The Jilted Heiress' Return to the High Life - Chapter 198

Chapter 198:

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“Are you Miss Holland?” A harsh, haughty voice cut through the receiver, dripping with arrogance.

Before she could respond, Donnelly’s panicked voice erupted in the background.

“Help! They’ve kidnapped… mmph!”

“If you don’t behave, I’ll cut out your tongue!” The same haughty voice came, followed by the sickening thud of a body hitting the ground.

The revelation struck Corrine like ice water. Donnelly had been kidnapped. Her previously charming expression hardened into a mask of glacial determination.

“What do you want?”

“Miss Holland, you truly embody the reputation of Timeless Treasures’ owner — straight to the point,” the kidnapper sneered through the phone.

“Fifty million dollars, delivered to the dock in an hour! Or the old man dies!” The line went dead.

Corrine’s mind raced as she contemplated the situation. Donnelly was practically a hermit—who could he have possibly angered?

Then, like a bolt of lightning, memory struck: the suspicious vehicle that had tailed her yesterday.

Without hesitation, she contacted Jules to trace Donnelly’s phone.

The signal placed him not at the docks, but at an abandoned construction site. Her eyes glinted dangerously as she steered her car toward the location. Meanwhile, Leah was returning from a shopping excursion with a friend when Corrine’s car caught her attention.

Her features darkened with remembered humiliation.

The incident at Farris’ birthday party, where her counterfeit gift had exposed her before the Ashton family, still burned fresh in Leah’s memory. Seething with anger, she had stormed into the antique shop to demand a refund. But instead of getting what she wanted, she’d walked out even more humiliated. Her grudge against Corrine had festered ever since, and the sight of her now stoked the fire. Leah’s lips curled into a venomous smirk as she watched Corrine’s car with narrowed eyes.

The Ashton family claimed Corrine had no connections in Lyhaton—no friends, no family, no obligations. So, where could she be rushing off to? Leah’s gaze lingered. The car wasn’t heading toward Timeless Treasures. Interesting. Was Corrine hiding something? A secret she wouldn’t dare let the world see? A venomous smile twisted Leah’s lips as curiosity and malice merged into determination. She would discover what Corrine was hiding.

In her car, Corrine dialed Jules.

“I’m approaching the construction site. Bring backup.”

m𝓸r𝓮 𝓾ρda𝓽es 𝓲𝓷 𝓰a𝓵novels.c𝓸m

“Why must you always rush into danger without consulting me first?” Jules released an exasperated sigh while hurriedly dressing.

“Corrine, I mean it—wait for reinforcements before doing anything rash!”

“I’ll try,” Corrine replied noncommittally before ending the call.

Her eyes flickered to the rearview mirror, noting the vehicle shadowing her movements. A hint of mockery crossed her features. Behind her, Leah noticed Corrine’s sudden acceleration. Had she been spotted? Or was Corrine racing to protect some dark secret? Pressing the accelerator, Leah maintained her pursuit, determination burning in her eyes.

After more than an hour of driving, the car entered a desolate landscape of abandoned construction projects. Years of neglect had transformed the area into a wasteland where weeds entangled the skeletal structures, casting long shadows in the fading light. Leah’s knuckles whitened against the steering wheel as she scanned the haunting surroundings.

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