Chapter 334 You Bet Wrong
When Cecil heard that, his eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.
I knew I had made the right call.
"Let's record a video and show Jerry," I said. "Tell him he's not as good as you and that I should be with you."
Cecil gave me this wild look.
I reached for the phone, but he lifted it just out of my reach.
"Relax, I just want to hit record," I said, trying to stay cool.
Cecil just stared at me, not saying a word.
I turned away, acting all huffy. "You were the one who wanted to film. If you don't want to do it, then forget it."
Cecil had been lurking in the shadows, plotting for years.
Now, I was giving him the same attitude I gave Jerry, and he definitely didn't want to miss it.
But inside, I was freaking out. The longer he stayed quiet, the more nervous I got.
Just as I was about to say something else, he grabbed my shoulder and spun me around.
Cecil started the recording, barely containing his excitement. "Alright, let's get this going."
His thumb brushed the screen, and the phone started counting down.
I grabbed his head and pulled him close.
Seeing his surprise, I almost shook with excitement. "Close your eyes."
Cecil probably thought I couldn't pull any tricks and shut his eyes without a fuss.
I wet my thumb a bit and touched the corner of his mouth.
After finishing, I let go and said to the phone, "Jerry, see? He really likes me. I'm choosing him. Don't bother looking for me."
I stopped the recording.
I tried to look calm, but inside, I was a mess. I couldn't even look at Cecil.
I watched him send the video, and I secretly exhaled in relief.
But then he said, "You didn't actually kiss me."
I forced myself to stay cool. "What are you talking about?"
Cecil grabbed my face, his thumb pressing hard on my lips.
He rubbed back and forth, and I winced in pain but couldn't break free.
After a bit, he suddenly let go.
My lips felt like they were on fire.
Cecil said, "Hope, you're clever, but you bet wrong. Even if you signal Jerry, he won't find you. This world isn't a place where Jerry can control everything. There are places where he has no power."
I had no idea what places Cecil meant. I just believed in Jerry, believed he'd find me.
Meanwhile, Jerry hit a snag at the border.
That was when Steven got the video.
After watching it, he didn't dare show it to Jerry.
Francis saw Steven's face and said, "Don't hold it in. If you're not feeling well, let Dr. Quill help. You've been with Jerry for years. Even if he punishes you, he won't kill you."
Steven was super loyal, and that kind of loyalty was rare.
Plus, Francis had some blame in the Cecil mess, not just Steven.
But after Francis spoke, Steven handed over the phone.
"What?"
"Just watch," Steven said.
Francis took the phone and played the video.
Seeing the footage, he couldn't believe his eyes.
He thought, 'If Cecil forced Hope, it would make sense, but why is she cooperating so willingly?'
Before Francis could figure it out, he heard Hope speaking to the camera, "Jerry, you see, don't look for me anymore..."
Was Hope possessed?
Steven, trembling, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "Should we show this to Jerry?"
Francis asked, "Did Cecil send this?"
Steven shook his head. "No. It was sent by Sawyer, probably to threaten Jerry into joining them."
Francis pondered and then said, "This confirms the close relationship between Cecil and Sonny."
Steven said, "Given the current situation, there's no need to hide it."
Francis couldn't understand why Hope would do this.
He rewound the video to the beginning, intending to watch it again, but the phone was suddenly snatched away by Jerry.
Francis glared at Steven, as if asking, "Why didn't you warn me?"
Jerry walked silently, and Steven had just noticed him.
Jerry pressed play, and Francis couldn't stop him in time.
Jerry's face instantly turned cold, veins bulging on his hand, and he crushed the phone screen, showing how much strength and anger he had.
Steven's phone could be replaced, but Jerry's broken heart was harder to mend.
Steven said, "Jerry, Hope must have been forced."
Jerry looked up, his eyes cold.
Steven couldn't continue. He had seen the video, and Hope seemed quite willing to cooperate.
Francis also said, "Yeah, Hope must have been forced."
Even in the thick night, Francis could see Jerry's suppressed rage, his eyes bloodshot.
Francis thought that if Cecil were in front of Jerry now, Jerry would undoubtedly kill him.
Francis continued, "Cecil is a pervert. He might like people to act willingly, so he threatened Hope to do so."
Francis's explanation was somewhat far-fetched. But Francis truly didn't believe Hope would betray Jerry. Even if threatened, with her intelligence, she could have stalled for time.
Francis said, "Don't rush. I think this video might be synthesized."
"No." Jerry interrupted.
Francis was puzzled, "No what?"
"It's not synthesized," Jerry replied.
Francis felt helpless. He was trying to comfort Jerry, but Jerry was making it harder on himself.
Francis said, "Well, there must be some compelling reason..."
"Steven." Jerry interrupted again, "Check this symbol."
Steven was confused. He took the phone and asked, "Jerry, what symbol?"
"Hope's fingers."
Upon hearing this, Steven quickly watched the video again.
Francis watched too.
At first, they were both shocked by Hope's affectionate behavior. So they didn't notice anything else.
With Jerry's reminder, they saw Hope's intertwined fingers, forming a symbol.
"This looks like a private sea mark." Francis wasn't sure. He took a screenshot and enlarged it.
Now at the border, the open sea was difficult to navigate, and they had to go through private seas. But there were many private seas, and they were dangerous.
Cecil had Sonny's support, making it easier for him in private seas, but not for them.
However, with this mark, it would be easier to find.
"Hope is quite smart," Francis said.
Jerry ignored him.
Francis knew he was in a bad mood.
Even if Hope was trying to send him a message, those intimate actions were still done.
Francis reminded, "You need to prepare an explanation in advance about Hope's grandmother passing away. She definitely won't be able to handle it."
Jerry stared into the endless darkness ahead, his eyes seemingly swallowed by the night, deep and somber.
Originally, he thought that in such a situation, the child might be gone, making it easier to handle.
But after watching the video, he was sure the child was still there; otherwise, Hope wouldn't have used this method to send a message.
At this moment, even Jerry felt somewhat powerless.
I still ate the food Cecil sent.
I could endure, but the child couldn't.
I could only bet that Cecil didn't intend to harm me.
"The water isn't poisoned either." Seeing me choke and force the food down, Cecil poured me a glass of water. "If I wanted to kill this child, I wouldn't need to go to such lengths. I have a doctor on this ship; you don't need to be so guarded against me."
If I trusted him completely, I'd be a fool.
After eating and drinking, I asked, "Where are you taking me?"
Cecil cleaned up the dishes but didn't answer me.
But seeing him leave the room, I let out a long sigh of relief.
I looked out the window again; it was pitch black, and I couldn't see anything.
I didn't know if Jerry could understand my message or if he was just angry after seeing the video.
Thinking of this, I laughed, but the reflection in the window showed my bitter expression.
As soon as Steven found out, he came to report to Jerry. "It's the Warren family's sea territory mark. We can't get in."
Jerry, with one hand in his pocket, looked at the distant sea.
Clusters of reefs surrounded an island, with flags flying on it, the signal Hope had sent him.
"Jerry, Sonny is calling again."
Jerry waved his hand.
Steven understood and hung up directly.
But Sonny was persistent and sent several messages.
[Join me, Jerry. I can have my men let you through now, and you can quickly catch up to that woman.]
[I think you know that Cecil is very interested in that woman. If you delay any longer, who knows what might happen.]
It was already midnight. If they couldn't find her by dawn, anything could happen during that time.
Steven tentatively said, "How about we agree for now and focus on rescuing Hope first?"
Francis disagreed, "Once we agree, it won't be easy to back out. Sonny is a local mob boss; if we force a conflict, it will be hard to escape."
Steven had a fever and couldn't think of a better solution.
At this moment, Jerry spoke, "Isn't the sea territory opposite the Jefferson family's?"
Steven looked over and immediately took a picture of the mark to check.
It turned out to be true, but so what?
The Jefferson family had no dealings with them and wouldn't let them through.
Jerry ordered, "Find a way to contact them and say we can help them take down the Warren family and become the top dog here."
Steven, with a high fever, reacted a bit slowly and said incredulously, "Jerry, the Warren family may seem a bit foolish with Sonny in charge, but they've been a powerful family for many years. They've been at odds with the Jefferson family for a long time, which shows they have strong capabilities. And once we get involved with the Jefferson family, it will be hard to break free."
If they found out it was an empty promise to save Hope, they would offend both families.
They might not even leave this sea territory and could end up feeding the sharks.
Jerry's eyes were sharp. "Do as I say."
"Got it." Seeing his insistence, Steven immediately obeyed.
"Jerry." After Steven left, Francis spoke, "Steven has a point. It will be hard to break free, and how can you guarantee we can help the Jefferson family take down the Warren family? What if we can't?"
Jerry's lips curled slightly. Even though the sickness hadn't completely left his face, it couldn't suppress his inherent wildness. "You find a way to get a message to Officer Orville Kidd."
Francis instantly understood and cursed with a smile, "You're still the devious one."
After eating, I started to feel sleepy.
Especially with the wind stopped and the ship sailing smoothly, I couldn't keep my eyes open.
I leaned against the headboard, trying to stay awake, but eventually closed my eyes.
But the moment I heard the door open, I woke up with a start.
Cecil had returned, empty-handed, not bringing me anything.
"I feel very uncomfortable on the ship." I couldn't help but be wary and took the initiative. "When can we get off the ship?"
Cecil sat down on the bed and started undressing.
I was shocked. "What are you doing!"
Cecil was extremely calm. "Sleeping."
After a few seconds of silence, I asked, "On such a big ship, don't you have a room to sleep in?"
Cecil took off his shoes and reached out to grab me. But I quickly got up to avoid him. "Then you sleep. I'm not sleepy."
Hearing this, Cecil squinted his eyes. "It seems you cooperated with me earlier just to send a signal to Jerry."
He curled his lips. "Unfortunately, Jerry will never find you."
As he spoke, Cecil stepped towards me, revealing a pathological obsession. "From now on, you are mine, mine alone."
I was scared and quickly ran towards the door.
Just as my hand touched the doorknob, a large hand grabbed my waist from behind.
Cecil's breath was in my ear as he spoke, "It seems you don't care much about this child."
I felt so uncomfortable that I got goosebumps all over.
I knew my actions were futile. Even if I got out of this door, I was still on the ship.
If I weren't pregnant, I might have jumped into the sea for a slim chance of survival when desperate. But if I jumped into the sea now, both my baby and I could die. I couldn't afford to take that risk.
I explained, "I'm just too stuffy and want to get some fresh air. You don't understand because you've never been pregnant. Now, any strange smell makes me nauseous and want to vomit, feeling dizzy and uncomfortable. Staying in a confined space makes it hard to breathe."
I talked for a long time, but the hand around my waist didn't loosen at all.
I was tense all over. "Didn't you say Jerry couldn't find you here? Then why are you afraid of me getting some fresh air? Or do you think you're actually not as good as Jerry?"
The arm around my waist loosened, and I immediately opened the door and went out.
I walked to the right by instinct, but a force pulled me back. Then a heavy black coat was draped over my shoulders.
In a daze, Cecil seemed as gentle as he used to be. "It's cold on the sea."
I suddenly remembered something, panic and fear setting in.
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