Chapter 185 Public Deration


    Julius bent down, his lips almost brushing Quinn’s car, and murmured, “Quinn, I’m thrilled that you announced our rtionship to everyone.”


    Heat red across her ears, and every nearby gaze immediately swung toward them.


    At that moment, Trent charged over, demanding, “Where did you take Sidonie?”


    “What?” Quinn blinked, utterly confused.


    Julius straightened, a chill settling over his expression as he stared at Trent.


    When Trent tried to step closer for another question, Julius thrust out an arm to block him. “What’s wrong -looking to have your other hand broken too?”


    A shiver raced down Trent’s spine, and he had no choice but to retreat a step, though he still red venomously at Quinn. “You’d better hand Sidonie over–and fast!”


    “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’ve been recording the show the whole time. I don’t have any magical clone to whisk Sidonie away,” Quinn said, irritationcing her tone.


    “Sure, you’ve been filming, but couldn’t you hire someone?” Trent shot back, raising the phone in his hand. “This is Sidonie’s phone. It was lying right outside the green–room door, but Sidonie herself is nowhere to be found!


    And thest call on it was from an unknown number. I tried calling back, but nobody picked up!


    Quinn, even if you hate Sidonie, kidnapping her is going way too far. You’d better have her brought back immediately!”


    While speaking, Trent never stopped leveling a ferocious re at Quinn.


    “You should be talking to the police, not me,” Quinn replied icily. “And if you use me of kidnapping Sidonie without evidence, I can sue you for defamation. Also, what exactly do you think I resent her for?”


    “Obviously, you resent-”


    Quinn cut him off. “Resent her for ying the mistress and worming her way into our marriage? Resent her for driving us to divorce? Or perhaps resent you, who during our marriage would only buy your wife a twenty–dor flea–market ring for a wedding band, yet turned around and gave Sidonie jewelry worth fifty million?”


    The moment those wordsnded, every person present stared in shock.


    Some of the crew who had never known about Quinn and Trent’s past now looked at Trent as though he were the very picture of a cheating husband,


    So it turns out the fiancé of this so–called firefighting hero is anything but decent!


    And that same hero’s First Officer is actually his mistress!


    “Trent Grafton, I don’t hate Sidonie Stonehurst!” Quinn’s voice rang out, clear and unwavering. “Hatred is an emotion far too intense–Sidonie is not worth that kind of passion from me. In fact, I’m grateful to her. She opened my eyes to what sort of man you truly are and gave me the resolve to end our three–year marriage once and for all!”


    Coins


    Trent’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Then in Yarburn, aside from you, who else would want to kidnap her or go after her?”


    From where he stood, Quinn was the only person with any reason to sh with Sidonie.


    And now that Julius Whitethorn was at Quinn’s side, the moment she so much as entertained the notion, someone would naturally step in to act on her behalf.


    “Who knows? You can call the police and let them investigate,” Quinn said evenly.


    At that precise moment, the massive screen at the front of the studio flickered; the idle screensaver disappeared, reced by footage of a chaotic, debris–strewn space that looked unmistakably like an abandoned factory.


    What shocked everyone most was the figure that filled the frame–Sidonie.


    Shey bound hand and foot on a floor nketed in dust.


    Suddenly, a hand swung down, pping Sidonie hard across the cheek and jolting her awake.


    Her eyes were bleary for an instant, then she screamed, “Y–you… who are you?! Why did you bring me here? Let me go!”


    The kidnapper’s silhouette stepped into view of the camera.


    He was lean and not particrly tall, clearly male, his face hidden behind a mask.


    “Why, I’m here to im your life, of course!” The kidnapper’s voice, obviously altered through a changer, dripped with mockery. “Firefighting hero–howughable. You’re a murderer who watched someone die, yet they crown you a hero. Absolutely hysterical!”


    Sidonie struggled frantically, but the ropes were viciously tight. All she could do was cry out, “I… I’m not a murderer. Th–there must be some kind of misunderstanding!”


    “Misunderstanding?” He let out a scornfulugh, then hit y on an audio clip. “D–don’t leave… Sidonie, hurry, bring the fire extinguisher. I’m on fire, hurry… hurry…”


    Amid the chaotic background noise, a hoarse male voice screamed itself raw.


    The instant Sidonie heard the recording, every trace of color bled from her face.