Chapter 181: Fool

Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Fool

Aside from when he made her call him ’husband’ in the bedroom, this was the first time she had ever done so on her own. She must have truly been wronged.

Jared Hawthorne’s eyes darkened. "Get in the car first."

On the way to the hotel, he held her in his arms and gently questioned her about everything she had gone through.

"Did they hurt you? Are you injured?"

Vesper Grayson curled up in his warm embrace, first nodding, then shaking her head. This made Jared Hawthorne’s brow furrow. The large hand on her shoulder tightened, and a frightening darkness churned in the depths of his eyes as the air around him grew cold.

"I’ve already sent people to hunt them down with everything we’ve got. They won’t make it out of Veridia."

’As for the mastermind behind this, he would rip them out by the roots and make them pay a terrible price.’

Vesper Grayson looked up, her face full of apology. "I’m sorry. I’ve caused you so much trouble."

"Silly girl." Jared Hawthorne lowered his head and gently kissed her smooth forehead. His tone was doting yet serious. "You are my wife. Jared Hawthorne’s wife. You are never a bother. And even if something does happen, the fault is never yours. It lies with those who have malicious intentions."

He knew Vesper Grayson too well. She was gentle and kind, pure of heart. She always kept to herself and would never go looking for trouble.

She was the type of person who would stop to help and feed a small, injured cat or dog on the street. ’How could someone like that possibly go out of her way to provoke someone?’

’In the end, it was all because his woman was too dazzling, too exceptional, which was why she attracted such jealousy and hatred!’

’If she weren’t so opposed to being tied down, so determined to build her own career, he would have locked her away and kept her all to himself.’

Hearing his domineering yet doting words, Vesper Grayson, who had been filled with panic and a sense of being wronged, suddenly felt her tension melt away. She couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, and much of the gloom vanished from her eyes.

"Mr. Hawthorne, aren’t you a little too biased in my favor?"

Jared Hawthorne’s lips curled into a doting smile. "You’re my woman. If I don’t spoil you, who will?"

Threads of sweetness, like warm honey, spread through her heart, chasing away all her unease.

"By the way, we’ve already identified the kidnappers," Jared Hawthorne said in a low voice, his smile gone. "They’re both ex-convicts, just released from prison. It’s obvious someone hired them to kidnap you. We may have to stay in Veridia for a few days. We’ll go back after we’ve caught them and interrogated them to find out who’s behind this."

Otherwise, even if they returned to Northolme, this hidden threat would remain.

Vesper Grayson had no objections. She leaned her head gently on his shoulder. As long as she was by his side, she felt at peace, no matter where they were.

After arriving at the hotel suite, Jared Hawthorne saw how exhausted she was and gently told her to go wash up and relax.

Once he heard the sound of running water from the bathroom, he quietly slipped out of the bedroom and went into the living room.

Maxim Chandler immediately stepped forward and reported with a grave expression.

"President Hawthorne, the two of them must have gotten wind that we’re after them. They’ve gone into hiding. Veridia has dense forests and complex terrain. It will likely take a considerable amount of time to find them."

Jared Hawthorne stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, a biting chill emanating from him. He didn’t have time to waste on these two pathetic clowns.

He immediately took out his phone and dialed a familiar number. His voice was cold as ice. "Rex, it’s Jared Hawthorne. I need you to handle something for me."

...

Meanwhile, Bill Young woke up groggily from a piercing pain. When he saw Shane Cornell standing in front of him, his dazed eyes instantly turned sharp and vicious.

"Where’s that bitch! Where’d she run off to!"

He struggled to get up, but the pain in the back of his neck shot through his body. After several failed attempts, Shane Cornell had to help him to his feet.

"I was about to ask you what happened! How did you let her get away?" Shane Cornell’s tone was laced with displeasure.

"She ambushed me! I suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of my neck, and then I lost all strength in my body and just collapsed!" Bill Young subconsciously rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes filled with malice. "Shane, there’s something strange about that woman. We can’t let her get away alive. We have to catch her!"

He’d been knocking around the streets for so many years, yet he’d never been so thoroughly bested by a woman who looked like she couldn’t even hurt a fly. There was no way he could let this go.

"I just searched the whole hotel. She’s long gone. Lucky for us, your phone was locked. Otherwise, she would’ve already contacted her people in Northolme." Shane Cornell helped him toward the door, his expression grim. "Let’s get out of this place first and figure out our next move."

"No! We can’t let her get away! That’s two million! I already made a deal!" Bill Young refused to give up. He shoved Shane Cornell aside and was about to rush out like a madman to find her.

Shane Cornell grabbed his arm in a death grip and yelled, "Stop acting crazy! We don’t even know if she’s still in the hotel! She might have already called the cops. If we stay any longer, we’ll be walking right into a trap! Don’t forget, we’re in this for the money, not to get ourselves killed!"

"Fuck! If I ever get my hands on her again, I’ll make her pay! I’ll teach her a fucking lesson!" Bill Young spat viciously on the ground, then reluctantly let Shane Cornell drag him away as they hastily fled the hotel.

They had only received a 500,000 deposit. If their employer, Miss Langley, found out that their target had escaped, they wouldn’t see a single cent of the remaining 200,000 balance.

Bill Young had originally planned to wash his hands of this life after this job, go back to his hometown, open a small shop, and live out the rest of his days in peace. Now, all his hopes had been shattered, and the resentment and bitterness in his heart were about to boil over.

The two fled from place to place, eventually hiding out in a shabby little motel in the old district.

As soon as they settled in, Bill Young’s face darkened, and he ordered lecherously, "I need to figure out how to get the remaining 200,000. Go ask the motel owner if she provides any... special services. Get me a woman."

The lust Vesper Grayson had stirred in him had nowhere to go, and coupled with the anxiety of being on the run, he was now extremely agitated and just wanted some carnal pleasure to blow off steam.

Shane Cornell’s brows knitted together. "Look at the situation we’re in! We can barely save our own skins, and you’re still thinking about things like this?"

"Just go when I tell you to. Cut the crap," Bill Young said, waving his hand impatiently, his tone unyielding.

Ten minutes later, Shane Cornell returned to the room with a provocatively dressed woman.

Bill Young yanked the woman into his embrace and said to Shane Cornell, "Go stand guard outside. Don’t let anyone in."

Shane Cornell said nothing, simply turning to close the door and stand guard in the hallway.

Half an hour later, a satisfied Bill Young sent the woman away. Leaning against the headboard with a sleazy smile on his face, he picked up his phone, sent out a short, blurry video he had secretly recorded just moments before, and immediately dialed Miss Langley’s number.

"Miss Langley, the job’s done, just like you asked. About that remaining 200,000... can you send it over now?"