Sitting in his Porsche, Hazel Sinclair fastened her seatbelt, her hands gripping her phone tightly.
’I hope nothing goes wrong.’
The car drove on. Gradually, the bustling streets disappeared, replaced by quiet roads with few people or cars.
Staring out the window, Hazel Sinclair watched the scene unfold and immediately asked the system in her mind.
But the system chose that moment to play dead. No matter how many times Hazel Sinclair called out to it, it wouldn’t respond.
Hazel Sinclair realized this stupid system had screwed her over. With no other choice, she had to rely on herself for her own safety.
Just then, a message arrived from Evelyn Kendrick.
[Evelyn Kendrick: You bitch, I’m off work. Can I head over to your place now?]
[Evelyn Kendrick: Your husband should be cooking already, right?]
Hazel Sinclair glanced at the time. It was already seven o’clock. ’Have I really been in this car for twenty minutes?’
At that moment, Leon Sterling also sent a message.
[Leon Sterling: It’s seven. Didn’t you say you were having your friend over for dinner today? Why aren’t you back yet?]
[Leon Sterling: [2 Images]]
[Leon Sterling: I bought seafood. The kind you like is here.]
Even though Evelyn had said that seafood was too expensive and not to buy it, she was Hazel’s friend, so Leon still bought some when he saw it at the market.
When Hazel Sinclair saw it, she cursed inwardly.
’Such a spendthrift.’
’Is it easy to earn money? Can’t he save a little?’
After reading their messages, Hazel Sinclair didn’t reply to either of them. Instead, she created a group chat and added them both.
[Hazel Sinclair: I can’t come back.]
[Hazel Sinclair: life_is_meaningless.jpg]
Evelyn Kendrick had just gotten into the driver’s seat. Her phone chimed twice. She unlocked it while buckling her seatbelt.
When Evelyn Kendrick saw that message, she flew into a rage.
’Can’t come back? What does she mean?’
’She promised to treat me to dinner, so what is this supposed to mean?’
’Is she trying to go back on her word?’
[Evelyn Kendrick: You bitch, what do you mean? What do you mean you can’t come back? If you couldn’t treat me to dinner, you shouldn’t have called yesterday!]
[Evelyn Kendrick: You bitch, you’re going to be the death of me! I started work at seven this morning and only took a one-hour lunch break, all to make time for this meal, and now you’re messing with me like this?]
Just then, the car stopped. Vincent Hawthorne unbuckled his seatbelt and said to her, "We’re here."
Hazel Sinclair quickly unbuckled her own seatbelt and got out. She looked at the villa in front of her, then glanced around to see nothing but trees and a large lake in the distance.
’Are we in the suburbs?’
’I’m screwed. He’s not going to dismember me, is he?!’
Hazel Sinclair scrambled to send her location to the group chat, typing out two sentences as fast as she could.
[Hazel Sinclair: I can’t come back. That bastard Vincent Hawthorne brought me to this place. Can someone please come rescue me?]
[Hazel Sinclair: I’m scared. He brought me out to the suburbs. My two legs can’t outrun his four wheels.]
As she typed, she also discreetly took a photo of the villa and sent it.
Spatula in hand, Leon Sterling saw her location and messages in the group chat. His body tensed, and an icy aura radiated from him.
He tapped open the picture. The moment he got a clear look at the villa in the photo, his face instantly darkened.
He dropped the spatula, tore off his apron, turned off the stove, and rushed out of the kitchen to change his shoes and leave.
’Vincent Hawthorne, you really deserve to die.’
At that moment, Leon Sterling wished he could stab the man to death.
Hazel Sinclair had no quarrel with him, yet he dared to use her as a bargaining chip!
’Dammit.’
He wasn’t the only one who was anxious. Evelyn Kendrick’s expression turned ugly the moment she saw the villa in the picture.
The Crimson Villa—
This villa was a tacitly acknowledged place within their social circle, often filled with beautiful men and women for everyone’s entertainment.
The people who went to this villa were all notorious perverts or playboys from their circle.
’Vincent Hawthorne brought her here... Is he planning to offer Hazel Sinclair up as a resource?’
Evelyn Kendrick started her car, then found Caleb Sinclair’s number and dialed it.
It rang for half a minute before someone picked up, but it wasn’t Caleb Sinclair himself.
"Director Kendrick, is there a reason you’re looking for Director Sinclair at this hour?"
"Put him on the phone," Evelyn Kendrick said.
"Director Sinclair is in a meeting right now. You can tell me what it is, and I’ll relay the message to him after it’s over," the assistant explained.
"Tell him to pause the meeting!" Evelyn Kendrick glared at the motionless traffic in front of her and laid on the horn in frustration.
Hearing the unfriendly tone in her voice, the assistant figured it must be something important for Director Sinclair. Gritting his teeth, he finally knocked on the conference room door and went inside.
Caleb Sinclair was sitting at the head of the table, his cold expression making it look like he was already angry.
The assistant walked over, handed him the phone, and whispered, "It’s Director Kendrick."
’A call from Evelyn Kendrick?’
Puzzled, Caleb Sinclair took the phone and asked, "What is it?"
"Your sister’s been taken to The Crimson Villa! Aren’t you going to figure out a way to save her?" Evelyn Kendrick yelled. The cars in front of her still weren’t moving. Furious, she snapped, "Are you all just going to block me on the road?"
Wrenching the steering wheel, Evelyn Kendrick swerved and cut into the next lane.
The cars behind her immediately erupted in curses and honking, but Evelyn Kendrick was unfazed.
Hearing her words, Caleb Sinclair shot up from his chair. His sudden movement startled everyone in the room.
Covering the phone’s mouthpiece, Caleb Sinclair told them, "This meeting is paused. We’ll resume tomorrow." With that, he walked out of the conference room.
"Who did this?" Caleb Sinclair’s face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
’Doesn’t everyone in this circle know that Hazel Sinclair is part of the Sinclair Family? Who would be so bold as to do something like this?’
"Vincent Hawthorne."
Hearing that name, Caleb Sinclair let out a cold laugh. ’A man who climbed to his position using dirty tricks. He’s got some nerve.’
"Wait for me."
After hanging up, he stepped into the elevator while scrolling to a number in his contacts.
The call connected quickly, and a cheerful voice came through, "What lucky wind has blown the great Director Sinclair to personally call little old me?"
"Officer Hayes, want a promotion?"
"You’ve been stuck in your position for a long time, haven’t you? This time, I guarantee you’ll get promoted," Caleb Sinclair said, making a tempting offer.
When Wendy Hayes heard the word "promotion," her eyes lit up.
"For real?"
"Yes. Bring a team to the Crescent Villa in the suburbs. And bring a lot of people."
The elevator reached the first basement level. Caleb Sinclair walked out and pressed the button on his car key.
Wendy Hayes knew of this villa. It was a place that required a large police force for a vice raid.
A smirk played on her lips as she immediately replied, "You got it!"
’A promotion! I’m getting a promotion!’
Hazel Sinclair followed him into the villa, her hands tightly gripping the chain of the purse slung across her chest as she scanned her surroundings.
The garden was filled with silk trees, as if telling a story of the unwavering love between the homeowner and his wife.
But the moment Hazel Sinclair stepped inside the villa, all the color drained from her face.