Chapter 143

After more than an hour of driving, Natalie's car entered a desolate landscape of abandoned construction projects. Years of neglect had transformed the area into a wasteland where weeds entangled skeletal structures, casting long shadows in the fading light. Natalie's knuckles whitened against the steering wheel as she scanned the haunting surroundings. Her suspicions about Vivienne deepened with each passing moment. Why would anyone drive to such a forsaken place unless they had something sinister to hide?

When she finally spotted Vivienne's parked vehicle, Natalie hesitated before stepping out, phone clutched in her trembling hands. She crept forward, ready to document whatever dark secrets she might uncover.

Meanwhile, Vivienne had already located the kidnappers' makeshift hideout in one of the unfinished buildings. Inside, an odd pair—one corpulent, one rail-thin—huddled over a small iron pot of boiling noodles. The thin man stirred the pot listlessly. "Think she'll really bring fifty million to the dock?"

His companion cast a doubtful glance at their bound captive. "For this old man? Unlikely."

"The boss is asking too much. Might scare her off completely."

Steve's eyes welled with tears at Vivienne's arrival. Bound hand and foot, with black tape sealing his mouth, he writhed helplessly on the ground, managing only muffled sounds.

"Shut it!" The fat kidnapper delivered a sharp kick, but froze at the sight of Vivienne. "Who—who are you?"

Without a word, Vivienne strode past him and carefully peeled the tape from Steve's mouth. He worked his jaw briefly before craning his neck toward the entrance. "You came alone?"

"The police might have made them desperate," Vivienne explained quietly.

Steve gaped at her recklessness. "What's happening here?" she asked, nodding toward his captors.

Nervousness flickered across Steve's features. "I was investigating that gem… they claimed to have information, so I followed them, and…" He caught Vivienne's knowing look and sighed. "After we raided Brevard Ferguson's hideout three years ago, he vanished. I posted a reward, hoping to catch him off guard. Instead, I walked right into their trap."

Their casual conversation enraged the kidnappers. The thin man drew a concealed blade, running his fingers along its edge. "Hey! Stop ignoring us!"

"Those two…" Steve murmured to Vivienne, "they sold the counterfeit gem."

Vivienne studied the armed man through narrowed eyes. The thin man spat sideways, malice glinting in his gaze. "Enough nonsense. Surrender now, or my knife won't show mercy!"

"Harm me," Vivienne replied, her voice carrying a glacial warning, "and you won't live to regret it."

The thin man's laughter held no humor. "You had your chance for the easy way. Don't blame me for what comes next!" With that, he launched himself at Vivienne, blade flashing in the dim light.