Chapter 353



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At midnight, a yellow cab with S-City license plates was driving near the highway entrance.

To avoid unnecessary accidents, Rebekah and Hayden got out of the car about six kilometers from the destination. The driver gave them a startled look and seemed to want to say something.

“Please keep the change.”

Handing her two hundred dollars in cash, Hayden cut the driver’s gaze.

“Thank you.” The chauffeur hurried to take the money and gently reminded them, “You should be careful. Uptown isn’t exactly safe, do you live here?”.

Hayden nodded immediately, “Yes, it’s a bit far. The road ahead is going to be bumpy, so we’ll walk. Thanks.”

After that, the driver drove off.

There were only a few lights on the outskirts and no sign of the locals.

Hayden turned on the phone and headed toward the abandoned factory while holding Rebekah’s hands.

“Boss, they’re here.”

The voice of one of the goons echoed through the spacious headquarters.

After a while, someone stood up from the concrete floor, which kicked up a pile of dust that swirled around in the dim light.

Seeing Hayden standing next to Rebekah, Ted’s face immediately changed.

“I told you you should have come alone.”

“I didn’t know how to get there.” Rebekah gave him a cheeky look, “I was just tagging along. Cut the crap, I brought the money, where’s Benjamin?”.

“He’s where he should be right now.” Ted then looked coldly at Rebekah’s back and asked, “Where’s the money?”.

Rebekah then pulled the $20 million check out of her pocket, “It’s yours.”

Ted’s face immediately darkened after seeing the check, “Rebekah, are you playing me?”.

“Who’s playing you?” Rebekah’s eyes changed, “There’s exactly $20 million here, but it looks like you’re the one who regrets it. I’ll tear up the check right now and die with you if you do that. You won’t be able to have a penny.”

“Do you think I’m stupid?” Ted said angrily, “If I take the check and give you this guy, you’ll just notify the bank of what happened and they won’t validate the check, plus I’d probably be ambushed by the police. Nice try.”

“What do you mean?” Rebekah didn’t know what she meant.

“I want twenty million dollars in cash.” Her determined voice echoed through the place.

gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․çоm, where stories thrive At his words, Rebekah was livid with anger. “You didn’t even tell me that in the beginning. How am I supposed to give you twenty million dollars in cash? Have you lost your mind?”

“This is easy.” Ted’s eyes grew much fiercer and he rested his gaze on Hayden, “One of you stays here and the other will withdraw the money from the bank first thing in the morning. You two won’t have the slightest chance of seeing the boy if I don’t see the money.”

“Ted, you bastard.” Rebekah almost wanted to run at him and fight, but was dragged back by Hayden.

“Fine.” Hayden answered for Rebekah, “I’ll stay here and she’ll withdraw the money from the bank. But we have one request, first we need to see Benjamin.”

Ted didn’t know who Hayden was and sized her up. “Who are you to negotiate with me?”.

“Me?” Hayden looked incredibly calm and concealed her identity, “I’m an employee of the inn and sort of Benjamin’s sister. We just want to make sure Benjamin is alive.”

Hayden was frighteningly level-headed, which made Rebekah’s heart flip.

Glaring angrily at Ted, Rebekah shouted, “I won’t give you a penny if Benjamin is hurt!”

Feeling irritated, Ted paced back and forth, then kicked one of his accomplices. “Go get the kid.”

Then the skinny, yellow-headed accomplice ran upstairs immediately, put Benjamin down after a while.

He merely pulled Benjamin, who staggered a little falling to the ground. From Hayden and Rebekah’s angle, they can see that there was a layer of white frost solidifying on his eyebrows. He was shivering from the cold and looked unconscious.

“Benjamin!” Hayden and Rebekah shouted, but got no response.

Rebekah became frantic and yelled, “What did you do to him?”

Ted replied impatiently, “He’s too weak himself and can’t stand the cold. I had nothing to do with it.”

Hayden sensed there was something wrong from the beginning, Ted had no reason to hide Benjamin, since they were here and he just wanted to get the money. There was a strong possibility that something happened to Benjamin.

“What exactly happened to him?” Hayden asked again.

“Watch your tone, bitch.” Scolded the yellow-headed man, “The boy himself was very weak and just had a fever. It’s not our fault.”

“Shut up.” Ted glared at the yellow-headed thug.

“Why didn’t you take him to the hospital?”.

Rebekah went so far as to ask this stupid question in a moment of desperation.

The kidnappers would be gracious enough not to kill the hostage. But they wouldn’t care about his health.

Ted’s face immediately cooled and he said angrily, “Cut the crap. If I don’t see the money by noon tomorrow, not only will they not take him to the hospital, they’ll throw him in the river to feed the fish.”

Rebekah knew this was not the time to argue, Ted was too brutal and ruthless. But seeing Benjamin lying on the frozen ground broke her heart, so she could only agree to Ted’s request and go to the bank for the money with one of his goons.

There was still a long night ahead and everyone had to wait a long time.

Air was coming in from all sides. Standing about 20 feet away from Ted, Hayden couldn’t bear to see Benjamin lying on the floor.

“Could you lift him up and get him a chair?”

The yellow-headed thug rolled his eyes, “Who do you think he is, why should I bring him a chair?”

Hayden replied coldly, “It’s freezing cold tonight. Something serious could happen to him if you keep leaving him lying on the floor, they could end up with nothing.”

Hearing his words, Ted, who was silent before, spoke up, “Cut the crap and get him a chair.”

The yellow-headed bully’s face changed and he reluctantly brought a chair over. Leaning the chair against the bearing wall, the thug held Benjamin and put him in the chair.

They even took a rope and tied Benjamin to the chair for fear he would fall.

Noticing that Hayden was calm, Ted looked her up and down. Then he became suspicious and asked, “You said you were the inn’s maid, how come I’ve never seen you before.”

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