Chapter 194
Chapter 194
Fortunately, the place Jonathan had provided was not too far away. Angeline flagged down a taxi and made her way there. She even put on a simple disguise so that the driver wouldn’t suspect her.
The mansion was built halfway up a mountain in the countryside. The area was famous for its beautiful view of the vast ocean behind the mountain.
The people who could afford to stay here were either rich or influential.
I remember Jonathan’s work ID indicated that he’s just an employee from the IT department in a small company. How did he manage to earn so much money?
Her mind was occupied with thoughts of her child, so she didn’t think too much of it. She got out of the car, walked up to the door, and knocked on it.
She didn’t have to wait long before Jonathan answered the door. Seeing the beads of perspiration on her face due to how anxious she was, he led her to the living room without another word.
There was a chubby rural woman tied to a chair in the living room with a piece of cloth shoved in her mouth. Her shrill screams were muffled by the gag, and her eyes were filled with fear.
When Angeline saw the woman, her eyes widened in shock, and her hand flew up to her mouth.
That’s her! She looks exactly like the woman in the picture Joseline had shown me!
Jonathan picked up a fruit knife from the coffee table and approached the woman. He used the blade to casually stroke the side of her cheek.
“Repeat everything you’ve done once more. If you dare to leave even a single detail out, don’t mind me as I slit your throat!”
The middle-aged woman screamed even louder as she shook her head frantically.
Seeing that, Jonathan finally removed the cloth from her mouth.
The woman squeezed her eyes shut and coughed violently.
After catching her breath, she fumbled to explain herself, “I admit that I was the one who took a baby away from the orphanage years ago, but I was just carrying out orders from a man. He gave me a large sum of money to get rid of the child. I was blinded by the money back then. Despite that, I couldn’t bring myself to harm the child, so I sent it to a childless distant relative of mine.”
By now, the woman was trembling all over from how terrified she was, and words eluded her.
Jonathan’s eyes darkened. “I already investigated this. Her distant relative is from her alcoholic father’s side of the family. The timing checks out.”
When Angeline heard his words, her blood started boiling, and her breathing grew laborious. She felt like her heart was being torn to pieces.
It took her a long time before she was able to speak again. “Who was the man who hired you?”
“I don’t remember. I only heard that he… died in a car accident later on.”
“You b*tch! How can you do such a thing just for the sake of money? Do you know just how many families you’ve ruined with your selfishness?”
Angeline was beyond furious. She ran up to the woman and started raining kicks and punches on her.
“Ahh! Please stop! I’m sorry!” the woman screamed pitifully.
Angeline hit her so much that the woman eventually fell to the ground, taking the chair with her. Her head slammed into a corner of the table, and blood started flowing out of the wound.
Jonathan reached out to stop Angeline from continuing her rampage.
“All right, that’s enough. We won’t be able to extract useful information out of her if you beat her to death. I’ve already spoken to my subordinates in the village. The child’s health is deteriorating rapidly due to years of hardship and abuse. He might die if we don’t rescue him as soon as possible,” he reminded her in a low voice.
Angeline felt her heart clenching at the thought. “Bring me to him,” she said shakily.
“All right, don’t get so worked up. I’ll bring you there,” he comforted her.
Then, Jonathan ordered his subordinates to clean up the mess and turn the woman over to the police.
After that was settled, he led Angeline into the garage. Both of them climbed into the car and headed out.
It was very late at night when they finally arrived at the village.
Jonathan parked the car in a straw house near the village entrance. The walls looked dilapidated, and the shabby windows had a slight yellow tint to them.
“Let’s go,” Jonathan said in a deep voice.
Angeline quickly followed after him. Jonathan walked up to the front door of the straw house and knocked on it.
Not long after, the door opened, and there stood a tanned young man dressed in tattered clothing.
“You’re here, Boss. Come on in.”
“Okay.”
They entered the house with Angeline following behind Jonathan. The interior was furnished simply, with only a bed and some kitchen equipment.
“This is Dawg, the guy I sent to monitor things in the village. He’s the one who has been updating us on the child’s whereabouts.”
After Jonathan did the introductions, Angeline shot Dawg a grateful look and nodded at him.
“I appreciate everything you’ve done during this time. I will be sure to reward you when all this is over.”
“You’re too kind, Ms. Sorelle.”
Dawg rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
“I’m just doing what I should. Boss is my savior. If it weren’t for him, I would be dead right now. That’s why I’m willing to risk my life for him. I don’t even need anything in return.”
Angeline glanced at Jonathan and smiled at him, warmth washing over her heart.
Jonathan must treat his subordinate pretty well for him to be so loyal.
Although she had always maintained a professional relationship with Jonathan and did not know anything about his personal affairs, she could sense that he was not a bad person.
“When do we take action, Dawg?”
Jonathan’s question broke the quiet atmosphere in the house. He had a grim and stern expression on his face.
Dawg glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, and his eyes darkened.
“Let’s wait for another half hour, Boss. The alcoholic father usually goes to bed late at night,” he whispered.
“Sure.”
Although it was rather painful to wait it out, it was currently harvesting season, so all the villagers had gone to bed earlier than usual. When they finally moved out, there was not a single soul on the streets save for the occasional barks from dogs.
It didn’t take them long to arrive at the house. The three of them lay on the floor behind the wall and studied the layout of the yard.
Angeline noticed that there wasn’t a dog barking its head off this time.
Jonathan turned to Dawg and teased, “Where’s the dog? Did you eat it?”
“Don’t make fun of me, Boss! I’m not going to eat a dog, no matter how hungry I am. I was afraid the dog would be a hindrance, so I fed it a sleeping drug.” C0pyright © 2024 Nôv)(elDrama.Org.
“That’s pretty smart of you!”
As Angeline listened to their banter, she started to panic. She quickly lifted a finger to her lips.
“Shh!”
“What’s wrong?”
Just then, a strange smell wafted into Angeline’s nose. It seemed to be the pungent smell of burning fuel, yet it was unusually faint. It was virtually undetectable.
She couldn’t help but ask, “Do you guys smell something?”
Dawg sniffed the air a few times and looked at her in confusion. “I don’t smell anything. Maybe you’re overthinking things, Ms. Sorelle.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
Angeline smiled wryly. Yes, perhaps I’m a bit on edge. She pinched her thigh and forced herself to calm down.
After some time, all the lights in the house were turned off, and the alcoholic father went to sleep.
Dawg pointed at a window on the right and said, “This is where he usually locks the child in. I asked around and found out that he keeps the door unlocked because the child isn’t in a good state of health. We’ll be able to sneak in.”
“Got it.”
Angeline’s expression turned grim. She still wasn’t able to stop the jitters before they moved out.
Having found the perfect opportunity, they snuck into the house with Dawg in the lead. He stood guard at the door while Jonathan led Angeline into the room where the child was being kept.
The moment they pushed open the door, they were attacked by a putrid stench of something rotten with a hint of blood. Angeline immediately covered her nose to prevent herself from coughing out loud.
She lifted her head and looked around the room. With how it was stuffed with loads of things, it was clearly a storage room. There was only a tiny space for the child to sleep in.