"Enough! Henry!" Susan cried out, her concern for her father evident.

Henry sneered, retreating to the bedroom with the phone, cutting her off. He spoke into the receiver, "Mr. Phillips, I presume you've heard her voice."

"Henry, don't do anything rash," Edward pleaded.

"Don't worry. I'm not a pervert. Have you done as I instructed?" Henry asked smoothly.

"I'll give you the shares you demand. But I won't kill myself," Edward replied.

Henry's face darkened. "You're risking her life."

"If I die, she dies," Edward said coldly. Henry noted that Edward retained a clear mind.

"But I can make her suffer," Henry threatened.

"Henry, don't you dare…" Edward's voice was strained.

"Rape before death? After? Or perhaps mutilation…" Henry continued, his voice chilling.

"Enough!" Edward roared.

Henry clearly held the upper hand, leaving Edward little room for negotiation. "Mr. Phillips, I know suicide takes courage. I'll give you a few more hours. But if I don't hear of your death by tomorrow morning, you'll receive a package containing Susan's eyeballs."

"How dare you!" Edward sputtered.

"I mean it. Consider it," Henry said, ignoring Edward's outrage before hanging up. He wasn't concerned about Edward's tricks; a father's love, he knew, wouldn't allow him to risk Susan's life even if suicide seemed a solution.

Edward, indeed, felt helpless. He slammed the phone down. Manuel, while expecting Henry wouldn't kill Susan as long as Edward lived, hadn't anticipated the torture. Edward would sacrifice himself to save Susan without hesitation. He turned to Manuel, still working on his laptop.

Manuel, despite hearing the conversation, showed no outward worry, causing Edward to question Susan's importance to him.

"Done," Manuel announced, closing his laptop. He'd narrowed down Henry's location, though not precisely.

"Edward, comply with Henry's demands. We'll stay in touch. Don't worry about the mutilation threat. I'll have her out by tomorrow morning."

"What if you fail?" Edward asked.

"Even if I fail, and you choose suicide, she'll still be killed," Manuel replied flatly.

Edward stared at him, silent.

"But I'll do everything I can," Manuel promised.

"How can you be sure? Do you know where they are?" Edward questioned, doubtful.

"I've located him via the signal."

Edward remained skeptical. How did Manuel access such encrypted information?

"Edward, trust me. I can get her out," Manuel insisted, unwilling to elaborate. Time was short.

Edward, despite his doubts, resolved himself. "Manuel, she's my only daughter. I can't lose her."

"I know."

"Can you do it?"

"Of course."

"I trust you!"

"Rest assured," Manuel reassured him. Edward felt a sense of relief; he had no one else.

"I have to go. Keep in touch with Henry. Let him know I received the information."

"Got it."

Manuel sped towards a dilapidated community, parking his car at a distance to avoid potential surveillance. He accessed nearby security cameras through his phone, needing them to pinpoint Henry's precise location within the approximate area he'd already identified. He estimated Susan's abduction time and downloaded the relevant footage.

He then called Theodore.

"Why so early? Need help?" Theodore asked, sounding confused. He'd just driven Hannah back to Kensbury and returned to the Capital.

"I need men," Manuel stated directly.

"What happened?" Theodore sensed the urgency.

"Susan's been kidnapped. I can handle it, but I need help with data analysis."

"Okay... I'll have them contact you," Theodore said, his voice serious.

"Thanks."

"Manuel, I don't think she deserves your devotion."

Manuel acknowledged this, but remained resolute. After hanging up, he received a call from Theodore's team. He sent them the footage, requesting they search for Henry. He began his own search.

An hour later, he received a call. "Mr. Johnson, we haven't found him."

Manuel reviewed the footage himself. He couldn't find Henry either, but noticed something suspicious. He took a screenshot and sent it to Theodore's team. "Check this girl. Send me her route from the recordings."

"Yes, sir."

The girl was likely Henry's supposed sister from an orphanage—someone who had previously contacted Manuel. Henry's unawareness of this prior contact made her an ideal accomplice. Her presence wasn't coincidental. Minutes later, he received the girl's route, leading him to a dilapidated building—Susan's likely location.