**Chapter 512: Racing Against Time**


    Selina''s face lit up with a flicker of hope. "That''s fantastic! If everything is proceeding smoothly, then that''s even better news. Do we have a confirmed time for our


    departure? When exactly are we leaving? And what about Jonathan-did he make any specific demands?"


    But before she could finish her thoughts, Hiroto''s voice cut through the air, sharp and urgent. “Hold on a second! Forget about that for now. Where is Anneliese? Is she safe?"


    “Uncle Hiroto, please, you need to trust us. We''re keeping a close eye on her," Selina replied, trying to inject some calm into the situation.


    "Jonathan wants a video of Anneliese to ensure she''s unharmed. You need to record one and send it to me immediately," he insisted, his tone brooking no argument.


    Selina felt her grip on the steering wheel tighten, her knuckles turning a ghostly white as jealousy surged through her veins once more. Jonathan had acquiesced to their terms, which on the surface seemed like a victory, but deep down, it gnawed at her. It was a clear indication of his concern for Anneliese, and the realization stung more than she cared to admit.


    "God, that hurt," she thought, her heart racing.


    Her voice turned icy, sharp as a de. "She''s the hostage, Hiroto. He doesn''t get to call the shots. You tell him that if he keeps pushing for more, I''ll start by cutting off one of Anne''s fingers. Let''s see how he likes that."


    “No! Don''t even think about doing something so reckless!" Hiroto''s voice cracked with panic, the urgency palpable even through the phone line.


    Selina frowned deeply, mming on the brakes, the tires screeching as she pulled over to the side of the road. "Uncle Hiroto?" she said, her heart pounding.


    Something felt terribly off.


    "Please, Selina! Don''t do anything rash. If you hurt Anneliese, Jonathan might just lose interest in her altogether. Even worse, if you provoke him, he could refuse to prepare the ne, and that would ruin everything we''ve worked for!"


    He spoke quickly, his words tumbling over one another, but Selina could still detect the tremor in his voice.


    They had previously agreed that she would manage the kidnapping and the hiding of Anneliese while he would keep his distance, yet now he was demanding to know her whereabouts.


    Selina''s instincts red to life, a cold chill creeping down her spine as suspicion took root. "We''ll talkter," she said curtly, ending the call in a hurry. Cold sweat began to bead on her forehead as the realization of their precarious situation settled heavily in her chest.


    On the other end of the line, the call abruptly dropped. Hiroto let out a strangled scream as a bodyguard d in ck kicked him forcefully against the wall.


    Surrounded by more than ten men in simr dark attire, Hiroto felt the walls closing in. Aptop nearby was already tracing the call, desperately trying to pinpoint his exact location.


    “Please! Don''t hit me! I''m sorry! I did everything you asked!” he pleaded, struggling to rise from the corner where he had crumpled, pain twisting his features into a mask of desperation. He fell to his knees, bowing his head to the floor, begging for mercy.


    Across the dimly lit room, his wife and son huddled together, their muffled sobs echoing in the tense atmosphere as they buried their faces in their sleeves.


    "Damn it! We were mere seconds away from locking down the location," one of the men spat, frustration evident in his voice.


    The leader of the group, the one who had delivered the brutal kick to Hiroto, pressed his heel into Hiroto''s trembling hand, crouching down to loom over him menacingly. "Call her. Now!" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.


    Hiroto didn''t dare to refuse. His hands shook uncontrobly as he dialed the number, praying for a miracle.


    But fate had other ns. Selina had already powered down her phone, severing theirst line ofmunication.


    "It... It''s not going through..." he stuttered, panic coursing through him.


    The bodyguard, a menacing figure named Zaxton, brandished a cold, gleaming knife, pressing it menacingly against Hiroto''s hand. "So, she sensed something was off. Tell me, how should I punish you? Two fingers, or one eye?"


    "No-wait-ah!" Hiroto''s voice rose in a desperate plea, but it was cut short by a scream that echoed through the room.


    In an instant, they severed two of his fingers. Hiroto curled around his bleeding hand, writhing on the ground in agony, until someone yanked him upright by the cor and shoved him toward theptop.


    "Look closely. Her phone pinged in this area. Think! Does anything here seem familiar? If you can''t identify it, I''ll take your fingers and toes one by one," the leader threatened.


    Terror flooded Hiroto''s eyes as he stared at the screen, forcing his mind to conjure something—anything. But the pain was overwhelming, and he eventually copsed to his knees again, groveling. "I swear, I don''t know where they''ve hidden Mrs. Fullbuster. I truly don''t! I can''t think of anything..."


    Zaxton, the bodyguard who had beaten him, was acutely aware of his failure to keep Anneliese safe. Zion had already berated him over the phone, and now the weight of that failure settled heavily on his shoulders.


    His only option was to locate Anneliese before Jonathan''s ne touched down. The thought of what awaited him if he failed was too horrific to contemte.


    His expression hardened into a mask of resolve. His men quickly restrained Hiroto, but the pain was too much, and he eventually passed out, still unable to provide any useful information.


    Zaxton could only bark orders at his team. "Review every vehicle captured on camera in the area where Selina''s signal disappeared. Mark anything suspicious and triangte the hideout."


    "Move quickly! Mr. Fullbusternds in four or five hours. If we don''t find Mrs. Fullbuster before then, forget about this year''s holiday and start nning your funeral," hemanded, urgencycing his tone.


    Meanwhile, Selina had already severed the call and killed her phone in an instant, as if something monstrous might reach out from it.


    She tossed the device onto the passenger seat, her fingers still trembling from the adrenaline coursing through her.


    The more she pondered the situation, the more a chilling certainty gripped her- something had gone terribly wrong with Hiroto. Deep down, she feared he hadn''t escaped Jonathan''s clutches at all. He was most likely already in their hands, and that thought sent a shiver down her spine.