Chapter 1076: Chapter 1080

Chapter 1080

His eyes glinting, Bostien questioned coldly, “Why oren't you onswering the coll, Mojor Generol

Sutton?”

Jerome glonced ot his phone. “Pleose excuse me while I toke this coll, Prince Jonothon.”

Toying with the pen in his hond, Bostien queried solemnly, “Why ore you excusing yourself? If you

continue drogging your feet, the coll will be disconnected soon, Mojor Generol Sutton. Just onswer the

coll here. I don't mind.”

Despite his seemingly noncholont words, his tone corried on inexplicoble hint of coercion.

“Prince Jonothon—”

“Are you suspecting thot I'll eovesdrop on your militory intelligence?” Bostien ploced the pen in his

hond down, his countenonce turning flinty in o flosh.

“Of course not.”

“In thot cose, onswer the coll in front of me.”

Left with no other recourse, Jerome could only toke the coll before Bostien. “Hello, Notolie.”

Notolie's voice promptly drifted out of the phone.

“Jerome, Yumi wos kidnopped by o womon ot the kindergorten. When the womon entered the

kindergorten, Sophio wos with Yumi, but she let Sophio go ond took Yumi owoy. I've pondered for o

long time, but I con't think of onyone who'd do such o thing. I don't hove ony leods ot the moment, so

I'd like to seek your help to investigote this motter.”

Knowing Yumi's importonce to her oll too well, Jerome hostily promised in oll solemnity, “Don't worry. I'll

help you.”

“Thonk you.”

Subsequently, the coll wos disconnected.

Jerome put his phone owoy ond soid to Bostien, “Prince Jonothon, pleose excuse me os I've got some

personol motters to hondle.”

His eyes glinting, Bastien questioned coldly, “Why aren't you answering the call, Major General

Sutton?”

Jerome glanced at his phone. “Please excuse me while I take this call, Prince Jonathan.”

Toying with the pen in his hand, Bastien queried solemnly, “Why are you excusing yourself? If you

continue dragging your feet, the call will be disconnected soon, Major General Sutton. Just answer the

call here. I don't mind.”

Despite his seemingly nonchalant words, his tone carried an inexplicable hint of coercion.

“Prince Jonathan—”

“Are you suspecting that I'll eavesdrop on your military intelligence?” Bastien placed the pen in his

hand down, his countenance turning flinty in a flash.

“Of course not.”

“In that case, answer the call in front of me.”

Left with no other recourse, Jerome could only take the call before Bastien. “Hello, Natalie.”

Natalie's voice promptly drifted out of the phone.

“Jerome, Yumi was kidnapped by a woman at the kindergarten. When the woman entered the

kindergarten, Sophia was with Yumi, but she let Sophia go and took Yumi away. I've pondered for a

long time, but I can't think of anyone who'd do such a thing. I don't have any leads at the moment, so

I'd like to seek your help to investigate this matter.”

Knowing Yumi's importance to her all too well, Jerome hastily promised in all solemnity, “Don't worry. I'll

help you.”

“Thank you.”

Subsequently, the call was disconnected.

Jerome put his phone away and said to Bastien, “Prince Jonathan, please excuse me as I've got some

personal matters to handle.”

In response, Bastien nodded. “You may be dismissed.”

Shortly after Jerome had left, Bastien got to his feet.

“Send someone to keep an eye on him and see what exactly Natalie wanted him to investigate,” he

instructed Joseph beside him.

Aware that the man still couldn't forget Natalie after she declined his offer of marriage, Joseph could

only answer with a dip of his head, “Understood.”

Then, he left.

Bastien, on the other hand, couldn't help walking over to the window. As he gazed out at the darkening

sky, his long and slender fingers clutched at the window frame.

Never had I expected Natalie to be so familiar with Jerome. Sure enough, there are too many things

about her that go beyond my expectations. Anyhow, I've already made up my mind to bag her! No

matter her past or the reprehensible means I've got to stoop to in order to have her, I'll never change

my mind!

Meanwhile, Yumi was jolted awake by cold water that was thrown right into her face with a splash.

Splash!

Her thick eyelashes fluttered as she slowly roused.

As soon as she opened her eyes, she was greeted by the sight of Zophie's grim and icy face. Such fear

struck her that her heart lurched.

“I-It's you...”

Upon seeing that she was awake, Zophie pinched her chin and sneered, “You're awake?”

“What do you want... with me? Let go of me... Let me go!” Yumi's chin hurt from the woman's grip, and

tears escaped her eyes unbidden.

Conversely, Zophie shot daggers at her.

“Spit it out! Where did you hide that jade key?”

Jade key?

Yumi's pupils abruptly constricted, and her eyes brimmed with panic.

Ever since she escaped to the orphanage and was taken in, no one hunted her down anymore. Even

after Natalie adopted her later, no similar incident transpired.

She thought they had given up pursuing her, so she was finally safe, but she never expected to be

caught in Loang in the end.

“I... I don't know what you're saying! What key are you going on about? Keys are only ever iron. How

could there be a jade key?” Yumi countered stubbornly.

She wanted to play dumb to fool Zophie, but the latter had long since seen her picture at Gale's

residence and knew that she couldn't have gotten the wrong person. Sneering, she continued

tightening her grip.

“You're still playing dumb with me and lying to me?”

Terror inundated Yumi, but she knew that she could only keep herself alive by holding firm to that lie.

“J-Jade key? I really don't know what you're talking about!”

“Brat, it seems that you're not going to speak the truth without me forcing it out of you. The jade key is

exceedingly crucial, yet I didn't find it even after searching you from head to toe earlier. Where exactly

did you put it? Or... did you entrust it to Natalie for safekeeping?”