do you want?"
"I'll be honest. I took you from Manuel. I know your feelings for him – a turbulent mix of love and hate. I know you loved him, but the impediment of your stepbrotherly relationship made it difficult to admit. I exploited that, misleading you into believing you could love someone else and forget Manuel."
"Henry, who are you?" Susan demanded, her voice tight.
His words resonated with her past. She had had a crush on Manuel; she had kissed him. Yet, she couldn't reconcile loving her stepbrother, whom she'd considered an intruder in her family. That's why she'd rejected Manuel's confession – to prove she didn't love him.
But one thing confused her: how did Henry know all this? Especially her true feelings for Manuel?
"Who am I? You wouldn't know even if I told you. But your father will recognize me," Henry sneered horribly.
"Henry Parker!" Susan screamed.
"Call him," Henry said, producing a phone. It was hers.
Startled, Susan glared.
"If you make a sound," Henry said, producing a gag, "I apologize in advance." He moved towards her. "I don't want to hurt you," he added.
Susan glared. Henry, sulking, forced the gag into her mouth before she could scream. Bloodshot eyes glared at him, but he was unmoved. He picked up her phone and began to use it.
"Made the call?" he sneered, noticing the record of a call to Manuel. He didn't wait for an answer. "Susan, if you'd retained even a sliver of feeling for me, I wouldn't have done this." He made a call.
Susan felt a desperate urge to kill him. It was late, the time obscured by the closed windows. The line connected.
"Susan?" Edward's voice was drowsy.
"Mr. Phillips, it's me," Henry said.
"Henry? Why are you calling so late? Are you with Susan?" Edward sounded confused.
"Yes," Henry replied.
"Is something wrong?" Edward's tone shifted to nervousness, a sense of foreboding evident.
"I kidnapped her," Henry stated flatly.
Edward was speechless.
"I kidnapped her," Henry repeated.
"Henry, are you crazy?" Edward exclaimed.
"Mr. Phillips, do you remember Barry Anderson?" Henry asked.
Edward froze.
"The founder of SkyRainbow," Henry continued.
"Who are you?" Edward asked seriously.
"Henry Anderson, Barry's son."
"You... I thought you were..." Edward stammered, shocked.
"Dead? Disappeared? I survived. My parents are gone. I was sent to an orphanage. Now I'm here for revenge."
"What do you want?"
"You know. I want you to suffer as you made us suffer. The pain of a broken family!"
"Henry, I had nothing to do with your father's death!"
"Stop lying! You know the truth!" Henry raged.
"It was commercial rivalry."
"So my father, a businessman, deserved it?"
"Just listen!"
"There's nothing to listen to!" Henry refused to argue. If not for Susan, he would have acted against Edward long ago. But Susan's disappointment pushed him further. He'd only intended to bankrupt Phillips Bank, but now he aimed to kill them all.
"Transfer all your shares to Susan, and I'll control them. Nominally hers, controlled by me," Henry demanded. This indirect takeover would avoid police suspicion.
"Henry," Edward began.
"I'm not finished," Henry interrupted. "After that, kill yourself. You have hypertension, right? Overdose. Cerebral hemorrhage should do it."
"Are you insane?" Edward snarled.
"Trade your life for hers. Your choice."