Chapter 143 You Came


    Alone


    After more than an hour of driving, the car entered a destendscape of abandoned


    construction projects.


    Years of neglect had transformed the area into a wastnd where weeds entangled the skeletal structures, casting long shadows in the fading light.


    Leah''s knuckles whitened against the steering wheel as she scanned the haunting surroundings.


    Her suspicions about Corrine deepened with each passing moment. Why else would anyone drive to such a forsaken ce unless they had something sinister to hide?


    When she finally spotted Corrine''s parked vehicle ahead, Leah hesitated before stepping out, phone clutched in her trembling hands. She crept forward, ready to document whatever dark secrets she might uncover.


    Meanwhile, Corrine had already located the kidnappers'' makeshift hideout within


    one


    of the unfinished buildings.


    Inside, an odd pair-one corpulent, one rail-thin-huddled over a small iron pot of boiling noodles.


    The thin man stirred the pot listlessly. "Think she''ll really bring fifty million to the dock?"


    Hispanion cast a doubtful nce at their bound captive. "For this old man?


    Unlikely."


    "Boss is asking too much. Might scare her offpletely."


    Donnelly''s eyes welled with tears at the sight of Corrine.


    Bound hand and foot with ck tape sealing his mouth, he writhed helplessly on the ground, managing only muffled sounds.


    "Shut it!" The fat kidnapper delivered a sharp kick, but as he turned, he froze at the sight of Corrine. "Who-who are you?"


    Without a word, Corrine strode past him and carefully peeled the tape from Donnelly''s


    mouth.


    He worked his jaw briefly before craning his neck toward the entrance. "You came


    alone?"


    "The police might have made them desperate," Corrine exined quietly.


    Donnelly gaped at her recklessness.


    "What''s happening here?" she asked, nodding toward his captors.


    Nervousness flickered across Donnelly''s features. "I was investigating that gem...


    they imed to have information, so I followed them, and..."


    He caught Corrine''s knowing look and sighed. “After we raided Brevard Ferguson''s hideout three years ago, he vanished. I posted a reward, hoping to catch him off guard. Instead, I walked right into their trap."


    Their casual conversation enraged the kidnappers. The thin man drew a concealed de, running his fingers along its edge. "Hey! Stop ignoring us!"


    "Those two..." Donnelly murmured to Corrine, "they sold the counterfeit gem." Corrine studied the armed man through narrowed eyes.


    The thin man spat sideways, malice glinting in his gaze. “Enough nonsense. Surrender now, or my knife won''t show mercy!"


    "Harm me," Corrine replied, her voice carrying cial warning, "and you won''t live


    regret it."


    The thin man''sughter held no humor. "You had your chance for the easy way. Don''t


    me me for whates next!"


    With that, heunched himself at Corrine, de shing in the dim light.