Meanwhile, Callie had been tied to a chair for two whole days. Her entire body was numb, and she stared blankly at the images on the TV screen. It was unclear if she had paid much attention.
The camera focused on the lively guests. Nelson was absent, as was Charlotte-presumably, they were making preparations.
It was almost time.
Callie could clearly sense that the bald man was tense, and so were his buddies. Surprisingly, Callie herself was unusually calm. Perhaps when there was no hope of turning things around, she felt a sense of indifference.
“Bro… what’s that sound…” one of the lackeys nudged the bald man, holding his breath to listen.
The bald man frowned. Indeed, he heard a heavy, rhythmic sound of a cane tapping on the floor, as if someone was walking.
“Someone’s coming!” the bald man exclaimed in alarm. He pulled out a knife and cautiously moved forward.
Callie furrowed her brow. She, too, could hear the sound of the cane getting closer, along with chaotic footsteps. The intruder’s destination was unmistakably this room.
Callie looked up and saw a pair of feet in smart shoes. Her gaze slowly moved upward to a hunched figure holding a cane. When her eyes met his face, her pupils dilated.
Ahmad!
How could it be Ahmad!
He was over sixty, and though his health wasn’t great, his expression was always composed, unshaken even in the face of disaster.
Ahmad had clearly come alone. He scanned the empty, abandoned construction site, his gaze eventually landing on the bound Callie.
Callie’s eyes were heavy.
“Who are you!” the bald man shouted, raising his knife, a hint of fear in his voice. “How did you find this place?”
Ahmad finally looked at the bald man, his voice steady. “This is my home. If anyone should be asking questions, it’s me.”
His… home? The bald man searched his memory. “You… you’re Ahmad!”
This was terrifying. Why had Ahmad discovered this place? Wasn’t it supposed to be long abandoned?
Ahmad chuckled. “You’ve got a good eye, young man!”
He continued to walk forward with his cane, completely unfazed by the knife in the bald man’s hand.
The bald man and his buddies retreated step by step.
“Stop! This knife doesn’t care who you are. At your age, there’s no need to take such risks!”
“I’ve been through everything since my youth. A mere knife like this can’t hurt me.”
He kept walking, truly unafraid.
The bald man and his buddies exchanged uneasy glances. Should they act? But this was Charlotte’s current nominal father! If they didn’t act, what was he planning to do?
Ahmad stopped directly in front of the knife’s tip. “Listen, young man, I don’t care what you’re up to. I’m not here to save anyone.”
Upon hearing this, the bald man glanced at Callie. Her eyes had briefly lit up with hope, but now they sank back into despair.
Her hope was gone.
The bald man, however, felt some relief. Seeing that Ahmad had come alone, it seemed he really had no ulterior motive. “Then what…?”
Ahmad turned to Callie. “I’m here to talk to her.”
Ahmad sat down on the steps beside Callie.
“Untie her.”
“… No!”
Callie’s wrists and ankles were raw from the ropes, her skin bruised and bluish.
“Untie her!” Ahmad’s voice was firm. “This is the Ellison family’s territory. The area is secured-everyone outside is mine. She won’t escape!”
“Why should I trust you? What if you’re here to save her?”
“The one who tied her up is my daughter! I won’t harm her!”
He actually knew it was Charlotte…