Chapter 68 The Second Gift
"Who said we were looking for you?" Ethan shot back, his face turning beet red. Seriously, why would he go looking for trouble?
"You're after the person who took Mandy, right? So, you're looking for me," the guy said with a nasty grin.
Ethan jumped up, shouting, "You kidnapped Mandy?"
Michael's eyes narrowed, glued to the phone.
Charlotte, the most emotional of the bunch, grabbed the phone and begged, "Who are you? Why did you take Mandy? Please, let her go. I'll do whatever you want!"
"Anything? Really?" the guy sneered.
Charlotte nodded frantically. "Yes, any amount of money!"
"I don't need money. Just hand over TriStar Corporation, and I'll let her go. Deal?" the guy said with a wicked smile.
Charlotte was stunned. Ethan snatched the phone back and barked, "Dream on! That's never gonna happen!"
The guy just laughed. "Relax, Mr. Brown. I was just messing with you. I never planned to trade Mandy for the whole TriStar Corporation. I know she's not worth that much."
"Then why did you kidnap Mandy?" Michael asked, his hands in his pockets, fists clenched, voice icy.
The guy seemed a bit surprised. "So, Mr. Smith, you're here too."
Michael wasn't shocked that the guy knew him. Given his beef with the Brown family, it made sense he'd know their friends.
"Answer me, what's your game?" Michael pressed.
The guy stopped laughing, his tone turning dark. "It's simple. She hurt someone I care about, and now she has to pay."
Michael thought for a moment. Mandy had hurt Rachel recently, after all.
Michael's fists tightened in his pockets, anger boiling inside him. He asked coldly, "So, the person you care about is Rachel?"
At the restaurant, he'd wondered how many guys were hanging around Rachel. Now, another one had popped up, and there might be more. It seemed she'd been unfaithful during their marriage, hooking up with a bunch of guys. Truly shameless!
"It's Rachel. Rachel hurt Mandy!" Charlotte's eyes widened, tears streaming down. She cried out, "Why, why can't my daughters escape the Williams family's torment!"
Michael's eyes flickered. No wonder the Browns hated the Williams family so much. Grace's death was tied to them too.
"Mrs. Brown, you're mistaken. Mandy hurt Rachel first, so don't blame me for striking back. Mr. Brown, open your computer. I'll let you see your daughter. Consider it my second gift to you," the guy said, followed by a chilling laugh.
Ethan barked, "Get the computer!"
Matthew quickly brought it over.
As soon as Ethan turned it on, a face wearing a fox mask popped up on the screen, startling both Ethan and Charlotte.
Michael stared hard at the guy, looking for any tattoos or marks on his exposed skin to track him. But the guy had no distinguishing features visible.
"Where's Mandy? You said you'd let me see her. Where is she?" Charlotte clutched the edge of the computer, her voice trembling.
The guy swirled a glass of red wine, chuckling, "Don't rush, here she comes!"
With that, the screen split in two, the guy on the left and Mandy appearing on the right.
Mandy was tied to a chair, her head slumped, looking out cold. Behind her stood a big guy in a mask, only his eyes and mouth showing.
Charlotte nearly lost it. She screamed, "Mandy!"
Ethan glared at the masked man.
Michael's voice was ice-cold. "What did you do to Mandy?"
"Chill, she's fine. SilverWolf, wake her up," the man ordered.
SilverWolf, the guy behind Mandy, grabbed a basin of water and splashed it on her.
Mandy jolted awake, screaming.
"Mandy!" Charlotte called out.
Mandy looked around, confused, then shouted, "Mom, is that you?"
"It's me, it's me," Charlotte sobbed, covering her mouth.
Mandy started crying too. "Mom, where are you? I can't see you. I'm so scared. Please come save me."
"Mandy, don't be afraid. We'll save you. Your dad and Michael are here," Charlotte said, tugging on Ethan and Michael's sleeves, urging them to speak.
Ethan spoke up, "Mandy, hang in there. We'll get you out."
"Me too," Michael added, staring at the screen, trying to sound calm. "You can't see us because your video isn't on, but we're here. Don't be scared."
Knowing her family was aware and trying to rescue her, Mandy's fear turned into intense hatred. She'd heard it was because of Rachel. Rachel would pay for this, big time.
"What do you want in exchange for letting my daughter go?" Ethan asked, his eyes burning with anger.
The man put down his wine glass, smirking. "Relax, I don't mean her any harm. Just want to teach her a lesson. Once she's learned it, she'll come home safe."
He snapped his fingers.
SilverWolf, standing behind Mandy, started touching her.
Mandy's face went pale with terror. "Let go of me! Don't touch me! Get away! Help! Michael, help me!"
Michael punched the coffee table, his eyes blazing. "Stop! Don't touch Mandy!"
Charlotte and Ethan pleaded frantically.
The man stayed cold. "Seeing your loved one hurt, does it break your heart? Did you ever think about how I felt when Mandy hurt Rachel?"
His eyes gleamed coldly behind the mask. "SilverWolf, keep going!"
"Yes," SilverWolf said, his hands getting more invasive, slipping under Mandy's clothes.
"Bastard!" Michael cursed, barely holding back his rage.
Ethan and Charlotte were on the edge, furious.
Ethan gritted his teeth. "If you hurt my daughter, I'll make Rachel pay, no matter what."
The man in the fox mask just chuckled. "I never planned to really hurt her, but if there's a next time, don't blame me for being ruthless. Before you can touch Rachel, the Brown family will be wiped out. Don't doubt it; you know what I can do."
The video cut off, leaving a message on the screen: [If you want to save Mandy, come to this address within half an hour. If you're late, face the consequences], followed by the address.
Michael noted the address and bolted out of the Brown family residence.
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