Million


    +15 BONUS


    Susie frowned. “Ms. Maia, Mr. Cedric forbade me from giving you any devices.”


    “Well, he didn’t say | couldn’t make a call, right? It’s just one call, please, Susie,” Maia pleaded. Susie nced around and said,


    “Ms. Maia, it’s not that | don’t want to help you, but this ce is under surveince. Mr. Cedric can watch your every move.”


    Taken aback, Maia looked around her and saw surveince cameras everywhere.


    She chuckled bitterly and murmured, “I guess the ce is bugged, too, huh?”


    Susie sighed but didn’t deny it. “Eat while the dinner’s still warm, okay?”


    Maia was left alone in the dining hall but had lost her appetite. She squeezed the utensils in her hands tightly.


    She had no choice but to hope that Rita would be found soon. Still, something about all of this made her uneasy.


    There was more than meets the eye about Rita’s kidnapping. She could only hope to leave the townhouse soon.


    Letting out a bitter chuckle, she finished her meal and headed upstairs. Maia curled on the bed and waited silently.


    Days passed, but Cedric did note. The wait was unbearable. She wondered if Rita had been found and when they would


    clear her name.


    The Larkin Manor had been silent for a few days. Zera had taken a break at work while she waited for news at home.


    “After the surveince footage is restored, we''ll be able to find mom.”


    As soon as Cedric said it, Zera’s phone rang.


    She eximed when she saw the caller ID, “It’s mom!”


    Zera gave him the phone. He frowned as he turned on the screen capture feature and answered


    the video call.


    Alive feed popped up. Rita, bound to a chair and gagged with duct tape, yelled in a muffled.


    voice.


    Zera burst into tears. “Mom, are you okay? Don’t be scared. Cedric is going to save you!”


    “Hello, Mr. Cedric! Rest assured that your mom is well taken care of.”


    12


    It was impossible to see the kidnapper’s face as he wore a ck mask, sunsses, and a hat. “What do you want?” Cedric


    asked calmly.


    The kidnapper burst outughing. “You’re straightforward, I''ll give you that! All | want is just 400 million. It’s not much, right?”


    Rita struggled frantically and managed to loosen the duct tape. She screamed, “It’s Maia! That bitch sent her men to do this-


    The kidnapper quickly gagged her mouth.


    “Mom! Mom!” Zera yelled.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    The next second, the video call was disconnected.


    Zera angrily smacked the sofa. “So it’s Maia! If we could find her, we’d know where Mom is.


    Before Zera could finish, Cedric had gotten up and left.


    Zera shouted after him, “Where are ten up and left.


    you going? Cedric!”