Female Novel
Chapter 802: The Deal
Chapter 802: The Deal
Ayan sat on the sofa in the living room, the faint scent of Camille lingering in the air. He remained
motionless, devoid of any movement or sound.
Kian, standing nearby, dared not disturb him and moved to the balcony to handle the situation. Since
they didn't know how much money the kidnapper wanted, Kian had prepared more than enough funds,
ready to be mobilized at any time by Ayan.
Finally, Ayan showed signs of activity. He asked, "Did you check the surveillance at the entrance?"
Kian nodded, "Yes, I did. It was a black commercial vehicle. I followed the route it took, and at road
junctions with heavy traffic, I spotted three identical cars with counterfeit license plates. It was obviously
prearranged. Those three cars are still being tracked. We can't immediately locate them because some
new sections of the road don't have complete surveillance coverage."
The more Ayan listened, the darker his expression became. He looked up at Kian and asked, "Do you
think Preston has anything to do with this?"
Caught off guard, Kian instinctively looked at Ayan and replied softly, "Mr. Simpson, judging from
Preston's reaction earlier, I don't think he is the one behind Mrs. Simpson's abduction. He has no
reason to do so. If he wanted to use Mrs. Simpson to threaten you, he could have done it when she
trusted him the most. Why wait until now?"
"So you think it's not him?"
"Yes, I don't think it's him."
Ayan remained silent instead of speaking up. He lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag. The strong tobacco
scent invaded all his senses, yet it couldn't bring even the slightest calmness.
The reason Ayan asked Kian this question was simply to get a rational and intuitive response from an
outsider's perspective.
After Kian finished speaking, Ayan still didn't respond. It was at this moment that his phone rang.
It was a call from the Simpson mansion.
Ayan immediately frowned and glanced lightly at Kian. After being together for so long, Kian
understood the meaning behind that glance.
Ayan answered the call, "Hello?"
"Ayan, are you at the office?"
"Yeah."
"Why can't we reach Cami? She hasn't returned to work these past few days, right? We planned to
take Timmy to the resort for a few days and wanted to invite Cami to join us." Talia immediately asked
Ayan to share the news with Camille at Maple Leaves Mansion. Since Timmy was growing up and the
old Simpsons were also getting on in years, they planned to take the young and old out for fun. The
resort was an investment by the family, so it was naturally comfortable to stay there.
Upon hearing Talia's hopeful words, Ayan's face turned cold in an instant.
He squinted his eyes, his face revealing coldness, but his voice had to maintain a calm and composed
tone as he lightly smiled. "So, if you're taking everyone to the resort, what about me? Should I just stay
here and work?"
Talia replied, "If you're willing to come along, of course, you're welcome. But I understand Mr. Simpson
is busy, so you can earn money in Hance City while we go have fun."
Ayan remained expressionless, his words still gentle. "You and Dad take Grandpa and Timmy with you.
Let Cami stay in Hance City with me. Wouldn't that be better?"
"Did you ask for Cami's opinion?"
"No need to ask. I'm making the decision for her."
"Who are you? You're just an ex-husband. Why do you want to make decisions for your ex-wife? Ayan,
this will make Cami angry." Talia didn't hold back when it came to hitting Ayan where it hurt, saying
anything that could anger him.
Faced with Talia's retort, Ayan's expression grew even more bitter. He raised his hand and rubbed his
forehead forcefully, his eyes filled with suppressed emotions. Talia thought her words had hurt him.
So she quickly added, "Ayan, I was just joking. I would be really happy if your relationship with Cami
gets better. Our whole family is looking forward to you two remarrying soon. So work hard and
strengthen your bond. For now, we'll go with Grandpa and Timmy, and after you and Cami reconcile,
we can all go together. Let Cami stay in Hance City with you, and you can have some time together."
Talia's timely damage control caused Ayan to give a helpless smile, though it was faint, almost
nonexistent.
He said softly, "Take Grandpa and Timmy with you and stay safe. I'll arrange two bodyguards and
drivers to escort you. Stay in touch once you reach there. Let me know immediately if there's anything,
alright?"
"Don't worry, your father has everything arranged."
"Good, that's settled. I have a meeting to prepare for."
"Okay, have Cami contact me tonight."
"Alright."
After finishing the call with Talia, all traces of warmth disappeared from Ayan's face, leaving only a
coldness.
He sat on the sofa without making any movements, relying on it without expression. He had been
sitting there for a long time, his brows furrowed tightly, his face cold and gloomy.
Ayan had been waiting for the kidnapper to call again, but he waited through the whole afternoon
without a word. He hadn't even taken a sip of water, and the lunch Kian ordered for him remained
untouched.
Around two o'clock in the afternoon, his phone rang once again.
He closed his eyes and rested on the sofa, but as soon as he heard the ringtone, he immediately
opened his eyes and answered, "Hello!"
He answered the call quickly, and the person on the other end noticed that.
With a smile in their voice, they said, "It seems Mr. Simpson is in a hurry, eager to see Mrs. Simpson,
right?"
Ayan's face turned cold, his tone indifferent. "The money is ready. When can we meet for the
exchange?"
"Mr. Simpson is straightforward. I won't waste any more time. But I have a condition."
"What is it?"
"Mr. Simpson must come alone. If you bring someone with you, I might reconsider my promises."
"Sure." Ayan agreed without hesitation. He asked, "Any other questions? If not, give me a time."
"Half an hour from now, the abandoned car park on the east of the city. Mr. Simpson, remember your
promise. If I find out you're not alone, I can't guarantee Mrs. Simpson will be unharmed."
The other party clearly using Camille to threat Ayan.
Ayan's face turned grim. He silently took a deep breath, suppressing his inner emotions and preventing
them from showing. His voice remained unchanged, devoid of any unnecessary fluctuations. He said,
"You better ensure her safety. That way, we'll both be satisfied. Take your money and leave Hance City.
But if you don't keep your word, I'll search every corner of this city until I find you and the people behind
you."
The other person hesitated slightly, the voice faltering and speech less smooth than before. He/She
stammered, "Mr. Simpson, don't waste any more time. There are still twenty-nine minutes left until the
deadline."
Ayan didn't say anything more. He hung up the phone and immediately saw Kian. Kian responded
promptly, "Mr. Simpson, I've installed surveillance cameras and real-time voice communication in the
car. Just in case they ask you to switch cars, I've also placed a tracker in the money box. But even so,novelbin
you need to be extremely careful. It's still unknown whether they're after the money or something else,
given that they're using your wife as leverage, so..."
"I know." Ayan interrupted Kian's words. His face displayed a cold expression as he calmly said,
"Contact Logan and prepare for the worst. Additionally, have our people split up and follow me without
interruption, ready to assist me at any time. Our top priority is ensuring Camille's safety."
"Mr. Simpson, you..."
"If they really want me to show up, their ultimate goal is me. They won't actually harm me so quickly;
they still need to use me to achieve their objectives. So, why rush?"
Ayan no longer spoke, because the abandoned car park was still a distance away from Maple Leaves
Mansion. The kidnapper had clearly calculated the timing, leaving no extra time for Ayan. Any delay
would exceed the time limit.
He left Maple Leaves Mansion and drove at almost full speed.
His men followed him from a distance, but they had to be inconspicuous and avoid appearing too
obvious. Therefore, they kept changing positions constantly.
Since the abandoned car park was rarely visited, his men couldn't really tail him there. They could only
wait in the closest area with the most foot traffic.