CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 44: HENNY IS MISSING

Josephine was startled, "What did you say?"

Nathaniel’s voice was more anxious, "I said Henny is missing, did you take him away?"

"...No, I didn’t!"

Nathaniel’s heart sank, asking with a faint hope: "Josephine, don’t be stubborn with me. If you took Henny, just let me know, don’t make me anxious."

Josephine was furious upon hearing this, "I said I didn’t."

"Really didn’t?" Nathaniel was agitated.

If she didn’t send someone to take the child away.

Then the child must have been kidnapped by criminals.

Yesterday afternoon.

David Shaw went to pick up Henry Gallagher from school.

When passing by a park, they mysteriously encountered a massive traffic jam.

A few vendors selling balloons and cotton candy deliberately surrounded the car, hawking their wares. Seeing this, Henry Gallagher clamored to get out and buy some.

David Shaw had no choice but to agree.

As soon as he opened the car door, Henry Gallagher jumped out and ran over to pick a balloon. There were many people in the park, and although the bodyguards immediately chased after him, they couldn’t keep up with the pushing and shoving crowd.

After choosing the balloon, Henry Gallagher got attracted by something else in the park and joyfully ran over.

By the time David Shaw and the bodyguards caught up, the child was nowhere to be seen.

Now, the whole family was in a frenzy.

"Josephine, I’m seriously asking you now..."

Josephine’s heart ached, and she was completely enraged, "What do you mean? Are you worried that I will fight you for Henny’s custody? Rest assured, I won’t contest it."

"Have you returned to Audenburg now? The court will convene again on the fifth of next month. I hope you appear in court on time."

Upon hearing this, Nathaniel’s anger was even more unbearable, "Josephine, the child is missing now, and it’s very likely he’s been kidnapped. At this time, instead of helping to find the child, you want to rush the divorce? I’m very anxious now, please come back quickly."

Josephine listened but didn’t believe his words at all, "Nathaniel, I won’t believe your lies anymore."

"And don’t think of tricking me back again; aside from the court appearance, I won’t see you anymore."

Slam!

Josephine coldly finished speaking and directly hung up the phone.

She would no longer trust Nathaniel’s lies.

The last time, he deliberately used the divorce agreement to trick her into coming back. As soon as she returned to Audenburg, he immediately detained her.

Now, he was probably repeating his old tricks, pretending the child was kidnapped, to deceive her into coming home.

"Crazy!"

After hanging up the phone.

Julian Grant’s eyes revealed a trace of a smile as he couldn’t help teasing, "Josephine, you’ve finally decided to divorce that old man?"

"..." Josephine shot him a cold glare, not wanting to acknowledge him.

Julian Grant tilted his head to look at her, half-smiling, saying: "Once you’re divorced, let’s rekindle our past romance."

Josephine’s heart stung, and she coldly cursed, "Are you crazy?"

"Josephine, I’m serious, I’m not joking."

"I won’t mind that you’ve been married, nor will I care about others’ opinions. Over the years, I’ve tried to forget you, but I found I couldn’t..."

"Shut up."

Josephine, feeling annoyed and furious, stood up and avoided him, heading toward the ship’s deck.

The unattainable is always restless.

At 20, she was at the peak of her beauty.

Even then, she couldn’t make him completely devoted, let alone now that she’s been married and has had a child.

How could he possibly be sincere in wanting to love her again?

He probably thought she was currently in an emotionally fragile state, believing he could take advantage of the situation. He wanted to entice her into bed, have some fun, and satisfy his cravings.

After all, women are most likely to fall into another man’s arms when emotionally frustrated. Moreover, it’s a former boyfriend with whom she has a romantic history.

Julian Grant chased after her, still unwilling to give up, "Josephine, I really mean it."

Josephine was as cold as ice, and particularly repulsed by him, "Julian Grant, I have nothing to say to you. Even if I get divorced, nothing will ever happen between us."

"Don’t think that just because a woman is divorced, she’ll become promiscuous, lowering her principles and bottom line. If that’s what you think, you’re completely mistaken. Don’t waste your time on me; it’s pointless."

If she had slept with him back then.

He certainly wouldn’t have been longing for four years now.

It’s precisely because he never tasted her that he’s been so persistently longing.

She knew exactly what he was thinking.

"..." Julian Grant was rendered speechless, utterly uninterested.

She was still so hard to deal with.

Back in the day, no matter what bait he used, she wouldn’t bite his hook. Now, she still kept him at arm’s length.

"Sigh~, why do you think of me this way?"

"Don’t follow me." Josephine avoided him again, moving to the other side of the ship.

Sophia and Ruby also stepped forward to block him, not allowing him to get closer.

Julian Grant sighed heavily, could only sit dejectedly on the other side, silently watching her.

...

An hour later.

The ship arrived at the dock on Serpent’s Head Island.

"We’ve reached the dock, you can disembark now."

Josephine packed her belongings and disembarked with her two assistants.

Julian Grant followed closely behind, quickly getting off the ship as well.

It was the off-season for tourism, and there weren’t many tourists on the island. Even the staff at the scenic spots were few and far between.

Josephine looked at the map: "We need to go to the valley now, about thirty kilometers away."

Ruby, having been here with her before, immediately went to rent a vehicle, "Okay, I’ll go rent bicycles now."

"Alright."

Ruby and Sophia went to a bicycle shop not far away and rented three bicycles.

There is an eco-reserve on the island, and vehicles are prohibited from entering. Therefore, visitors either hike or rent bikes after arriving on the island.

After renting the bike.

Josephine Thompson placed her luggage properly and prepared to set off on her bike.

Julian Grant also pedaled a bike, persistently following her.

Josephine Thompson, seeing this, felt a surge of frustration, "Why are you following us?"

Julian Grant, with a mischievous look on his face, said, "I’m not following you."

"Then please go ahead."

"My legs are mine. Why should I listen to you? You’re not my girlfriend, so why should you order me around?"

Josephine Thompson was so annoyed that it felt like her heart was blocked, "You’re seriously twisted."

After saying that, she got on her bike and headed towards her destination.

It was already noon.

By the time they reached their destination, it would certainly be afternoon. They couldn’t delay any longer, as nothing could be accomplished after the sun set.

After riding for about ten minutes.

Julian Grant kept following her at a distance, neither too far nor too close.

When she sped up, he sped up. When she slowed down, he slowed down, always keeping a fifty-meter distance behind her.

Josephine Thompson hit the brakes, frustrated, and looked at him, "Julian Grant, why exactly are you following us?"

Julian Grant rolled his eyes arrogantly, "Who says I’m following you? It just so happens that I need to go in this direction too. Can only you go, and not me?"

"..." Josephine Thompson was livid, yet there was nothing she could do about him.

"Then please go first."

Julian Grant calmly rode up beside her, unable to resist teasing her, "Josephine, your eye-roll is so charming, do it again."

"Julian Grant, do you want to get cursed out?"

"Haha, you know me so well. Not only do I want to be cursed out, but I deserve a beating too. Come on, hit me."

Josephine Thompson was at a loss for words, feeling both angry and resigned, "You’re really boring."

Julian Grant grinned wickedly, "How did you know? I really do feel bored. With you around, I don’t feel so empty."

"..." Josephine Thompson was so exasperated she could spew blood.

Back in school, he was just as annoying.

He loved to tease her, play pranks, bicker, and provoke her. Each time he saw her furious, he would gloat like nothing else. Then, he would put all his effort into cheering her up.

After four years apart, he hadn’t changed a bit.

"President Thompson, it’s getting late, we should hurry and make time count."

"Yes, let’s keep going!" Josephine Thompson swallowed a heavy sigh and pushed on grudgingly.

Unable to shake him off, she had no choice but to let him follow.

...

Meanwhile.

Nathaniel Gallagher and Mrs. Gallagher were almost driven to madness with worry.

"What should we do? Hasn’t Henny been found yet?"

"We’d better call the police right away, or it’ll be too late..."

The family was in a frantic panic.

"Ring-ring-ring."

Nathaniel Gallagher’s phone rang.

"Hello..."

Upon answering, a voice altered by a voice changer came through, "Hello Mr. Gallagher, your son is in my hands."

"..." Nathaniel Gallagher felt his scalp tingle, his body stiffening.

The thing he feared had come true.

"What do you want?"

The kidnapper showed no courtesy, straightforwardly saying, "I want 2 billion in cash."

Nathaniel Gallagher didn’t hesitate for a moment, "Alright, I can give it. But first, I want to confirm my son’s safety."

"Rest assured, Mr. Gallagher, we’re taking good care of Young Master Gallagher with ample food and drink."

"Prepare the money right away. Once we have the money, Young Master Gallagher will be safely returned home."

Nathaniel Gallagher listened, his face calm as he negotiated with the kidnapper, "Alright, I’ll immediately send someone to withdraw money from various banks."

"However, withdrawing 2 billion at once will take some time."

The kidnapper considered for a few seconds after hearing this, "Then I’ll give you a day to gather the money!"

"A day might not be feasible. Even if we withdraw all the cash from all banks in Audenburg, there probably won’t be 2 billion available. We’ll need time to transfer cash from the headquarters, which will take at least two days."

"Mr. Gallagher, don’t play any tricks. Two days, then. If we don’t receive the money in two days, prepare to collect your son’s corpse!"

Nathaniel Gallagher’s brows furrowed tightly, his tone stern yet carrying a threat, "I will give the money, and I won’t call the police. But I advise you to safely return my son after receiving the funds."

"If a single hair on my son is harmed, I, Nathaniel Gallagher, will stop at nothing for the rest of my life to hunt you and your entire family down."

The kidnapper, unrestrained, laughed, "Rest assured, Mr. Gallagher, we’re only in it for the money. Once you hand over the money, we guarantee Young Master Gallagher will be returned safely."

"Alright, come to collect the money in two days!"

"Alright."

After hanging up the call.

Nathaniel Gallagher felt as if he were in an ice cavern, and immediately ordered the butler to call the directors of several banks, instructing them to prepare the cash.

Mrs. Gallagher, her face pale with fear, asked anxiously, "How’s Henny?"

"Henny has been kidnapped!"

"What? Then we should quickly call the police..."

"No need, it’s only 2 billion. We can give it to them."

"Call all the banks immediately and withdraw 2 billion in cash."

"Understood, President Gallagher."

In a flurry, several butlers and aides began calling banks to coordinate the cash transfer.

Two billion in cash would require a truck to haul.