“Uncle Nelson sent his men there?” Cristofer asked, his concern growing.
“Yes, Mr. Hans, you’re stubborn, and so is Miss Hudson. I tried to persuade her for a long time today, but it was in vain. You two are truly a perfect match, both equally determined,” Geoffrey remarked with a mix of sarcasm.
Enraged at Geoffrey’s words, Cristofer grabbed Geoffrey by the collar and lifted him until his feet were off the ground.
“What did you say to her?” he asked in a deep voice.
Geoffrey’s playful smile remained as he said, “I simply conveyed Uncle Nelson’s message to her. Mr. Hans, don’t blame me. After all, it’s not me who wants to harm your wife and children, but Uncle Nelson.”
Cristofer’s anger flared, and he forcefully pushed Geoffrey to the ground, then swiftly mounted his motorcycle, preparing to leave.
Geoffrey laughed and taunted, “It may be too late for you to go back now. You know Uncle Nelson’s methods. Perhaps by the time you return, Miss Hudson has already…”
Upon hearing this, Cristofer trembled with rage, his hands tightening around the motorcycle’s handle. Through gritted teeth, he glared at Geoffrey and exclaimed, “You despicable bastard!”
Geoffrey seemed unfazed and continued, “I’m a bastard? Call me whatever you like. Today, I’m here to assist you. In truth, though those who went to Rose Garden are supposed to be Uncle Nelson’s men, they are all under my command now.”
Geoffrey’s smile held a hidden meaning as he straightened his disheveled collar and commented, “Oh, what a mess, my newly bought customized suit got ruined by you, Mr. Hans.”
Cristofer, catching the implication, took a deep breath and replied, “Cut to the chase, tell me what you want.”
“Kneel down.”
“What?”
Geoffrey’s tone turned menacing as he spoke, “I asked you to kneel down. I’ve worked hard for years and should have inherited everything from Uncle Nelson, but your presence has rendered all my efforts in vain! Mr. Hans, you are God’s favored one. You were born into a wealthy family and can inherit your family’s fortune.”
“You are skilled, and Uncle Nelson chose you as his successor. But what about me? You’re right, I am Uncle Nelson’s lapdog. Even so, I’ve been by his side for so many years and deserve a reward. Why won’t he give me anything? Why do you effortlessly receive what I struggle so hard to attain?”
Cristofer gazed at him firmly and responded, “Geoffrey, Uncle Nelson’s decisions have nothing to do with me. Moreover, I don’t desire anything from him, nor do I wish to compete with you for his wealth.”
“I despise your patronizing attitude the most. It infuriates me when you treat your easily-gained riches with contempt while I can’t have them!” Geoffrey sneered and continued, “In Uncle Nelson’s eyes, you are always superior to me. But I don’t believe that. Now, kneel down and beg me. Otherwise, I’ll instruct my men to sleep with Miss Hudson. I’ve sent at least fifty of them to Rose Garden. Are you sure Miss Hudson can endure it?”
“You…”
Cristofer clenched his fists, seething with anger at Geoffrey’s ruthless threats.
“You want to provoke me? Go ahead, do it if you dare,” Geoffrey taunted, pointing at his head without remorse. “If you lay a hand on me, your son will face ten times worse. If you curse me, your daughter will be thrown downstairs, and your beloved Miss Hudson will suffer too. Tut, tut. I was curious about what kind of woman she was and why you were so infatuated with her. Not long ago, I finally got a chance to see her. She’s truly stunning. My men will also appreciate her beauty when they lay eyes on her.”
Cristofer ground his teeth, and his chest heaved.
“Have you made up your mind, Mr. Hans? As long as I make a call, your family will be safe. Now, I will give you three seconds to think about it,” Geoffrey said as he took out his phone and dialed a number.
“Three.” Geoffrey got through.
“Two.”
“Hello, Mr. Field.” Estelle’s voice came from the other end of the line.
“One!”
Cristofer clenched his teeth, contemplating the difficult choice before him. “Wait,” he said with a tense expression, “If I kneel down and beg you, you promise to guarantee their safety, help us leave here, and ensure Uncle Nelson never finds us, right?”
Seeing Cristofer starting to compromise, Geoffrey’s excitement grew evident.
“Absolutely. With my help, you can leave without any worries, and Uncle Nelson will be clueless about your whereabouts. Then he’ll have no choice but to appoint me as his successor. It’s a win-win situation for both of us, isn’t it?” Geoffrey proposed eagerly.
“End the call right now,” Cristofer commanded firmly.
Geoffrey’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he swiftly ended the call. “I’ve ended the call, Mr. Hans. Now, you can kneel down.”
“Boom! Boom!” The deafening thunder exploded overhead, and it began to rain heavily.
Geoffrey activated the video recording mode on his phone and aimed the camera at Cristofer. He sneered, “Don’t drag this out, Mr. Hans. It’s raining and thundering. Miss Hudson is afraid of thunder. Don’t you want to go back home quickly to comfort her?”
Cristofer took a deep breath and replied, “I hope you will honor your word.”
“Whether I keep my word or not, you have no choice now, do you? Get down on your knees quickly. Don’t waste my time!”
“Boom!” The thunder crashed in the sky.
Cristofer looked up at the sky and couldn’t see any stars.
“Hurry up! My patience is running out!” Geoffrey urged him.
The next moment, Cristofer knelt on the ground.
While recording the video, Geoffrey laughed maniacally and taunted, “Hahaha. It’s beyond belief that Cristofer, one of the most influential men in Hadale, is now kneeling before me, showing such humility. Now, beg me! Once you do, I’ll release your wife and children!”
Cristofer reluctantly lowered his head and said in a subdued voice, “I beg you. Please, let them go.”
But Geoffrey remained unsatisfied with Cristofer’s demeanor and demanded, “Make it clear! Who exactly is begging me?”
“… Cristofer.”
“What is Cristofer doing?”
Blue veins stood out on Cristofer’s neck, and he roared, “I, Cristofer, beg you to let go of my wife and children!”
“That’s not enough. Now kowtow to me!”
Cristofer looked at him gloomily.
“Hurry up!” Geoffrey bellowed and kicked Cristofer’s injured left arm.
The wound on Cristofer’s arm opened up, blood streamed down to his fingertips and washed away by the rain.
Pain etched across his face, Cristofer lost his balance and fell to the ground, soaked from head to toe.
Despite the agony, he gritted his teeth and, undeterred, knelt once more. Folding his hands, he slowly kowtowed Geoffrey. “I… beg you to let them go…”
Geoffrey’s harsh laughter echoed through the darkness in response.