Chapter 121

After Ingrid hung up, Shaun asked, "What did Rick say?"

Ingrid snorted and said in a high-pitched voice, "What else could Rick say? How could he take Joanna's son away? Joanna failed to take care of her son, and now she's slandering Rick like a mad dog! What a bitch. It would be great if Joanna's son had been kidnapped. Oh, right. I heard that some people specialize in kidnapping children—traffickers who deliberately abuse children, throw them on the street, and force them to beg for money. Haha. It would be great if Joanna's damn son was taken away by those traffickers!"

Shaun frowned. "You're being vicious. Joanna is my daughter, and her child is my grandson. How can you curse Irvin like that?"

"Oh, Joanna is your daughter? Then how about Roxy? Roxy wouldn't be the way she is if it weren't for Joanna. And now you're still defending her?"

Shaun said, "I'm not defending Joanna!"

Without waiting for Shaun to finish, Ingrid waved her hand impatiently. "Never mind. I don't want to argue with you. I'm going out to play poker!"

She went upstairs to get her handbag and prepared to leave.

Shaun complained, "All you do every day is play poker. How much money have you lost?"

Ingrid would tell Shaun she’d lost money playing poker, after secretly giving it to her two cousins and failing to account for it properly. Actually, she used all the money to support them. Her cousins, however, weren't idle; they worked hard to serve Ingrid, making her feel good. "I'll know when I've had enough!" Ingrid said. "Don't be so annoying!" She grabbed her bag and left.

Earlier that day, Ingrid had met with her two cousins to negotiate. Each had asked for $2 million. Ingrid's delay had nearly exhausted their patience. She now deeply hated them, realizing their true intentions and intending to end the relationship. Unfortunately, her cousins had recorded many videos of them "playing poker" together.

Sitting in the photography studio, Joanna decided to call the police. "I can't wait any longer," she said. "I'm calling the police now!"

Jaydon replied, "We can't call the police now; we don't have any evidence. Even if they arrest Derick, without evidence, they'll only hold him for 24 hours at most. Then he'll be free again."

Joanna and Jaydon were still planning. Bruce thought for a moment, then called Derick.

[Phone rings]

Chapter 121

Derick's phone rang. Seeing it was Bruce, he answered immediately.

"Hi, Bruce?" Derick said.

Bruce frowned. "Where are you?"

Derick answered, "Oh, I'm outside. What's the matter, Bruce?" (Derick and Ryan treated Bruce like family, even though Bruce and Roxanne weren't yet married.)

"I'm looking for you. Where are you?" Bruce's tone was cold.

"Right now?" Derick asked.

"Yes!" Bruce said.

Derick said, "Well, I'm afraid I don't have time now. Maybe later?" He'd just sent a bag to a little-known actress and was now dating her. Bruce replied, "No. Where are you now? I'll send a driver to pick you up."

Derick said, "Bruce, I'm really sorry. Honestly, I don't have time to see you now. How about another day? I'll buy you lunch another day. I gotta go!" He hurriedly hung up. Noticing Bruce's tone, Derick knew he'd likely get into trouble if he went to see him. Besides, Derick felt guilty.

The girl asked curiously, "Who was that?"

Derick replied, "Nothing. Just my brother-in-law."

The girl's eyes lit up. "Your brother-in-law? Isn't that Mr. Everett?"

Derick straightened up proudly. "Exactly!"

"Why did he call you?"

"Nothing. Oh, by the way, I saw Bruce has a great car in his garage the other day. I'll ask my sister to let you drive it sometime!" The girl became ecstatic. "Really?"

"Babe, when have I ever lied to you? My brother-in-law is Bruce Everett, the richest man in Greyport. You'll live a wonderful life if you're mine!"

Derick then took the girl to bed. [FindNovel.net advertisement removed]

Twenty minutes later…

Boom! Someone kicked the door open. Eight muscular men in black burst in.

Derick and the girl were frightened and hurriedly covered themselves with the blanket. Derick asked, "Who are you? What do you want?"

"Get up and come with us!"

Derick recognized Bruce's bodyguard. He sighed in relief. "Did Bruce send you?"

"Cut the crap and come with us!" The men dragged Derick from the bed.

Derick protested, "Wait, wait! At least let me put on my pants!"

Chapter 121

Soon, Derick was brought to the studio, disheveled and wearing only pants.

"Mr. Everett, we have Derick."

Seeing Derick, Joanna became agitated. "Derick, did you take my son away?" She lunged at him, looking frantic.

Derick sneered, looking arrogant. "Are you crazy? Why would I take your son?"

Joanna retorted, "It must be you! I checked the surveillance and found you at the studio this morning. No one else had a reason to take my son! Tell me where he is! If you don't, I'll call the police!"

Derick said, "Go ahead. I don't know where your son is! I've never seen him before!" He appeared unafraid. (He thought: There are no cameras in the studio, and no one saw me take the kid. I have an alibi. The police won't get anything from me.)

Joanna continued, "Tell me where my son is. I'm begging you. Please don't hurt my son…"

Derick said deliberately, "What? Begging me now? Hard to believe!"

Seeing Joanna's breakdown, Derick felt joyful. Joanna cried harder, realizing she couldn't get anything from him.

Bruce sat on a stool, smoking a cigarette, his expression grim.

Derick glanced at Bruce and said obsequiously, "Hey, Bruce. What's the matter? Why are you looking for me so urgently? Could it be this?"

Bruce didn't answer, but subtly gestured to the bodyguards.

Two bodyguards grabbed Derick's head and shoved it into the toilet bowl. Another pressed the flush button.

"Ugh!" Derick coughed violently, choking on water and the smell of the toilet. The bodyguard flushed repeatedly. When Derick seemed about to drown, Bruce signaled to stop. The bodyguard pulled Derick out and threw him at Bruce's feet.

Derick coughed, terrified. "Bruce, what are you doing? Uh, uh!"

Bruce's eyes were sharp. He showed no mercy. "Now tell me the truth!"

Derick pretended ignorance. "What… what truth? What are you talking about?"

"Where did you take Joanna's son?" Bruce's tone, though quiet, held terrifying power.

Derick denied it. "I… I really don't know! How would I know where Joanna's son is?"

Bruce lit another cigarette, and after a drag, placed it on Derick's shoulder.

Sizzle! The smell of burning flesh filled the air.

"Ah! Ah!" Derick screamed, rolling on the ground in pain.

Bruce said grimly, "Tell me. Where did you take Joanna's son?"

A bodyguard warned, "Hurry up and tell the truth. Then you won't suffer so much! Otherwise, you won't walk out of here alive!" (The bodyguard was right. Bruce could easily make someone disappear, without leaving a trace for the police.)

"Bruce, aren't we family?" cried Derick.

Bruce said, "You're not going to tell me, are you?"

Derick shouted, "Bruce, I swear I don't know! Why do you assume it's me?"