Niamh was about to call the police when her phone suddenly rang.
She picked up the call from Kendrick without hesitation. “I haven’t found Mom yet, Kendrick.”
She stated straightforwardly, only to hear Kendrick speak in a strange tone. “Come home first, Nia.”
Niamh found Kendrick’s tone unusual. “Do you have any news about Mom?”
Instead of explaining, Kendrick repeated himself and stressed, “Come home first, Nia. You and Dad.”
“Kendrick?”
Despite not knowing what was going on, Niamh could feel that something had occurred from Kendrick’s tone.
She was terrified that something had happened to Eloise.
Not wanting to waste any more time, Niamh immediately brought Sean back to Waldburg Manor.
The two entered the living room and were met with Kendrick and Karen sitting solemnly on the sofa.
“Seriously, these people would do anything for money.” Karen groaned with a huff.
She shot up to her feet when she saw Niamh and Sean returning.
Hearing Karen’s complaint, the unease Niamh felt spiked.
She stared at the man who was slowly approaching her. “Do we have news on Mom, Kendrick?”
“Yeah.” He nodded, but his sharp brows were still tightly knitted.
Sean was elated, but the vibe in the air felt off.
“What happened? Is Ellie alright?”
Kendrick reached over to hold Niamh’s hand as he took in her worried expression. “I just received a call from an unknown number. They said they happened to find Mom on the streets and brought her back out of goodwill. They’re now asking for fifty million dollars repayment for watching over her or they won’t send Mom back. They won’t let us call the police or they’ll hurt Mom.”
Kendrick felt Niamh’s hands grow cold after he spoke.
“Don’t worry, Nia. All they want is money.”
“Isn’t this just a kidnapping case?” Sean saw through the other’s plan.
What ‘happened to find’ and ‘goodwill’ were they talking about? This was blatant kidnapping and asking for ransom!
“We’ll give them the money if they want. As long as Ellie’s alright!” Sean was frantic. As far as he was concerned, no luxury would ever compare to the importance of his beloved.
Niamh shared the same thought. She looked at the man in front of her worriedly. “Kendrick…”
“I’ve already called the bank and they’re preparing the money. Don’t worry, Nia. Mom will be alright.” Kendrick comforted, knowing how worried Niamh was.
Kendrick had just finished speaking when the house phone in the living room rang again.
Kendrick had a feeling that it was from the man who asked for ransom earlier. He picked up the phone and indeed heard the rough and gangster-like tone of the man.
“Do you have the money, Mr. Waldburg?”
Kendrick replied calmly and softly, “It’s being prepared. As long as you ensure my mother-in-law’s safety, then we can negotiate this.”
“A trustworthy businessman you are, Mr. Waldburg.” The man sounded satisfied and decided to increase the price. “However, we’ve just fed your mother-in-law, so I have to add on to the amount, right?”
“Get to the point. How much more do you want?”
“Mr. Waldburg sure is pleasant to do business with! An extra million!”
“Fine,” Kendrick replied curtly, startling the man for he had not expected Kendrick to agree so easily. The man demanded again, “Have your wife bring the money over herself.”
Kendrick had no qualms paying them as much as they wanted, but the risk of endangering Niamh’s safety had his tone immediately turning frosty.
“Just take the money. I don’t like doing business with people who don’t know where to stop.”
The man was stricken by Kendrick’s icy tone, but he mustered up the courage to demand again after a moment.
“I said have your wife send the money. Or you can forget about having your mother-in-law returning safe and sound!”
Kendrick had answered the call on speaker, so Sean felt his heartstrings tug at the man’s words. His expression changed as he rushed to the phone. “Ellie! Don’t you dare hurt Ellie!”
“Hmph. Do as I say or the crazy b*tch gets hurt!” The man’s arrogance leaped.
Kendrick’s grip tightened around the phone. He did not want to compromise just like that.
In that moment of unease, Niamh stepped forward and took the phone from Kendrick’s hand.
“I’m Kendrick Waldburg’s wife as well as the daughter of the woman you kidnapped. I’ll bring the money if that’s what you wish. As long as you promise my mother’s safety, I’ll gladly bring you the money!”
The man immediately agreed, not expecting Niamh to be so quick to agree. “What a straightforward personality you have, Mrs. Waldburg. It’s only right that I stick to my word as well. All I want is to be repaid for taking care of your mother, nothing more. Pay me and you shall have your mother back. I’ll be waiting!”
The man then hung up the call. Just then, Kendrick received a call from the bank telling him that the money had been prepared.
Niamh got ready to take a trip to the bank for the money. She would then go to retrieve Eloise. However, Kendrick was reluctant to let her go just like that.
“You can’t go by yourself, Nia.” Worry filled the man’s expression as he refused to let go.
Niamh understood what Kendrick was feeling and turned to smile at the man. “I’ll take good care of myself, Kendrick. I also know that you won’t leave me all alone there, would you?”
Kendrick immediately understood what Niamh meant. He was fully aware that he would not be able to stop Niamh, but that did not mean he would let her face danger all alone. Kendrick would certainly find a way to watch over her from the shadows.
Kendrick finally loosened his hold only for Sean to take his place holding her back. Sean’s heart raced frantically. “Must you go personally, Eveline? I’m really worried about you. I’m worried about your mother too.”
Niamh gave a reassuring smile. “Kendrick will protect me. I’ll come home with Mom.”
Sean let go of Niamh reluctantly for she was their only option now.
Karen walked over to remind her kindly. “Be careful. Come home for dinner, alright? We’ll be waiting.”
“Yeah.” Niamh acknowledged. “I can’t wait to drink your soup!”
Karen let out a sigh of relief, having never expected to one day live so peacefully with Niamh. Here she was, regretting not treating her daughter-in-law better back then.
The sky had already started to grow dark.
Niamh took the money and made her way to the address of the transaction.
She had no idea who managed to lure Eloise to a small district more than ten miles away from the ruined Montgomery Manor. Eloise may not be in the best mental state, but she was still a living person. Unless they had kidnapped her by dragging her into a car?
As she wondered to herself, Niamh arrived at the entrance of the district and saw a rascally short man walking toward her. “Are you Eveline Montgomery?”
Niamh looked around and analyzed the man in front of her. “I am, and you—”
“You don’t need to know who I am. Take your things and come with me. I’ll bring you to see your mom.”
Hearing his voice, she knew he was not the kidnapper who took Eloise.
From the corners of her eyes, Niamh saw a car that was stopped by a road not too far away. She followed the man into the district where she was led to a house.
Opening the door, Niamh was met with a smelly gust of air. The environment before her was dirty and messy with takeout boxes thrown around and flies buzzing over them.
Niamh knew that this was not a gang-organized crime. Realizing that Eloise had been locked in such an environment for an entire day, her heart hurt.
“Where’s my mother?”
The man lit a cigarette and reached out his claw-like hands to Niamh.
“Where’s the money?”
Niamh pointed at the briefcase in her hand. “The money won’t run, and I want to see my mom first.”
The man bit on the cigarette and pointed at the door next to him. “Your mom’s inside.”
Niamh immediately strode over only to have the man hold her back, fiercely snatching the briefcase in Niamh’s hand. “Give me the money!”
The man was brutal and pushed Niamh harshly away.
Niamh’s ankle twisted and she staggered backward, hitting a door and knocking it open.
Losing her balance, she fell backward and was about to stand. However, the scene before her made her shocked. “Mom!”
The scene pierced into Niamh’s heart.
She quickly got to her feet and ran toward Eloise who was lying unconscious on the floor. “Mom! Mom!”
Niamh did not know if Eloise had merely fainted or if it was worse, but there was no response from her no matter how Niamh called out to her.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.