Although Autumn said she wasn’t hungry, Elisa ordered takeout for him to encourage him to eat.
While eating, Elisa received a phone call. At this hour, the call could either be work-related or from Hamish. But when Elisa checked her phone, it turned out to be neither; it was an unfamiliar number.
Elisa answered the call and asked, “Hello, who is this?”
“Miss Powell,” a hoarse male voice came through the phone, “your brother owes ten million at the casino and now he needs you to bring the money over.”
Ten million? Elisa had a total of five million, including the two million Hamish had given her before. Where could she come up with the remaining ten million?
Elisa pursed her lips and tried to stay composed. “I don’t have the money. Whoever owes you, go find them. Why are you calling me?”
The other person seemed to have put the call on speakerphone. Just as Elisa finished speaking, she heard Ivan’s voice coming from the other end.
“Please, sister, save me. It’s just ten million. Ask Hamish for it! If I don’t have the money, they’ll cut off my hand!”
Ivan only referred to her as “sister” when he was pleading with her. Elisa remained indifferent, her eyes even colder than usual.
The man spoke coldly, “Did you hear that, Miss Powell? If you don’t come, I’ll cut off your brother’s hand.”
“I really don’t have that much money. It’s useless for me to come over. It’s better to give me a few days to gather the money,” Elisa said while thinking of a plan. She glanced at Autumn, who was looking worried, stood up, and walked toward the window, lowering her voice so they couldn’t hear her conversation.
“How is it possible for the wife of the Burns Group’s CEO to not have a mere ten million?” Elisa’s heart sank. “Then ask Hamish for it.”
The man became furious. “I’m not joking with you.”
Elisa tugged at the corner of her lips, her tone filled with icy mockery. “I’m not joking with you either. My relationship with Hamish is not what the internet says. He won’t give me money. Let me say it again: either give me a few days or consider whether Ivan’s life is worth ten million.”
The phone suddenly fell silent. If not for the ongoing call displayed on the screen, Elisa would have thought it had been disconnected.
The other person seemed to be discussing countermeasures. Elisa waited for nearly thirty seconds before hearing the man’s voice again. “Fine, I’ll give you a week. Come and sign the documents at five o’clock this afternoon. If you’re one minute late, I’ll cut off your brother’s finger.”
The man issued a warning, “You come alone, no calling the police!”
Although it had started as a request for money, it had now turned into a kidnapping. Elisa didn’t pay attention to his threats. “Send me the address.”
After saying that, she hung up the call directly.
The surroundings suddenly grew quiet. Elisa felt heavy-hearted, and her ears rang as if there were two worms burrowing in her eardrums.
She reached out and touched the wall, barely keeping herself upright.
“Elisa, who called you?” Hattie asked from behind.
Elisa turned away from them, took two deep breaths, and forced herself to regain composure. She put her phone back in her bag and turned around, saying, “I’m fine.”
“But I just heard you talking about money. Is there an economic problem?”
“I’m Hamish’s wife. How could I be short of money?” Elisa repeated the man’s words from the phone, her eyes indifferent and her tone mocking.
“I’ve been out for quite a while. I should go back first.” Elisa used Hamish as an excuse. “He’ll be angry if I’m late.”
Autumn stood up and followed her. “I’ll accompany you.”
Elisa paused, feeling irritated. “Don’t follow me, Autumn. I made it clear last time. If you really care about me, stay away from me. You’re just a fool. We can never be together!”
Autumn’s face turned pale, pinned in place. This was the first time Elisa had shown impatience towards him.
He was indeed a fool, being called that every day for fourteen years in the orphanage. He thought he had gotten used to it, but when Elisa called him a “fool,” it almost cost him his life. It turned out his heart could still ache so much-just like being pierced by countless arrows.
Something trembled in a corner of Elisa’s heart. She tightened her grip on her bag, lowered her gaze, and turnedaway.
Autumn cautiously followed, watching Elisa’s hurried figure enter the elevator. Suddenly, he ran towards the stairs as if he had gone mad, reaching the bottom in no time despite the five floors.
But he was still a step too late. He arrived at the hospital entrance only to see Elisa getting into a car.
Autumn stood in the hospital stairwell like a block of wood, watching the direction where the car disappeared. Then he looked up at the bright sunlight above and felt the sweat running down his body, his heart trembling as if it was about to burst out of his throat.