Female Novel
Chapter 688
In the study, Zeke was on a call with Sofie.
“Mr. Shurmer, we're all smart people here. Your intentions are clear, so I'm sure there's no need for meto say anything more. Besides, I think you might've guessed why I'm calling you today.”
Zeke stared blankly into space as he replied, “Of course. My father is already in your hands. What elsecan I say or do? Go ahead and name your terms.”
Sofie laughed boisterously upon hearing the man's response. “I like your straightforwardness, Mr.Shurmer. I wouldn't waste too much time or energy talking to you. Well, then I want you to let mydaughter and me leave Hallsbay, and I'll promise to keep your father safe. Otherwise, I'll drag you tohell with us even if we have to die.”
Zeke sneered. “Of course. That is also well within my range of tolerance. After all, the leverage youhave is something that I cannot ignore. Sure, let's make a deal according to your conditions, Ms. Carr.I'll let you leave, and you'll guarantee my father's safety. Let me know how you'll like to go about this. I'lldo my best to cooperate with you.”
Sofie suddenly fell silent.
Zeke was not in a rush. He knew that she must have other requests, so he waited patiently.
After a minute of silence, Sofie's voice rang from the phone's speakers. “I want to save one moreperson. I wonder if you'll agree, Mr. Shurmer?”
Zeke furrowed his eyebrows. Through clenched teeth, he spat, “Who?”
“It's Leo's daughter, Yvette. As long as you can persuade Artemis to let go of her and send her abroadsafely, I'll go through with this deal of ours.”
Zeke could not help but chuckle. “It's already considered a win for you to exchange my father's life foryours and your daughter's. You really know how to push your luck. Ms. Carr, deals can't be made likethis.”
“Are you saying that you won't agree to it, Mr. Shurmer?”
Zeke asked in response, “If I don't agree, what do you plan on doing? Kill my father? If you kill him, youand your daughter wouldn't be able to escape either.”
Sofie started laughing, her tone laced with maliciousness. “We won't run then. Why should we run? Wewon't lose anything since the head of the Shurmer family would be buried along with us. Think itthrough, Mr. Shurmer. I'm not a merciful person. I won't kill off your father with a bullet through thehead. Instead, I'll use as many torture methods on him and make sure that he bleeds to his death.”
Zeke pursed his lips into a thin line. His tone was icy when he said, “I might be able to agree if youhave other requests. But you want to rescue Yvette? Forget it. Neither Artemis, Holden, nor Micahwould agree to it. You're just making things difficult for me.”
“That's right. Because it's such a difficult request, that's why I want you to do it. I'll give you three daysto think about it. If you don't give me a satisfactory answer by then, I'll start torturing your father.”
With that, Sofie ended the call. novelbin
Zeke narrowed his eyes as he stared at the black screen of his phone. He had on an incomprehensibleexpression.
He had put the call on loudspeaker, so Artemis, who sat opposite him, had also heard the conversation.The latter also narrowed his eyes after the call ended.
“What is that woman trying to do? She should know that the longer time goes on, the moredisadvantageous it would be for them. After all, we might've already found out where she's hiding withinthree days. What does she want Yvette for? I've destroyed all the power Yvette has. She's nothing buta loser now. There's no need for Sofie to waste her opportunity to escape for a useless person likeYvette.”
Zeke shook his head and sighed. “Her actions are unusual. Just like you said, she has no use forYvette. It would've been more logical for her to ask for the control of a certain area.”
Artemis was about to reply when the door was pushed open, and in came Bailey.
“I'm guessing that she has another purpose for Yvette,” she deduced.
Artemis looked her up and down before averting his gaze.
On the other hand, Zeke hurried to welcome her into the room and helped her to the couch.
“Didn't I ask you to say in the ward and rest? Why did you come here? Since you came, you should'vejust entered. Why did you stand outside and stay in the cold?” he chided.
Bailey rolled her eyes and pushed him away.
After that, she sat beside Artemis and wrapped her arms around his before leaning her head againsthis shoulder.
Zeke was a little speechless when he saw that. “He's so cold toward you and ignores you, yet you'regetting close and intimate with him. How pathetic.”
Bailey chuckled. “I don't mind. You can just smack me if you're unhappy about it.”
Zeke sighed before he changed the topic. “Just now, you said she might have a different purpose.Could it be that you've guessed something?”
The smile on Bailey's lips vanished as she answered, “You all know that Sofie has no use for Yvette,yet she's adamant about saving her. She knows what she's doing. It's impossible for us to let Yvette go.This deal would keep dragging on and in the end, we wouldn't lose anything, but she would be indanger.”
Zeke nodded. “I also think her actions are strange. It feels like... Hm, I don't know how to describe it.Any smart person would choose to close a deal fast to escape from danger as soon as possible. Onthe other hand, she came up with a request that we wouldn't be able to fulfill and forced the deal to bedelayed. Just what is she planning?”
Bailey mulled over it before saying, “Continue to send people to look for her. Although she has leveragein her hands, I'm willing to bet she's afraid of death. If we surround her, she'll have no choice but toaccept the deal. By then, she won't be able to lead us by the nose.”
A hint of approval flashed across Zeke's eyes. “You're right. We all know she's brewing some ultimatemove. What we can do is not let her have any chance of stirring up trouble. We must find her as soonas possible and force her to complete the deal. Only then will we be free from her control.”
With that, he got up from the couch and strode toward the door. “I'll go make the necessaryarrangements right away.”
Artemis wanted to leave when he saw Zeke walk out the door.
He was a bit too aggressive when he forcefully removed his arm from Bailey's embrace and got up.
Bailey panicked and hurried to stand up. She had only taken two steps forward before her legs gaveout, and she fell face-first onto the carpeted floor.
“Ouch. That hurts.”
Artemis turned around and quickly helped her get up when he saw her lying on the floor.
Bailey seized the opportunity to wrap her arms around his neck, muttering, “It hurts. It hurts.”
The man narrowed his eyes. Looking at her pose, she seemed to be lying on the floor on purpose.
He tossed a cold glance at her without saying a word. His gaze was sharp and dark as it penetratedher soul.
Bailey knew he saw through her antics, so she stopped acting. Pouting, she said, “If I didn't do that,you would still ignore me. Artemis, you don't love me anymore.”
As she said that, tears welled up in her eyes, and she looked pitiful.
Artemis tensed up and turned his head away slightly to avoid her sad eyes.
“Say something. Do you not love me anymore?”