Holly paused for a moment. “The wedding is on the fifteenth. I don’t want any mistakes.”
This phone call dampened Jaquan’s mood. He pulled away from Callie, who hurriedly buttoned up her clothes.
“Today is the tenth. Instead of preparing for your wedding, you’re here worrying about this? Are you that free?”
Holly was speechless, perhaps somewhat intimidated by Jaquan.
“I’m just here to remind you not to let your personal affairs ruin our plan.”
As Holly said this, Jaquan glanced at the flustered Callie, who glared at him fiercely.
He walked to the window. “Did Nelson tell you exactly what to do before he boarded the ship?”
Holly replied, “No, he doesn’t trust me much. He wouldn’t tell me many things. I only know he boarded the ship for business.”
“Business.” Jaquan chewed on the word. “Going all the way to International Waters for business, quite a big deal.”
“International Waters?” Holly was surprised. “He hasn’t left International Waters; he’s still in Ylosea. He just called me, saying he’d be back in an hour.”
Jaquan’s expression changed abruptly. “What did you say?”
“He… he hasn’t left International Waters.”
Callie pressed against the wall, quickly thinking through the twists and turns, her heart pounding.
Jaquan hung up the phone and stared at her for a moment before sneering. “Your ex-husband is quite cunning.”
With that, he roughly grabbed Callie’s arm and strode out.
Callie couldn’t figure out what was happening. She was taken downstairs, where Jaquan had someone clean her up and change her clothes before taking her to a car.
The vehicle drove along the road for an unknown amount of time before stopping by the roadside. Soon, someone got into the car from another vehicle and reported cautiously, “Mr. Scott, the batch of goods we were exporting was intercepted by the police.”
Jaquan opened his eyes, sharp. “Which police?”
“Police from another region, not Ylosea’s.”
Jaquan looked at him. “Where’s Nelson?”
“He… he never left International Waters. The person who boarded the ship was a stand-in…” The more he spoke, the less confident he became, lowering his head, not daring to look at Jaquan.
“Diversionary tactics.” Jaquan smirked mockingly.
Callie hugged her arms, listening intently to their conversation. She glanced at the night scenery outside; it was foggy. They had arrived at the seaside.
It was a dock.
The vehicle stopped, and Jaquan closed his eyes to rest. After ten minutes, another car arrived.
The car door opened, and two people escorted a woman out. She was older but well-maintained. Callie recognized the struggling face and frowned.
Lucia!
“Jaquan! What are you doing!” Lucia’s hands were cuffed behind her back as she hysterically shouted at him.
“Auntie, I’ve helped you so many times. It’s your turn to help me now,” Jaquan said coldly.
Callie clenched her fists, recalling what Joaquin had found out. Jaquan had always been helping with Lucia’s business. There was indeed a deal between them.
“What are you going to do…” Lucia’s hair flew wildly, and despite her well-maintained face, signs of aging were evident.
“Your son has something on me. Naturally, I have to use his mother as leverage, don’t you think?”
At this point, Jaquan didn’t even bother pretending anymore.
Callie guessed that the intercepted batch of goods must have been critical; otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken this step.
“You’re crazy! You know how Nelson feels about me. He won’t give up for my sake!” Lucia was very self-aware.