CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 52: (NEW) I’LL GIVE YOU FIVE MINUTES

Adrian Jennings sneered, "Threaten me? Who do you think you are?"

In high school, Jessica Coleman confessed to him, and he politely turned her down.

But this girl clung to him like a shadow.

Her attempts to pursue him became well-known throughout the school.

He was utterly annoyed and used his family influence to force her to transfer to another school.

After Jessica Coleman transferred, he finally got some peace and quiet.

But it didn’t last long, as he ran into her again in college.

She somehow found out he had applied to Oakhaven University and followed him there.

She delivered breakfast to him daily, attended his classes, and continuously sent love letters and gifts.

Jessica Coleman once again became a hot topic in the school because of her pursuit of him.

Jessica Coleman cried miserably, "Adrian, do you really not care whether I live or die? Why are you so heartless? Is my life really worth less than an engagement ceremony?"

Adrian Jennings was as calm as a robot without feelings, his voice extremely cold, "Your tricks might work on other men, but not on me."

Jessica Coleman wanted to say more, but Adrian Jennings didn’t give her the chance.

Without further ado, he decisively hung up the phone and sent someone to find her, while the engagement ceremony continued as planned.

Not that he cared about Jessica Coleman, but if she wasn’t found soon, she would definitely disrupt the engagement ceremony.

If she did jump and died at his engagement ceremony with Talia, it would be truly terrifying.

A death at his engagement would leave a psychological shadow on Talia, and they might not even be able to get married.

...

In a certain room in the villa.

After the call was heartlessly hung up, Jessica Coleman froze for a few seconds, then furiously smashed her phone against the wall, following up with a fit of rage, throwing things around the room.

In the room, Selina Hughes watched Jessica Coleman’s meltdown with cold eyes, "Ms. Coleman, how can you be so impatient?"

After smashing things, Jessica Coleman slumped to the floor in defeat, muttering to herself in despair, "He really doesn’t care whether I live or die. How can he not care whether I live or die?"

Selina Hughes let out a mocking laugh, eyes filled with contempt, as she slowly lit a cigarette with a lighter.

A knock sounded at the door.

The bodyguard behind Selina Hughes went to open it.

"Ms. Hughes, there were bodyguards beside that woman, we couldn’t capture her, but we got a small one." Outside, a tall bodyguard in black clothes was holding Jasmine Rhodes as if she were a chick.

Jasmine Rhodes had her hands bound behind her back, legs flailing, struggling desperately, her mouth taped with black tape, eyes filled with terror.

Selina Hughes exhaled a puff of smoke, releasing a smoke ring, softly uttering two words, "Useless."

The bodyguard remained silent with his head down.

Selina Hughes glanced at her watch, "It’s about time, let’s go."

Standing up, she looked down at Jessica Coleman crying on the floor, squinting her eyes in disdain.

Selina Hughes smiled, like Satan from hell, although her face wore a smile, it emanated a bone-chilling sinister aura.

"Ms. Coleman, I’d suggest you clean up and follow our plan. If anything goes wrong because of you, I won’t pay a dime for your father’s medical expenses!"

Finishing her words, Selina Hughes ignored Jessica Coleman’s reaction and turned to leave.

Jessica Coleman wiped her tears, standing up from the floor, and followed in a daze.

...

Twenty minutes until the engagement banquet begins.

Jasmine Rhodes was nowhere to be found.

Lillian Young was so worried that tears welled up, "We were just chatting in the rest area, Jasmine said she wanted to go out and play for a while, so I let her, and now I can’t find her anywhere."

Mrs. Jennings, Melinda Lynch, consoled, "Don’t worry, everyone here today is a guest for the engagement ceremony, Jasmine won’t be in any danger. She’s just a playful child; she might have wandered outside the villa, and with the estate being so big, it’s normal to not find her immediately. We can start by checking the surveillance."

Talia said, "My dad has gone to check the surveillance. Let’s split up and search, and send more people out to look."

At this moment, a sudden commotion erupted ahead in the crowd.

The few people turned to look and instantly turned pale with fright.

The electronic screen originally meant to play the engagement ceremony video was now showing a video of Jasmine Rhodes being kidnapped, crying, and screaming in fear.

"Daddy, Mommy, Sister, where are you? Boo hoo, I want my mom, let me go!"

"Mommy, I was taken by a bad uncle, please come save me, boo hoo..."

On the screen, Jasmine Rhodes was tied to a chair, crying and making a fuss.

Lillian Young was so scared her legs nearly gave way and she almost fainted; Talia quickly caught her, "Aunt Lillian—"

"Talia, what do we do about Jasmine? Please think of something..." Lillian Young was crying too hard to form complete sentences, "Jasmine... Jasmine, how could she... get kidnapped... I..."

Lillian Young was crying her heart out, "Boo hoo... If Jasmine dies, I don’t want to live either..."

"How can this be? Everyone here today is a guest from our two families. How could anyone kidnap Jasmine?" Melinda Lynch was deeply puzzled.

Just then, a bizarre voice altered by a modulator came over the broadcast in the hall.

"Talia Rhodes, if you want your sister to live, come to the rooftop."

Talia froze for a moment, then quickly realized and immediately turned to run toward the elevator.

Adrian Jennings caught up and grabbed her, "Talia, don’t go, it’s dangerous!"

Talia struggled desperately to break free, "I have to go! They’re coming for me, if I don’t go, Jasmine will be in danger."

"Call the police first." Adrian Jennings remained very calm.

"You call the police, but don’t stop me. If I’m even a second late, Jasmine will be in more danger, I can’t risk her life!" Talia was almost in tears, "Jasmine was kidnapped because of me, I can’t just stand by and watch her get hurt."

Adrian Jennings raised his voice, his grip tightening slightly, "So you can risk your own life?"

At that moment, a man came rushing over, "Young Master, we’ve located Miss Jasmine, she’s on the top floor."

Adrian Jennings said coldly, "Call the police."

The man replied, "The police have been notified and are on their way."

Adrian Jennings was composed and his mind worked quickly, "Talia, they took Jasmine as a hostage to lure you, you can’t fall into their trap. I’ll immediately mobilize all the bodyguards in the estate to the rooftop, you must stay calm, okay?"

Talia was so scared her hands were trembling, "I..."

Suddenly.

A scream erupted in the hall.

Talia jerked her head up to look.

On the screen, a knife had appeared at Jasmine Rhodes’ neck.

A masked person held a knife to Jasmine’s neck, "Talia Rhodes, I’ll give you five minutes, if you don’t come, then let your sister die in your place!"

Almost as soon as these words were said, Adrian Jennings felt an emptiness in his hand.

Talia Rhodes took advantage of his distraction and broke free, running off.