Chapter 464 The Kidnapping
In the blink of an eye, it was exam time again.
This test was a big deal for everyone. Even Bryan had been ordered to stay at home and hit the books. He couldn’t even step outside. Ronin was feeling incredibly bored and decided to seek out Catherine. ”
Catherine, not going to school is no fun at all. It’s so dull.”
To attend school, Ronin had delegated all the base matters and was now accompanying Catherine as she studied.
On regular days, he could banter with Bryan at school and play games with David, even when Catherine wasn’t around.
But now, with everyone busy revising for the exams and making that final push, there wasn’t even someone to banter with. He found himself incredibly bored.
Catherine had her laptop on her lap. She was engrossed in studying the data Rodge had sent her. She was conducting three-dimensional simulation tests to assess missile accuracy.
Unfortunately, Ronin was still chattering away nearby. It disrupted her peace. Suddenly, Catherine looked up with her cold gaze fixed on Ronin.
“They’re all studying. Don’t you think you should be too?”
Ronin thought inwardly, “Why bother studying?”
That was what Ronin had initially intended to say, but when he encountered Catherine’s cold stare, he nearly choked on his saliva. In his eyes, the big exam was just about scribbling a few words. Why bother with the hassle of studying?
But with Catherine’s sudden outburst, he realized he had no choice but to hit the books.
In the previous moment, Ronin had been complaining, but now he acted obediently. He didn’t dare to disturb Catherine as she worked.
“Catherine, you keep working. I’ll go back to studying.”
Catherine nodded without lifting her head, and Ronin finally let go of his worries. With bated breath, he tiptoed away and ensured no disruption.
With Ronin’s departure, the room fell quiet.
Catherine was deeply engrossed in her research. She stared at the rapidly changing numbers on her screen. It felt like an eternity had passed. If it weren’t for the incessant buzzing of her phone placed nearby, Catherine wouldn’t have even blinked.
The ringing irritated her. With a furrowed brow, she picked up her phone. She intended to decline the call. However, when she saw the caller ID was Audrey, she finally answered.
“I’m busy now. Speak quickly,” Catherine said coldly. Her cold words perfectly reflected her current state of mind.
To her surprise, a strange man’s voice came from the other end.
“Audrey is in my hands. If you want to keep her safe, follow my instructions!”
The call was abruptly disconnected after the stranger finished speaking. Catherine tried to call back. However, she received a text message from the stranger.
[Don’t call the police. Come alone, or else Audrey will be in a body bag!]
The message included an address.
After Catherine read the text message, a sardonic smile played on her cold face.
She thought the stranger was playing a kidnapping drama with her. It seemed like they thought they lived long enough. They were asking for trouble.
Catherine skillfully dialed a number. She put the phone to her ear when it was answered. From Kim’s tone on the other end, it was evident that he was surprised by Catherine’s call.
“Catherine, why are you calling me all of a sudden?”
“Where is Audrey?” Catherine asked concisely in a cold tone.
Her voice made Kim shiver all over.
“I’m looking for Audrey too. I don’t know what’s going on. She said she’d be out for a bit, but she hasn’t returned, and she’s not answering her phone.”
Maybe thinking he had been complaining too much, Kim suddenly stopped his rambling and asked Catherine seriously, “Do you need anything from her? Should I relay a message when she comes back?”
“No. It’s fine,” Catherine replied and immediately hung up.
She hadn’t told Kim about the possibility of Audrey being in trouble because involving more people would only increase Audrey’s risk.
The kidnapper had contacted Catherine directly, not Kim.
It meant they were targeting Catherine, not Audrey. If that was the case, Catherine had to go alone.
Catherine saved her computer data, picked up her jacket, and left the apartment.
She grabbed her motorcycle from the garage and rushed to the address provided by the kidnapper.
After she removed her helmet, her phone in her pocket began to ring.
On Catherine’s cold, stunning face, her sharp eyes narrowed slightly. With a smile in her eyes, she looked dangerous yet captivating.
She answered the phone, and on the other end, the person with a mechanized voice told her an address and then hung up.
Just as the kidnapper ended the call, Catherine’s phone rang again.
It was a call from Branden.
After glancing at the time on her phone, Catherine assumed he was probably inviting her to dinner. Without hesitation, she hung up.
She knew that someone was likely monitoring her every move in the shadows.
For Audrey’s safety, she needed to comply with the kidnapper’s instructions and avoid contacting anyone.
After ending the call, Catherine revved her motorcycle once more and headed toward the location indicated by the kidnapper. She cooperated meticulously throughout the journey.
After several location changes, Catherine finally arrived at an abandoned factory. There was no need to say it. This was the place the kidnapper had demanded. After parking her motorcycle, Catherine strode confidently toward the abandoned factory.
There was no sign of nervousness on her cold face. She pushed the factory door open forcefully. Behind it stood seven or eight men armed with weapons. They stared at Catherine with their cold, menacing eyes.
The man at the forefront had a gruesome scar on his face that would unsettle most people. However, Catherine exuded a cold aura. She calmly stared at him.
The scarred man examined Catherine and couldn’t fathom why their boss had repeatedly emphasized caution. He thought Catherine was nothing more than a young girl.
“You’re quite bold, coming here all alone. Aren’t you afraid?”
In response to his question, Catherine smirked with sarcasm. She replied, “I came alone. Isn’t that what you arranged?”
“Kid, you’ve got quite a sharp tongue, and you’re fearless. I admire you.” The scarred man pointed at Catherine with appreciation in his eyes.
Catherine came alone and displayed no fear on her face. She really had courage.
Catherine had no time for small talk and lazily said, “Cut the chatter. State your terms.”
The scarred man was secretly taken aback. He initially thought Catherine was just bold, but how she carried herself seemed out of the ordinary.
Thinking of the boss’s instructions before they left, the scarred man didn’t want to waste more time.
“Alright. You’re straightforward, and I’ll be straightforward, too. Come here and sign this document, and I’ll release the person to you.”
