Upon hearing Carter’s words, Madeline smiled softly. “Thank you for your compliments, Mr. Carter, but I don’t need them. I don’t need you to think I'm special, and I certainly don’t need your admiration. On the contrary, you repulse me.”Carter’s lips seemingly curled. “Is that so? Is that why you won’t tell me where Shirley is?”“That’s right, I won’t.” Madeline maintained her cool as she looked into Carter’s inscrutable eyes. “However, if you intend to abduct me now to exchange for her, go ahead. I can’t compete with a man’s strength anyway.”Carter had initially considered this. If Madeline would not speak, he would similarly use this method, abducting her so that Jeremy would exchange Shirley for Madeline. However, he had not expected Madeline to have already seen through his thoughts and intentions.Admiration flashed across Carter’s eyes. “Eveline, you’re indeed extraordinary, but I won’t abduct you.”He walked toward the door to the passenger’s seat and said, “Mrs. Whitm
Madeline’s calmness impressed Carter yet again.Perhaps it was this calmness of her that had made him feel that she was special back then.Carter placed the cup in his hands steadily. “I don’t have anything to ask you.”He checked the time on his watch. “Your husband should be here soon.”Just as Carter had spoken, Madeline could hear the familiar car engine sound coming from the outside of the villa entrance.That was Jeremy’s car.Carter glimpsed at the French window through the corner of his eyes. “That was certainly fast. You’re someone he cares about indeed.”“You’re so good at cracking jokes, Mr. Gray. I’m his wife, could he not care about me?” Madeline asked and chuckled lightly. “Some people are quite pitiful, however. They obviously care about someone, yet they don’t know how to care for them. Don’t you think so?”“...”Carter’s smile froze.He could tell what Madeline was sneering at him, he did not know what Madeline had meant exactly.Thud thud thud thud.The fa
“It seems that you’ve forgotten that the poison in your body is not completely cleared as well.”Carter spoke confidently.Jeremy’s expression remained static despite this reminder. “What about it? You seem to be quite confident. Was it just because of this?”“No, I am completely confident.” There was an assured look on Carter’s face. “Jeremy, since you’re here and we’re done talking, let me bring you guys somewhere.”Without speaking, Jeremy and Madeline shared a look.“What is it? Are you guys scared?” Carter asked provocatively. “If you’re scared, you’re free to not follow.”Carter then turned and walked toward the basement.Madeline remembered this place. Carter had hypnotized her here back then. Unbeknownst to Madeline, a completely different world was hidden in the basement.Through the side door, there was a large-scale laboratory.The laboratory was equipped with state-of-the-art instruments.Madeline saw that the test tube racks were neatly arranged with vials of v
Jeremy suddenly relented.Madeline quickly turned, facing Jeremy’s firm expression, though she did not find this unexpected. He relented solely because of the concern he had for her.The corner of Carter’s lips raised at these words. This was the answer he wanted.“Carter, state your terms,” Jeremy requested, not showing much patience for Carter.Carter did not beat around the bush. “Let Shirley go,” he said bluntly.Madeline had thought that Carter’s demand would be something very difficult or unreasonable. However, she had not expected Carter’s only stipulation was Shirley’s release.Jeremy too found this doubtful. If this was the only stipulation, why should he not oblige?After all, his main purpose in kidnapping Shirley was to exchange her for the anti-toxoid test reagent.“I can let her go, but I have to see the anti-toxoid test reagent first. She told me herself that there’s no completed product, so I’d like to verify that you’re telling the truth and that there’s truly
Jeremy gave Madeline a serious look, saying nothing in response.The snow grew heavier over time, gradually piling on the ground.Half an hour later, Jeremy’s car stopped at the villa’s gates once again.When Madeline got out of the car, her eyes were immediately drawn to the two lines of tire tracks that were imprinted on the snow.This villa was detached. Under normal circumstances, no one would be passing by this place, let alone leaving tire tracks at the gates, unless they came here deliberately.“I see. You’ve locked her up here,” Carter said as he got out of the car. “Lead the way.” He seemed impatient, but his expression still looked perfectly calm.Perhaps Jeremy was still worried about Madeline, for he did not notice the tire tracks on the snow.He opened the gates and led the way with Madeline in tow.“Jeremy, something’s off,” Madeline said, expressing her concern.“Off? What do you mean?” Jeremy asked, confused. However, when he was at the entryway opening the doo
Jeremy shouted, attempting to stop Carter, but Carter had made up his mind.With all his might, Carter hurled the vial of anti-toxoid test reagent out of the balcony, ensuring that neither party won.However, Jeremy was unwilling to stand by and watch Carter throwing out the anti-toxoid test reagent. At that moment, he launched himself toward the trajectory of the vial, leaping forward like a sword flying from its scabbard, his entire person seemed to soar with the vial.Madeline’s heart suddenly leaped as this scene unfolded.“No! Jeremy…”Madeline cried out in alarm and ran over to Jeremy.However, she could not catch up with Jeremy’s speed. She watched as Jeremy jumped down the balcony, trying to catch the vial of anti-toxoid test reagent.“Jeremy!” Madeline ran hurriedly to the balcony and looked down. She then turned to head downstairs to find Jeremy.However, when she ran past Carter, he suddenly reached out a hand, grabbing her arm.“Let go!” Madeline struggled angrily.
At Jeremy’s urging, Madeline questioned no further. She quickly retrieved the anti-toxoid test reagent she kept in her pocket and handed it to Jeremy.Jeremy took it just as Carter walked out from the entryway.He immediately spotted Jeremy and Madeline, then walked straight over.He shifted his gaze toward the vial of anti-toxoid test reagent that laid next to Jeremy. Upon seeing the shattered pieces of the vial, Carter’s eyes flashed with delight, then darkened further.“Jeremy, that was the only available vial of anti-toxoid test reagent that could help Madeline, and now it has been shattered. Now, you can only watch the suffering of your beloved. Unless you release Shirley. She’ll then have time to develop the anti-toxoid test reagent.”After listening to Carter’s words, Jeremy calmly stood up.Madeline got up as well. She lightly patted away the snowflakes on Jeremy’s coat, looking at the shattered vial by Jeremy’s feet with a grave expression.“Carter, you still dare think
With that, Carter turned and left with a carefree demeanor.Madeline, staring at Carter’s back as he walked away with such finality, felt slightly uneasy.She felt her chest tightened upon seeing the vial of anti-toxoid test reagent shattered on the snow.Noticing the changes in Madeline’s mood, Jeremy, whose face was surprisingly happy, held her hand and comforted her.“Linnie, I know you’re worried about me, but your condition is more urgent now. Even if poison inside me were to flare up, it wouldn’t be much of a problem with Adam around. However, it’s a different story for you. Carter would never genuinely give you the anti-toxoid test reagent.”Madeline could not deny that Jeremy had a point. Nonetheless, she was still fairly upset seeing the shattered vial. Once Carter had left, Madeline and Jeremy returned to the guest room once again.Jeremy examined the room’s condition and inspected the puddle of blood.It was indeed human blood, and judging from the state of which it