Chapter 435

Adam answered the call; a rough male voice rasped, "Mr. Alvarez, pleasant evening."

Adam slammed the phone down, his face impassive. "Who are you?"

"My identity is irrelevant. You need only know the person you seek is with me."

Luy's eyes widened. "He's the one who took Carly! Mr. Alvarez, we have to save her!"

Adam remained cold. "Carly is with you?"

"That's right. I'll let her speak to you."

A moment later, Carly's voice, panicked and desperate, filled the line. "Adam, help me! Please! I'm so scared!"

Adam's lips pressed into a thin line. "What do you want?"

"Mr. Alvarez, I want money. One billion dollars, immediately."

Adam let out a short, mocking laugh. "You kidnapped someone and are extorting me for one billion? That's enough to imprison you for life. You'll never see the outside world again."

The man on the other end was unfazed. "Mr. Alvarez, don't try to scare me. I wasn't raised to fear threats. One person's ransom is insufficient. What if I make it two?"

A sharp glint flashed in Adam's eyes. "Two people?"

Perry rushed in. "Mr. Alvarez, bad news. Celine is missing. She was scheduled to appear, but she's vanished."

Adam paused, then gripped his phone tighter. "Celine? Is she with you, too?"

In an abandoned warehouse, Celine's eyes fluttered open. Her hands and feet were bound. A scarred man, flanked by men in black, stood before her. She had been kidnapped.

A bitter laugh escaped her. What a dramatic turn of events. She'd been moments from revealing herself as Dr. C, only to end up here.

A familiar voice interrupted. "Celine, you're awake?"

Celine saw Carly, also bound, beside her.

Celine's eyelashes quivered. "Carly, they took you, too?"

Carly struggled. "Let me go! I'm Adam's friend! If you harm me, he'll make you regret it. This is his territory. You won't survive!"

The scarred man chuckled, holding a phone. "So, you're Mr. Alvarez's girlfriend. And this one is his ex-wife."

He crouched beside Celine. "Celine, say something to Mr. Alvarez."

Celine scanned her surroundings. "Adam, we're in a warehouse on the west side of the city—"

The scarred man's face twisted in rage. He struck Celine across the face. A bright red handprint blossomed on her cheek.

Adam heard Celine's voice and the sickening sound of the blow. His expression darkened. His voice dropped to a dangerous low register. "Stop. If you lay another hand on her, you won't live to see—"

The scarred man laughed. "Oh? Mr. Alvarez, you're quite protective of your ex-wife. One slap, and you're already this upset?"

Adam's voice was razor-sharp. "The billion dollars. I'll give you what you want. Send me the location, and I'll bring the money. You release the hostages."

The scarred man grinned. "Now that's the spirit, Mr. Alvarez. One condition: you must come alone."