Chapter 916
In the lavishly decorated living room of the villa, the crystal chandelier sparkled brilliantly.
A woman in her fifties, dressed like a wealthy lady, sat watching the TV, which was tuned to a financial news channel.
The news showed Ruby being publicly taken away by the police once again, and the wealthy woman frowned deeply at Ruby's disheveled appearance on the screen.
Next to her, a heavily made-up woman with a nervous and anxious expression spoke in a hushed tone.
"Mom, Ms. Lawson herself has been arrested, and the Kelly family and the Frane family are so powerful. We've kidnapped that kid. What if..."
The woman speaking was Haven, Gemma's eldest daughter-in-law, and the elegantly dressed woman beside her was Gemma, a former servant of the Lawson family.
Anyone who had known Gemma before would hardly recognize her now.
Not only had her figure and demeanor changed completely from her days at the Lawson Villa, but her appearance had also altered significantly.
Now, anyone who didn't know her background would likely mistake her for a pampered socialite, with no trace of her past as a servant.
She had been living well these past years and had even undergone cosmetic surgery, looking at least ten years younger than her actual age.
Gemma's eyes turned cold as she interrupted Haven.
"Don't forget, it was you who lured that child and Mireille out of the Peace Mansion! Do you think we can just back out now? Do you think the Frane family and the Kelly family will let us go?"
Haven's face turned pale. "But Mom, the atmosphere in Miracalia has been so tense these past few days. If this continues, we'll be found sooner or later."
Her voice trembled as she continued.
"I heard that Mr. Frane is particularly ruthless. People who cross him in business don't end well. This isn't just a business dispute; we've kidnapped his son. Mom, maybe we should just abandon the child and run. We can still escape now. I heard they're strictly checking people with children at all the exits. Let's forget about Ms. Lawson and leave the country to find Cade. If we don't go now, we might not get another chance."
Haven was genuinely scared.
Ruby couldn't handle the Kelly family and the Frane family and ended up in jail. They were still working for Ruby, which seemed like a death sentence.
Why bother? Their family didn't lack money, and Cade had already prepared everything abroad.
As long as they reached another country, they could live a wealthy, worry-free life.
But if they were caught, no matter what Ruby had promised, they wouldn't live to enjoy it.
Haven had a bad feeling tonight, a sense of impending doom.
But Gemma's response was a cold laugh.
"Do you think we can just abandon Ms. Lawson and escape abroad to enjoy her money? You're dreaming. If we don't help Ms. Lawson, we won't live to enjoy anything!"
Gemma laughed coldly. No one knew Ruby better than she did.
Ruby didn't trust anyone and had likely prepared for this.
Unless they rescued Ruby and escaped abroad together, if Ruby was in trouble, they would be next.
Haven's face turned even paler at Gemma's words, and she shivered, feeling like a sword was hanging over her head, ready to fall at any moment.
Just then, a noise startled Haven, almost causing her to collapse onto the sofa.
She turned stiffly and saw her husband, Uri, entering from outside. She clutched her chest and said, "You scared me to death!"
Gemma glared at her. "Stop being so jumpy. Have some backbone."
Haven lowered her head, not daring to argue back to her mother-in-law, but she pouted.
Was it her fault for being scared?
They were up against the Frane family, and they had kidnapped the Frane family's heir.
"Is the kid behaving?" Gemma asked Uri.
She was referring to Taylor.
Earlier, to record a video, Haven had let go of Taylor, who fell but landed on a prepared inflatable cushion.
Taylor was their bargaining chip, and they couldn't afford to let him get hurt. They couldn't take him to a hospital, so they had to be careful.
But Taylor, whether from fear or hearing Lillian's voice, had been crying and fussing nonstop.
Usually, they would give him milk with a sleeping pill mixed in.
But today, Taylor refused to drink anything, clamping his mouth shut.
Gemma had tried to smother his cries with a pillow, hoping he would tire himself out and fall asleep.
But Taylor, with surprising strength, had wriggled free and bitten her hand, drawing blood.
Gemma had slapped Taylor, who fell and cried even harder. Uri had then taken over, sending Haven to help Gemma disinfect her wound while he stayed in the basement to handle the situation.
Now, Gemma's hand was throbbing with pain again.
Uri walked over to Gemma, smirking.
"I gave him a shot. He'll be quiet until at least noon tomorrow."
He plopped down on the sofa and reached for the pack of cigarettes and lighter on the table.
Gemma glared at him and ordered, "Go check outside."
Uri, having just sat down, didn't want to move. "Mom, you're too tense. We've been so careful, and we've all had plastic surgery. It's not that easy to get caught. Besides, with the kid in our hands, they won't dare provoke us. They're probably waiting for us to contact them. And we have the infrared alarm system in the yard. If anyone gets close, we'll know..."
"Stop talking and go check!" Gemma cut him off, feeling uneasy, perhaps influenced by Haven's earlier anxiety.
Uri, despite his reluctance, obeyed Gemma. After all, she had raised him and his brother, and their current lifestyle was thanks to her.
He grabbed the pack of cigarettes and stood up, thinking some fresh air wouldn't hurt.
But he didn't believe there was any real danger. How could Jackson find their hiding place in just two days?
The strict checks in Miracalia were likely because it was the Frane family's territory, not because Jackson had discovered their location. Thinking this, Uri stepped out of the villa, lighting a cigarette with his head down, barely glancing around.
It wasn't until he noticed his shadow on the ground that he realized something was wrong.
There was another shadow, silently close behind him.
Uri's heart raced, and he reached for his back, but before he could react, a sharp pain struck his neck.
He collapsed without making a sound.
Harry looked down at the unconscious Uri with cold disdain, kicking him a couple of times before turning to Jackson, who stood behind him, exuding a chilling aura.
"Mr. Frane, should we wake him up for questioning before we proceed?"
Uri was only knocked out by Harry.
Jackson's cold gaze swept over the gagged and bound Uri, and he scoffed.
"No need. Move in."
Uri had been outside for too long, and the people inside might get suspicious.
They had already disabled the villa's alarm system and confirmed the number of people inside, the layout, and everyone's positions.
They even knew where Taylor was, so there was no need for further questioning.
With Jackson's command, over a dozen shadows swiftly and silently moved into the villa's courtyard from all directions.
Jackson, armed and ready, led the charge.
According to their intel, there were three people left inside the villa.
Two were in the living room, and one was in the basement, likely guarding Taylor.
As long as they could silently subdue the two in the living room first, the one in the basement would be easy to handle.
It should have been simple, but just as they approached the villa, a warning came through their earpieces.
"Attention, someone in the living room is moving quickly towards the basement!"
Was it a coincidence, or had they been discovered?
Jackson's eyes narrowed, and without hesitation, he rushed inside.
In the living room, Haven had just let out a short scream when she felt a sharp pain in her neck.
She collapsed backward, unconscious.
Jackson didn't spare her a glance, heading straight for the basement.
But he was a step too late. He only caught a glimpse of a skirt disappearing down the basement stairs.
When he and his team reached the basement, they found Gemma holding Taylor, a gun pressed to his chest, glaring at them coldly.
Another man, of medium height and in his thirties or forties, stood in front of Gemma, shielding her with a gun in his hand.
The man's eyes were vigilant and fierce, scanning the surroundings.
He exuded a cold, professional aura, with minimal emotional fluctuation, his gaze and movements filled with a deadly sharpness, unlike an ordinary person.
Harry glanced at him and then said to Jackson, "Professional hitman."
Jackson had already noticed but didn't care. No one would escape today.
His gaze swept over the man and Gemma, as if looking at dead people, before settling on Taylor in Gemma's arms.
Taylor was clearly drugged, limp and unresponsive.
Jackson's eyes were icy as he spoke coldly.
"Gemma, put Taylor down, and I might spare your lives."
Gemma's eyes were filled with intense malice and disbelief.
She hadn't expected Jackson to find them so quickly.
But now, she had no choice but to fight back, with no other way out.
She laughed coldly. "Mr. Frane, you're impressive, but do you think I'll believe you? Have your people back off, now! Or I'll shoot!"
As she spoke, she pressed the gun harder against Taylor's small body.
Her eyes were wild. As long as she had Taylor, what could Jackson do?
She reassured herself, gaining confidence and reducing her fear. Her voice grew sharper.
"I said back off, now!"
But Jackson remained unmoved, his cold gaze fixed on Gemma.
"If you shoot, I guarantee your entire family won't survive the night. You'll all die, including Cade and his family abroad."
Gemma's face turned pale, her hand trembling.
She hadn't expected Jackson to know about Cade's whereabouts.
Jackson intended to wipe them out completely.
A chill ran through her, filling her with fear and hesitation.
Harry laughed coldly.
"Gemma, don't you care about your son and grandson? The entire Miracalia is surrounded. You can't escape. I advise you to hand over Taylor now, and you might live. If you persist, no one can save your family."
Harry stepped aside, and someone threw something down the stairs.
"Take a good look."
Gemma smelled blood as the object hit the ground.
The hitman stepped back, shielding her, and Gemma saw a severed limb, bloodied, with a familiar black watch on the wrist.
It was Uri's watch, the one he had worn when he went outside.
In just a moment, it had become a warm, severed hand.
Gemma's eyes turned red, and she gritted her teeth, not daring to look again, her expression crazed.
"Jackson! You're a monster. If you touch my son or grandson, I'll make your son suffer too!"
She aimed the gun at Taylor's leg, ready to pull the trigger.
Jackson's eyes darkened, and he quickly ordered, "Retreat!"
His men, fearing for Taylor's safety, reluctantly backed out of the villa.
Three minutes later, everyone had left the villa.
Gemma turned off the lights and tightly closed the curtains.
She shouted outside, demanding a helicopter and for Uri to be brought to the helicopter first.
"I can do as you say, but I have one condition."
Jackson raised his voice.
"What is it?"
"I'll come in unarmed and be a hostage with my son."
Gemma squinted. "No way!"
Taylor was easy to control. Even unarmed, Jackson could be a problem.
But Jackson was firm.
"If you don't agree, the helicopter won't come. Think carefully. Your son's injury will worsen, and he'll bleed to death."
Jackson glanced at Harry, who understood and dragged Uri over.
Uri's pained cries and pleas for help echoed inside.
"Mom, it hurts. I'm dying. Save me. Agree to his terms, Mom!"
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