Chapter 284: Disappointed

Dalton’s eyes narrowed menacingly as he shot a cold look at Harold. “I brought the money, but the people are missing. Care to explain?”

In their line of work, there were rules. Once the payment was made, the release should follow.

But now, with the people gone, Harold felt humiliated.

“Damn it! Find out who had the guts to snatch them from me!” Harold cursed, storming back into the factory to check on his injured men.

Seeing Dalton preparing to follow, Lydia clung to him desperately. “Dalton, I’m so scared. It’s freezing here, and we don’t even know who took Meryl. Let’s go back and figure things out from there!”

Dalton’s eyes flicked with cold irritation. “Go back?”

“I’m hurt…” Lydia covered her swollen cheek. “My stomach hurts too…”

“Then go on your own.” Dalton didn’t spare her another glance. His eyes were steely with disappointment.

He thought, “Meryl is missing, and we don’t know who took her, but she wants to just leave Meryl behind and go back? They were both kidnapped together, but she’s letting Meryl be taken by someone else and hiding behind a box. And now, she’s trying to stop me from finding Meryl.”

Lydia continued to cling to Dalton, saying, “Maybe Meryl pissed off someone… She’s married to Chandler now. Aren’t you paying too much attention to her? Let’s go back, tell Chandler, and let him handle it. We don’t need you!”

Dalton pressed his lips together tightly.

He thought, “This might be my chance to save Meryl. After all, didn’t I rescue her from the bathroom all those years ago? That’s when our story truly began.”

The thought of it stirred something in him. This time, he was determined to rescue Meryl, no matter what.

Seeing Dalton’s stubbornness, Lydia grew increasingly anxious. “Dalton, I’m your wife! They have guns! This could end badly! With your position, you can’t go risking yourself like this. Let’s go back, call the police, and let them handle it!”

Dalton had lost patience with her. If he had any lingering feelings for her, they evaporated as he watched her ignore Meryl’s safety and only focus on getting away.

Her selfishness was shocking. If she could be so cold to a sister raised under the same roof, what did that say about her true nature?

Dalton said with scorn, “Without a marriage license, what makes you think you’re my wife?”

At his words, Lydia’s face went pale, disbelief flashing in her eyes. “Dalton…”

He pushed her away and stepped into the factory.

The two thugs who had been shot lay lifeless on the ground. The shooter had been precise—one shot, one kill.

Harold looked at the two dead men with a grim expression. “Damn it! Not only did they snatch people from me, but they even killed my men!” He swore bitterly.

The attackers had been swift and professional, clearly a far cry from the ordinary thugs they were. They had clearly been prepared, avoiding direct conflict and taking advantage of the weakest moment to make off with the people without a fight.

Harold quickly realized that these were not the kind of people he could deal with.

He said, “I can’t hand over the people. As you can see, two of my men are dead. I’ll refund you 30 million dollars. You’ll have to find her yourself.”

The cash was still in Dalton’s car, untouched.