Chapter 3

After stepping into the factory, Chloe yelled at the top of her lungs.

Her voice echoed in the empty building, but there was no response.

A moment later, a flurry of footsteps sounded from deeper within the factory, and several burly kidnappers emerged.

Their faces were covered with black cloths, revealing only their fierce eyes.

One of the kidnappers toyed with a gleaming dagger, letting out an ominous chuckle:

“You really dared to come in. You’ve got guts.”

My gaze swept over them, then landed on Felix, who was tied to a chair not far away.

Seeing Felix, Vicki’s face showed anxiety:

“Felix, are you okay?!”

Then she glared at the kidnappers:

“Didn’t I agree to your demands? Why are you still abusing him?!”

Felix’s hair was disheveled, and a trace of blood stained the corner of his mouth.

Seeing Vicki, a flicker of surprise appeared in his eyes, followed by a panicked shout:

“Vicki, why did you come? Get out of here, they’re all crazy!”

“Stop talking nonsense!” One of the kidnappers spat at him viciously.

Seeing her beloved injured, Vicki was desperate.

She took a deep breath, her voice laced with tension and unease, pointing at me and saying urgently:

“The person is here. He’s my husband, he’s more valuable to you. I’m definitely here to redeem him!”

“Oh? Husband?”

Butch’s gaze fell on me. He squinted, sizing me up for a moment, then sneered at Vicki:

“Him? This shabby-looking guy is the husband of a Sterling heiress? Don’t try to pull a fast one on me!”

Vicki bristled:

“If you don’t believe me, you can check online!”

Butch signaled to one of his minions.

The minion quickly pulled out his phone, his fingers rapidly sliding across the screen.

Soon, he leaned close to Butch’s ear and whispered:

“Boss, this guy really is her husband. You can find news of their wedding three years ago online. It was a huge, lavish affair!”

Butch looked at the phone, then lowered his head, contemplating for a while.

Then he looked up at Vicki and let out a harsh, mocking laugh.

The sound echoed through the empty factory, making it even more sinister.

“I didn’t expect this man to actually be your husband.”

“If he’s your husband, how could you bear to trade him for this pretty boy?”

He stared at Vicki, full of suspicion:

“There’s no trickery going on here, is there?”

Even Liam couldn’t help but look at Vicki.

Even the kidnappers found this absurd, but Vicki seemed oblivious.

A flicker of panic crossed Vicki’s eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

She raised her voice, feigning calmness:

“Stop talking nonsense, he is my husband, just tell me if you’re making the trade or not!”

Butch pondered for a moment, exchanged a few quiet words with his subordinates, then coldly said to Vicki:

“Alright, I’ll believe you this once. But let me make one thing clear: if you try to trick me, you’ll be picking up his corpse!”

My expression was calm, but my nails were digging deeply into my palms.

In Vicki’s eyes, I was nothing more than a pawn, to be sacrificed at will to ensure the safety of her beloved.

But even so, to save my wife and child, I could only silently endure all of this.

Butch’s hoarse voice cut through the air:

“Have your husband walk over, and we’ll release him.”

Vicki frowned, refusing:

“What if you go back on your word? Let’s release them simultaneously!”

“Stop wasting time! I’m already giving you a chance to swap. One more word and I’ll gut him.”