SWNOVELS Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Reed Villa’s gate was swarmed with media reporters, all visibly agitated as they thrust their microphones toward Gary to bombard him with questions.
“Mr. Reed, it has come to our understanding that the woman in the viral video is indeed your biological daughter, Stephanie.”
“Ms. Reed just jumped into the river to save her ex–husband, Kevin Nelson. Could it be that after being abandoned by him, she’s now desperately trying to win back his love, even at the cost of her own life?”
“Mr. Reed! Mr. Reed, I just received the latest news from the hospital. Your daughter Stephanie has mysteriously disappeared. What are your thoughts on this matter?”
These aggressive questions annoyed Gary greatly. With a stern face, he emphasized coldly into the microphone, “Stephanie is not my daughter!
“She’s my wife!” Dominick stepped out of the car with a dark expression on his face, his chilling voice causing the reporters in front to turn around sharply.
He walked over, stood under the flashing lights of the cameras, and looked around coldly at the crowd.
Vincent emerged from the car moments later and was visibly surprised. Dominick usually kept a low profile and was dismissive of media interviews. Yet there he was, standing before the cameras with an air of arrogant defiance.
The reporters were puzzled by Dominick’s sudden appearance and looked at him in confusion. Although they didn’t recognize him, they could tell from his demeanor that he was likely some unknown wealthy heir.
One of the reporters handed him the microphone and timidly asked, “Excuse me, sir, you mentioned that you are Ms. Reed’s current husband. What are your thoughts on her risking her life to save her ex–husband by jumping into the river?”
Dominick’s face remained cold as he ignored her question. He then reached out and snatched the microphone away.
He glared at the camera with eyes that looked dark and menacing, like a provoked wild beast, his presence so intense that the reporter instinctively stepped back in fright.
Dominick gripped the microphone tightly and fiercely warned, “Whoever has taken her, bring her back unharmed within two hours! Otherwise, I will make all of you pay dearly!”
His words left everyone present in shock.
As the interview was mostly live, Dominick’s ominous warning was broadcast immediately, echoing in every corner of the country.
“Ms. Reed has really been abducted?!” someone exclaimed.
However, the reporters on site were perplexed. Such incidents of the wealthy being abducted were not uncommon, but it was unusual for someone to be so outspoken on camera about it. Was this man not afraid of provoking the person into harming the victim? Some people would even hesitate to call the police.
Someone hesitantly asked, “Excuse me, sir, but who are you?”
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Kevin, appearing very angry, rushed forward and grabbed Dominick by the collar, exclaiming, “Have you lost your mind?!
“Until we find out who has taken her, we shouldn’t publicize this. It could get her killed!”
Dominick disliked people getting too close to him and he forcefully shoved Kevin away.
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Upon seeing Dominick about to get physical, Vincent hurried over and positioned himself between them, facing the camera with a more relaxed expression.
“I would like to make a statement about Stephanie’s disappearance,” Vincent said. He was accustomed to appearing in newspapers and magazines, so his social skills were top–notch.
He calmly stated, “Whoever you are, whether you are acting on your own accord or being manipulated, it would be in your best interest not to harm her. Stephanie is Dominick’s wife and also a member of the Wellington family. Please return her safely, and we might consider not taking further action, otherwise…” His voice then trailed off ominously.
Everyone knew better than to cross the Wellington family.
The group of reporters stared in shock and disbelief. They all knew Vincent, but they were unfamiliar with the man beside him.
As it turns out, he was none other than Dominick Willington, the sole heir of the third generation of the Wellington family, who had just returned to the country.
At that moment, a bodyguard rushed over to report to him urgently, “Mr. Wellington, there’s no sign of Mrs. Wellington at the
cemetery.”
Dominick lost his patience. He walked to the left, and the reporters immediately made way for him instinctively out of fear.
His dark expression was deeply unsettling, and the group of reporters before him fell silent. No one dared to speak out of turn as they met Dominick’s stern gaze, feeling an inexplicable tension creeping over them.
Dominick approached Gary and scrutinized the middle–aged man before him.
As Gary met his gaze, he couldn’t shake off a sense of unease despite the fact that the man before him was younger.
Gary couldn’t understand why his stubborn daughter had gotten involved with Dominick. Even though she was pregnant, and even though she was the heiress of the Reed family, Dominick wouldn’t marry someone like her given his character.
“Send your people out to find her!” Dominick said as he fixed his gaze on Gary. His gaze was icy and devoid of any respect, almost commanding in tone.
“Send your people out to look for her, and if they can’t find her, then there’s no need for any alliance between our families!” Dominick’s final words were clearly a warning.
If an alliance between the Wellington family and the Reed family weren’t possible through marriage, they would be enemies. Who would be foolish enough to go against the Wellington family?
This was Caelorium, where the Reed family had broader local connections and were more familiar with the area. Dominick was asking for Gary’s help, and if he refused, it would mean standing against him.
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Gary’s face was grim, but he knew he had no choice in this regard. Dominick was as ruthless as the rumors suggested, leaving not room for negotiation.
Just then, Samantha walked out and smiled ingratiatingly as she said, “Mr. Wellington, we’re all family here. Let’s go inside and talk
this over.”
Dominick glanced at the elderly lady in front of him and didn’t bother to respond. He didn’t even bother to show any respect to his own grandfather, let alone a stranger.
However, as his gaze swept past Reed Villa’s living room, he noticed Claire and Courtney inside. Claire looked shocked, and her hands were trembling as she clutched her phone, looking as if she was frightened by something.
Dominick watched the two women inside and appeared thoughtful. He then instructed the bodyguard beside him, “Tell the ministry of industry and information technology, I want the details on the anonymous information today…”
As soon as he spoke, Claire, as if guilt–stricken and startled, dropped her phone on the floor with a loud thud.
Dominick turned and glared at her. Upon seeing the piercing look in his eyes, Claire’s legs turned weak.
“Mr. Wellington, there’s news!” Two bodyguards rushed over and then whispered urgently in his ear. Afterward, Dominick looked surprised and immediately left the place, no longer paying any attention to Claire.
Upon seeing them hurry off, Claire’s complexion grow even paler. She grabbed Courtney’s arm and pleaded, “What do we do, Courtney? What do we do? If he finds out, I’m dead…”
Courtney ignored her, her own face now showing signs of distress as her heart raced uncontrollably.
This was her first time seeing Dominick, and she couldn’t help but think that a man like him should never be provoked.
“Kevin!!” Claire saw Kevin up ahead and called out to him loudly, her voice sharp and panicked due to her frazzled nerves.
Kevin looked back at her and said, “Stephanie’s in trouble, she jumped into the river to save me… I can’t let anything happen to her…” He hesitated for a moment and turned to chase after Dominick and the others.
“Kevin, don’t go!” Claire called out almost desperately.
Courtney dragged Claire into the room and scolded her fiercely, “Claire, have you lost your mind? We can’t let Kevin know about this!”
“But, Courtney, I really don’t know what to do,” Claire replied, shuddering at the thought of the look on Dominick’s face earlier.
Courtney steeled herself and said coldly, “Call those people and tell them to just finish the job!”
“What?” Claire gasped.
“Just get rid of Stephanie. Otherwise, if they trace it back to us, none of us will be spared!” Courtney snapped at her.
She thought, ‘Dominick isn’t an ordinary man. No woman can get close to him, let alone seduce him. If he finds out…
Claire’s hand trembled with guilt and unease as she dialed a number.
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As soon as the call connected, before she could even speak, the person on the other end yelled out, “Claire, are you trying to get us all killed, you bitch? See how I deal with you later!”
Claire was startled by his yelling and became even more uneasy. She quickly responded, “Bruno, I’ve already transferred the money to your account.”
Bruno angrily said, “Damn it, Claire! You damn bitch. How dare you talk to me about money? If I had known earlier, I would never have done this stupid thing even if you gave me two million dollars! Why didn’t you tell me earlier that Stephanie Reed is Dominick Wellington’s wife and a member of the Wellington family?! Do you know how well–known Dominick is in the underworld? Even our boss has to suck up to him, and now….
“Now that the three of us have messed with his wife, we’re dead even if my boss finds out, let alone the Wellington family!”
Upon hearing that, Claire turned as pale as a sheet, her lips quivering as she asked, “What do we do now? Bruno, I’ll pay you more. Just kill Stephanie and I’ll give you money to flee the country…”
“Are you insane, Claire? You want me to kill her…” Bruno spat viciously, “We all saw Dominick’s live broadcast. As long as Stephanie is alive, we still have a chance to live!
“I’ve already had my men fax the address to the hospital, indirectly informing Dominick where to pick her up. Claire, considering the few times you’ve slept with me, I’ll be honest with you, I just hope nothing happens to her now, so I can at least flee abroad and not lose my life…”
Bruno was cut off mid–sentence when the door was suddenly slammed open..
One of his men rushed in and hurriedly said, “Bruno, she…. She has escaped…”
“What?!!” Bruno’s eyes widened in shock. “Who’s escaped?”
His subordinate stammered, “It’s…it’s Stephanie. She wasn’t in the shack. She took the chance and ran away. She’s escaped…”
“Hurry up and find her back. Dominick will be here any minute to pick her up!” Bruno, who had been in the underworld for many. years, had never been this anxious.
His subordinate replied, “We’ve already looked, but all we know is that she ran toward the village in the west. There was severe mudflow after the heavy rain a few days ago, and a landslide could happen any time…”
Stephanie was already physically weakened. She would surely die if she were caught in a landslide.
Bruno was stunned for a moment and immediately called to book international flights. “Hurry up, pack everything valuable, and
let’s run!”
Meanwhile, Dominick and his team raced to the remote area on the outskirts of Caelorium after receiving the faxed address.
By the time they arrived, the place was already deserted.
“Everyone spread out and search…” Dominick commanded grimly as he stepped into the run–down tile house before him. He glanced around the enclosed space, the locked doors and windows, and the moldy corners.
His expression then suddenly changed drastically. Dominick rushed in and stared intently at one corner of the house.
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