After I finished speaking, everyone in the villa wore a look of disbelief.
My mother-in-law even fainted on the spot.
“Eric, how can you be so heartless! My daughter stood by you through thick and thin and the company only became what it is today because of her. She never once complained. Back when you were just a poor man, Ivy insisted on marrying you no matter how much we tried to stop her. And now, your wife who shared your struggles is kidnapped and you… you can actually watch her die with your own eyes. Do you still have a conscience?”
My father-in-law’s voice was full of grief and rage, each word cutting deep. Even the battle-hardened police officers couldn’t hold back their tears.
“Mr. Dawson, we may not know what your company means to you, but surely it's worth trading to save your wife’s life,” Jack said.
“That’s right. You two love each other so much. Just consider it for the sake of your relationship. Please agree to the deal.”
"Based on the information we currently have, it's highly likely that the kidnappers are just after money and don't actually intend to harm the hostage."
After hearing their words, I couldn't help but scoff.
"Well, well, looks like all of you want to play the good guy, huh? May I ask, has anyone here even considered how I feel? If I lose my wife, I can always marry another. But if I lose my company, then I've truly got nothing left."
No sooner had I finished speaking than my father-in-law smashed a teacup in fury.
"This is a disgrace, an utter disgrace! How did my daughter end up marrying such a heartless bastard like you?"
The atmosphere in the room instantly turned awkward and everyone's eyes were filled with contempt as they looked at me.
At that moment, a blood-curdling scream suddenly echoed from the livestream.
"Ah!"
I slowly turned my head toward the phone screen.
In the video, Alan was holding a bloodied axe high in the air. Fresh blood still dripped from it.
In the corner, my wife sat with her back to the camera, her body curled up tightly. It was unclear whether she was alive or dead.
"Has it already been ten minutes?" I muttered to myself, suppressing a wave of nausea.
"Mr. Dawson! I urge you to comply with the kidnapper's demands immediately!" Jack, who was leading the team, glared at me with a dark expression, his rage fully directed at me.
I calmly shook my head and spoke in a soft voice, "Jack, instead of trying to persuade me here, you'd better hurry up and locate the kidnapper."
As I spoke, I slowly raised my hands and examined them for a moment.
"Two fingers gone, eight left. You officers better pick up the pace."
Just as Jack was on the verge of losing his composure, Alan’s voice rang out again from the livestream.
"Eric, my patience has limits. If you still won’t make a decision, next time it won’t just be fingers I’m cutting."
I couldn’t help but curse in my heart.
In business, nothing was more taboo than going back on one’s word. The kidnapper had clearly said one finger every ten minutes, yet it hadn’t even been that long and he was already breaking the deal.
But then again, I thought to myself, if next time he went straight for the head, maybe that was not so bad. It would save me from all these people buzzing around me like flies.
My father-in-law was so furious that he looked ready to tear me apart.
“Eric! Did you hear that? My daughter is about to die! Just agree to his demands already!”
I sighed softly and looked at him with a guilty expression. “Dad, I truly understand how you feel right now. But compared to your daughter… the company means more to me. If you must blame someone, I suppose you can only say your daughter was unlucky.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, the room erupted into chaos.
At that moment, even some of the younger police officers were clenching their fists, itching for a fight. If they hadn’t been in uniform, they probably would’ve rushed over to beat me up right then and there.
