The ones who snatched Winifred’s watch were two notorious local thugs, often seen loitering around the street outside the cemetery, acting as if they feared nothing.
When they saw Winifred alone there, they were startled, thinking they had encountered a ghost. But being bold and familiar with the area, they quickly realized she was a living person.
Imagine, in the dead of night, an exquisite beauty suddenly appears in a deserted place. What could happen when such people encounter her? And she was wearing a watch worth millions.
It could be said that losing a hand would have been fortunate for Winifred. If it weren’t for that phone call she managed to make, she might have died there, and in the most “disgraceful” way.
Thinking about it made one shudder. When Leland left the hospital, the rain outside had lessened to a drizzle, carried by the wind and impossible to shield against even with an umbrella.
His clothes were still damp and clung to him uncomfortably. Inside the hospital, he had been distracted by his concern for Winifred and hadn’t noticed. But once outside, the cold wind hit him hard.
Without his orders, the driver couldn’t leave. He was also wearing wet clothes.
Hearing that Leland wanted to leave the hospital, the driver was shocked and confused. Winifred was still lying in the hospital; shouldn’t he stay with her?
Moreover, much of what happened to Winifred was his fault. Shouldn’t he stay in the ward and repent?
Why leave now? Though it wasn’t his place to question his boss’s private matters, the driver couldn’t help but sympathize with Winifred.
“Mr. Burns, if you leave now, what about Miss Dawson…”
“I’ve hired a caregiver and there are nurses watching over her. She’ll be fine.”
Just hours ago, when you left Winifred at the cemetery and turned away, you also said she’d be fine. Yet she still got into trouble.
The driver frowned but opened the back door for Leland. After Leland got in, he turned to the driver’s seat.
Leland said, “Go to Northern Suburbs.”
The driver acknowledged with a nod and glanced at Leland through the rearview mirror. Leland sat in the back with his head down; his face was unreadable but his furrowed brows indicated he was in a foul mood.
Leland had a penchant for buying real estate; he owned properties everywhere, each one fully furnished and ready to move into without needing anything else.
The driver didn’t quite understand this behavior of wealthy people; perhaps it was just a way to spend their money?
The driver remained silent during the drive. The Northern Suburbs were close by; it wouldn’t take more than 20 minutes to get there without traffic at this late hour.
Upon arriving at Northern Suburbs, the driver parked inside and Leland stepped out of the car.
“Mr. Burns, change your clothes or you’ll catch a cold,” reminded the driver.
Leland probably heard him but didn’t respond; he walked inside with heavy steps.
Watching him go, the driver mused silently. Leland was indeed capable when it came to work but utterly clueless about emotions.
Take Winifred for example; he seemed obsessed but treated her like a doll.
Like a childhood toy coveted until obtained but discarded once possessed.
Even the most beautiful toy would eventually wear out and be thrown away like trash regardless of how cherished it once was.
Would Winifred become another broken toy in Leland’s hands?
The driver looked up at the pitch-black night sky. Who exactly was playing whom?
Leland didn’t change his clothes; he went straight to the basement which was divided into two areas: parking and storage filled with various items.
The two thugs were tied up with hemp ropes in the storage area by Leland’s men.
Six or seven bodyguards stood around including Leland’s trusted aides Wesley and Henry.
Wesley stood rigidly and greeted Leland. “Mr. Burns, they’re tied up inside. We haven’t touched them; we waited for you.”
Henry added, “Those two thugs usually hang around that area committing petty thefts and muggings. Without tracking them down it would’ve been hard to catch them…” He handed over the blood-stained watch. “We got the watch back.”
“Thank you.” Leland took it, gripping tightly upon seeing flesh on its strap; his breath trembled with rage.
Wesley and Henry only knew they were ordered to capture these men based on tracking data but didn’t know what had transpired.
But they recognized this watch always worn by Winifred which was hard to remove. Now seeing it with these thugs meant something had happened to her.
Leland’s face grew taut as he walked inside; murderous intent radiated from him while his hawk-like eyes glinted with bloodlust. He grabbed a shovel leaning against the wall…