Chapter 285
Ethan's lips curled into a mocking sneer as the words reached his ears.
"Do I look like some puppet you can manipulate at will?" His voice dripped with icy disdain.
The cold fury in his piercing gaze pinned Victor Kane in place. The air around them thickened with tension, suffocating and unyielding.
Victor's breath hitched, his throat tightening under the weight of Ethan's wrath. It was no wonder Ethan Caldwell was known as the uncrowned king of Cresthaven—his mere presence could make even the most ruthless criminals falter.
Without another word, Ethan turned on his heel and strode toward his car.
Panic flashed across Victor's face. He barked an order, and his men scrambled to block the vehicle.
"Let's make one thing clear," Victor said, forcing a smirk. "You're here for your wife, right? And she's unharmed."
Ethan paused, casting a chilling glance over his shoulder. "Get to the point."
Victor held up two fingers, his confidence wavering. "Leave twenty million behind, and you walk away."
The money was still in Ethan's car, untouched. The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken threats.
Ethan's lips curled into a dangerous smirk. "You actually believe you can extort money from me? What makes you think you're entitled?"
His foot slammed on the accelerator, and the engine roared like a beast unleashed.
The rugged off-road vehicle he drove was a monster of steel and power, its aggressive frame barely contained by the dim streetlights.
In a heartbeat, the car surged forward, scattering the thugs like leaves in a storm.
Panicked shouts filled the air as they scrambled to avoid being crushed beneath the tires.
Beside Ethan, Vanessa clutched the seat, her pulse hammering in her throat.
She had always known Ethan as cold, controlled—untouchable. But this? This was raw, reckless fury, and it stole her breath.
He hadn’t hesitated. Hadn’t flinched. Just plowed through without a second thought.
Vanessa stared at him, awed. The way he commanded fear was terrifyingly magnetic.
As they sped away from the factory, the night erupted with the wail of police sirens.
Vanessa exhaled sharply. Of course. Ethan had planned for this. He always had a backup.
The night air was thick with tension as Ethan Caldwell stepped out of his car.
As a powerful figure in Cresthaven, Ethan wasn't the type to be manipulated by some low-level criminal.
He approached the lead officer, his voice low but commanding. Whatever words he exchanged made the officer’s expression shift instantly, his posture stiffening.
Moments later, Ethan returned to the vehicle, his jaw set.
"Get out," he ordered, his tone icy. "They’ll escort you to the city."
Vanessa Hart gripped the seat, desperation creeping into her voice. "Ethan, are you going after Evelyn? Do these officers know where she is?"
Silence.
Her fingers dug into the leather. "I’m her sister! I care about her safety just as much as you do. If you’re going to save her, take me with you! I didn’t mean what I said earlier—fear makes people say stupid things. I regret it. We’ve been through too much together."
Ethan barely registered her words, genuine or not.
Every second wasted was another second Evelyn remained in danger.
Across town, Alexander Whitmore’s phone buzzed in the darkness.
A chilling message lit up the screen:
[258, your woman is in our hands. Want to see her blown to pieces?]
Alexander's grip tightened, his knuckles turning white.
The air around him grew heavy with barely contained fury.
His dark eyes burned with a dangerous intensity.
[I'll deliver her remains to your doorstep as a special greeting.]
The message lingered in the silence, its threat unmistakable.
A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.
This wasn't just a warning—it was a promise.
And Alexander Whitmore always kept his promises.
286
The weight of those words settled over him like a storm cloud.
His mind raced, calculating every possible move.
Whoever had sent this would regret it.
Deeply.
His phone buzzed again, but he ignored it.
Right now, only one thing mattered.
Finding Evelyn.
Before it was too late.