Chapter 2294
Chapter 2294 Let Himself Get Caught
“I don't care about her forgiveness. Killing you is more important to me!” Danrique countered mercilessly. “You—" Lincoln was rendered speechless. “It seems that you don’t even care if Mr. Lincoln lives or dies.”
"Why should I care if someone unrelated to me dies? I can't believe you think I will compromise for his sake. What a joke!”
"You—" After being momentarily stumped, the president swiftly continued to provoke him, “Danrique, you are indeed cold-blooded!”
Danrique replied disdainfully, “Thank you for the compliment. Still, I am nothing compared to you in terms of being hard-hearted. Mr. Lincoln is just someone with no relation to me. On the other hand, you are even capable of disregarding your wife's and daughter's lives. You are the true epitome of ruthlessness.”
“Capturing them won't do you any good since they don't know a thing,” the president said indifferently.
Danrique seized that opportunity to make a suggestion. “Let me give you a chance. I'll let go of your wife and daughter in exchange for Mr. Lincoln. This should be a very worthwhile deal for you.” Danrique had spoken so much earlier for the sole reason of achieving that goal.
“It looks like you still care after all.” The president smiled. “Two people in exchange for one is indeed a good deal. However, I refuse!”
“You—"
“I understand now.” The president sounded smug. “You still care about Francesca. You're willing to give up marrying my daughter to become the president's son-in-law and collaborating with me through this arranged marriage because of her. In that case, you will continue to give up more things for her sake. You're such a loyal young man. This is so touching. Consider my offer well. As long as you're willing to reconcile, I'll let go of Mr. Lincoln at once!”
With that, the president hung up the call. The corner of his lips curled into a wicked smile. At that moment, he understood Lincoln's value as a trump card.
“Was the phone conversation earlier recorded?”
“Yes, Mr. President.”
“Trim out the few sentences Danrique said just now, and think of a way to send the modified recording to Francesca.”
“Understood!”
“The audacity!” Danrique hurled the phone in anger.
Sean quickly comforted him, “Calm down, Mr. Lindberg. Your wound has ruptured. Let me help you apply the medication. You need to stop moving.”
"Go away!” Danrique was livid. “That fool, Gordon, has repeatedly failed me in carrying out his duty. Tell him to come here immediately to receive his punishment!”
"Gordon was shot. He's at the hospital right now,” Sean answered in a low voice.
Danrique was instantaneously stunned. After the president was shot, the situation spiraled out of control. He had ordered Gordon to bring Lincoln back at once, yet the latter had still been taken away by the president's men
Overwhelmed by rage, Danrique had bellowed and begun thinking of ways to handle the predicament. He didn’t know Gordon had also suffered a gunshot wound while trying to rescue Lincoln.
“Is he all right?” Danrique asked in a hurry.
“He's not in any mortal danger, but his internal organ is damaged.” Sean's voice sounded a little hoarse. “We're short-staffed at that moment, so I've asked Lupine to bring two men with her to come back and help out.”
Danrique did not respond. No matter how formidable he might be, he still wasn't a match for the president's armed forces.
If this impasse drags on, I'll continue losing my subordinates and end up short-handed. Sooner or later, I will be at a disadvantage.
“Mr. Lindberg, let me treat your wound first.” Sean carefully tended to Danrique’s injury as he consoled, “The president is playing mind games with you right now. Even if he disregards his wife and daughter's survival, he'll need to be wary of his wife divulging his secrets. You did the right thing by pretending not to care about Mr. Lincoln just now. If the president fails to hold out against the pressure ultimately, he will use Mr. Lincoln to trade for his wife and daughter.”
“Yes. This is a time to test out which of us is more heartless.”
Sean said thoughtfully, “Actually, I can’t shake off the feeling that Mr. Lincoln deliberately let himself get caught.”
"What do you mean by that?” Danrique promptly asked.
“Gordon's subordinates who went with him earlier mentioned they could've saved Mr. Lincoln initially, but he shoved them away. Then, he picked up a gun again and rushed toward the president. That was why he got caught.”