Chapter 121 - 120: Kidnapped
Memories can be erased, but what truly happened cannot.
On the other end of the line, Jack Warren sounded a little surprised. "Miss Kennedy, you want to retrieve yesterday afternoon’s surveillance footage?"
"Yes," Joanna Kennedy said. "Is that a problem?"
"Not at all. I’ll go find it for you and send it over shortly," Jack Warren said.
As soon as he hung up, Jack Warren immediately informed his boss about the matter.
In the kitchen, Simon Lockwood looked at the line of text from Jack Warren and replied, [Do as she asks.]
A few seconds later, he sent another message: [Send me an unaltered copy.]
He didn’t know what Joanna Kennedy was investigating, but based on their earlier conversation, it had to be related to that woman, Serena Sutton.
Joanna Kennedy didn’t trust him, so she wanted to investigate on her own. Fine, he’d let her have her way. As it happened, he had some doubts of his own.
Unfortunately, a few minutes later, Jack Warren delivered some bad news: the parking garage’s surveillance system had been damaged. The footage from 3 PM to 6 PM yesterday was completely blank.
How could it be such a coincidence?
The surveillance footage was destroyed, making it impossible to verify anything. In a way, that confirmed that something had indeed happened—something someone didn’t want to be seen.
Simon Lockwood’s pupils contracted. A sharp pain suddenly shot through his temples as something flashed through his mind, too fast to see clearly.
In the living room, Joanna Kennedy also learned that the surveillance footage had been destroyed. Disappointment welled up inside her, but she forced herself to say, "Thank you, Assistant Warren."
"You’re welcome. I was just doing my job," Jack Warren replied politely.
The meal Simon Lockwood had prepared was simple yet nutritious. Joanna Kennedy scanned the table but didn’t find what she was looking for. Her eyelids drooped in disappointment as she picked at her food.
After the meal, Simon Lockwood said he had urgent business at the office and left in his car.
Joanna Kennedy was left alone in the vast villa, her eyes downcast, lost in thought. 166 jumped onto her lap and said, [I just secretly contacted a former colleague. I learned that the other system likely used an ability similar to emotional control.]
Joanna Kennedy wasn’t particularly surprised. She just said, [If we know what happened, there must be a solution.]
fell silent.
Joanna Kennedy suddenly stood up, grabbed her phone from the side, and made a call. After a few rings, the call connected.
"Jo? Why the sudden call?" It was hard to tell where Anna Yates was, but there was loud music and the excited shouts of a crowd in the background.
Joanna Kennedy took a deep breath and said in a normal tone, "Anna, I remember you said your dad runs a bodyguard training facility. Could I borrow a few? I need them for something."
Anna Yates: "?"
She laughed. "Whoa, what’s gotten into you? About to do something shady? Why not just borrow some from your man, Simon Lockwood? His bodyguards are the best in the world."
"I don’t want him to know," Joanna Kennedy said. "You’re the only one I can turn to, my dear Anna~"
Her voice was soft, with a pleading tone.
Anna Yates laughed. "I can lend them to you, sure. But aren’t you afraid your Simon Lockwood will give you a talking-to?"
"If you don’t tell, and I don’t tell, he’ll never know," Joanna Kennedy said.
"Alright," Anna Yates said. "When do you need them?"
"Tomorrow."
Tomorrow was the old master of the Grant Family’s birthday celebration. The guest list would be filled with either business tycoons or celebrities from various industries.
The stock price of the Jennings Company had been plummeting. If they couldn’t secure a new injection of capital, they could go bankrupt at any moment. Charles Jennings would never let this opportunity slip by. He would definitely be there.
"Okay," Anna Yates readily agreed. "I’ll pick a few with the highest combat ratings for you."
"Thanks." Joanna Kennedy breathed a sigh of relief. "I’ll treat you to dinner sometime soon."
Outside, the light rain was still pattering down. At some point, it gradually grew heavier, sending muddy water streaming down the mountainside.
In an abandoned factory on the outskirts of town, Serena Sutton tried to curl into a ball, huddling in a corner. Shivering, she asked again, "Who... Who are you people? Why did you kidnap me?"
In the dilapidated factory, no one answered her.
Her eyes were blindfolded, leaving her in complete darkness, and her hands were tied. She had already asked that question countless times.
Half an hour ago, on her way home, someone had suddenly covered her mouth and nose. She smelled a strong chemical scent and then lost consciousness. When she came to, she was in her current predicament.
The downpour hammered against the old glass, creating a piercing sound. The air was filled with the smell of damp earth and rotting wood, and the leaves outside rustled frantically.
The prolonged silence terrified Serena Sutton. Another crash of rain against the window finally shattered her composure. She cried out, "Whatever you want, I can give it to you! Just let me go!"
"Is it money you want? I have money, really, I have money! If you let me go, I can give you lots and lots of money." She was almost incoherent.
Still, no one answered. Just as she was sinking into despair, an unfamiliar male voice spoke up. "Lots of money?"
Serena Sutton froze for a moment, then nodded frantically. "Yes, I have a lot of money!"
As if afraid the strange man wouldn’t believe her, she hurriedly added, "You know of Southland, right? The Southland Group, the one that’s wealthy enough to rival a nation? The President there, Simon Lockwood, is my boyfriend—no, my fiancé! He’s about to marry me!"
Serena Sutton’s voice was a little unhinged as she panted heavily. "As long as you let me go, I can—"
The blindfold was roughly ripped from her eyes. A bolt of lightning flashed outside, illuminating everything in the dilapidated room. When she saw the scene before her, Serena Sutton’s voice died in her throat.
Two meters away stood two men in black suits. One of them was still holding the strip of cloth he had just torn from her eyes, which he then casually tossed onto the filthy floor.
Serena Sutton was certain she had never seen these two men before.
The man in black spoke in an icy tone. "You say Mr. Lockwood is your fiancé? As far as I know, Mr. Lockwood has a girlfriend."
He had referred to him as "Mr. Lockwood," not "Simon Lockwood," but unfortunately, in her terrified state, Serena Sutton didn’t notice anything amiss.
Hearing the man’s words, her face twisted for a moment, and she retorted shrilly, "What girlfriend? She’s not his girlfriend! She’s just a thief!"
The man’s expression didn’t change. He adjusted the Bluetooth earpiece in his ear and, after a few seconds, continued, "The Southland Group is indeed very wealthy. If you can prove the truth of your claims, perhaps we’ll consider letting you go."
How could she prove what she said? Serena Sutton was stumped. She swallowed nervously and stammered, "It’s true. I wouldn’t lie to you."
The man in black said nothing. He pulled a knife from his pocket, its blade glinting coldly. With a blank expression, he said, "Miss Sutton, be more specific. Why are you so sure the President of Southland will marry you?"
"I... I... I..." Serena Sutton’s eyes widened, her pale face smudged with grime.
’Why am I so sure?’ Serena Sutton thought desperately. ’What kind of story can I make up to convince these two vicious men?’