SWNOVELS Chapter 655: Deception
When John Wilkinson appeared, Reginald remained unfazed. He didn't resist but quickly glanced at the police and Terrence before pulling a pill from his pocket and swallowing it. Terrence realized what was happening and tried to intervene, but it was too late. The pill went down Reginald's throat, and within seconds, he was spitting blood and collapsed, lifeless on the ground. The suddenness of it all shocked even John Wilkinson.
Terrence approached and touched Reginald's face, only to discover it was a mask. "We've been tricked. This isn't Reginald," Terrence said, his eyes darkening as he tore off the fake face to reveal the imposter's true identity. John Wilkinson quickly stepped forward. Realizing the deception, his expression grew serious. "Reginald is too cunning. It seems he saw through our trap. Catching him won't be easy."
Despite setting such a big trap, they had failed to capture him, making their task even harder. Members of the Celestial Alliance were utterly loyal to Reginald, willing to sacrifice their lives to protect both the organization and him. Terrence was equally frustrated. "Even if this one is fake, he must have come to Auroraville." Suddenly, Terrence's face changed as he thought of something. He immediately took out his phone to call Meredith but found she was out of service. He then called Grandma Sterling, with the same result. Even the bodyguards at the northern villa couldn't be reached.
Terrence's anger flared. "Damn it! Reginald must have gone to the northern villa. Grandma and Meredith are in danger." He strode towards the yard. "Drive to the northern villa."
Any further delay might be too late. John Wilkinson also realized this was a diversion by Reginald, who had sent a decoy to Ravenwood while heading to the northern villa himself. John Wilkinson quickly got into his car. "You placed Grandma Sterling in the north? Was there a leak?"
"Never underestimate Celestial Alliance," Terrence replied as he got into his car and started driving towards the northern villa.
The drive from Ravenwood to the northern villa took at least an hour-a torturous hour for Terrence. John Wilkinson ordered all police units to head to the northern villa, sirens blaring.
...
At the northern villa, just as Terrence had guessed, the real Reginald had already infiltrated with members of Celestial Alliance. Using signal jammers, they blocked all communications, making it impossible for Terrence to reach anyone by phone.
Shadows moved silently around the villa as Meredith slept soundly with her daughter beside her, unaware of the danger creeping in. Even Grandma Sterling in the next room was asleep.
Meredith sensed something wrong in her sleep and suddenly opened her eyes to see two men standing before her. She instinctively moved to protect her daughter but was knocked unconscious in an instant.
In the next room, Grandma Sterling woke from her sleep and recognized who they were after a moment of surprise. "Reginald sent you," she said calmly. "Is he outside?"
"Ma'am, please come with us. Master Hawthorne requests your presence," one of the Celestial Alliance assassins said politely without using force.
Given her age, they were cautious not to harm her physically as Reginald had instructed them to bring her back unharmed.
"Where are Rowan and Meredith?" Grandma Sterling asked. "Don't touch them; I'll go with you."
The assassin replied coldly, "Ma'am, this isn't up to you. Master Hawthorne ordered everyone be brought back. Let's go."
Grandma Sterling knew she couldn't resist them at her age and followed them willingly, hoping she could persuade Reginald once more.
By the time Terrence and John Wilkinson arrived with the police, the villa was eerily quiet. The hidden bodyguards had been neutralized, and both Meredith and Grandma Sterling were gone. Terrence's expression was cold and grim as he punched the sofa in frustration.
John Wilkinson ordered immediately, "Start tracking them now."
Any delay would mean losing track of Celestial Alliance members entirely, making it nearly impossible to rescue Grandma Sterling and Meredith later on.