Chapter 78
The phone went silent.
My parents froze. They stood stiffly for what felt like forever.”
When the call finally ended, they turned to each other, horror written across their faces.
“Did you… hear that?” My father asked, his voice shaking.”
My mother’s face drained of color. Her lips trembled.
“It was… a gunshot.“\
“No! Something happened to my son!” she screamed.
Panic surged. My father tried calling the kidnapper again, but the line was dead.”
“Call the police!” he shouted.
When the police arrived, they found my father still clutching his phone, staring at the blank screen like a ghost.”
They took his statement just as Charles returned.}
Seeing his parents, he didn’t show relief or concern. Instead, he exploded with anger.
“It was just five million! Why did it take you so long to send it? I was terrified for half an hour!“}
In the past, when Charles lashed out, they would immediately rush to soothe him, offering apologies and affection. But this time, he was met with silence.
They didn’t respond.
Not a word.
Then, Charles noticed his father’s eyes were bloodshot as they stared at him, and he instinctively stepped back.
Just then, Emily arrived with the police, her voice trembling as she said,
“He planned this kidnapping! I overheard him tell William he wanted to test whether his uncle and aunt loved him or William more!“}
As she spoke, the phone in Dad’s hand slipped and fell.§
Suddenly, he lunged at Charles, grabbed his collar, and glared fiercely.
“Is what she said true?”
Charles had never seen his father so terrifying and was immediately shaken.
But more than fear, he felt panic. Remembering his past mistakes, he feigned innocence and pitifulness.
He repeated the same ploy and cried,”
“Dad, you scared me, but I’m still your most beloved son!“}
This time, however, he misjudged.
Dad roared, shoving him hard to the ground.”
“I’m asking you–did you plan this kidnapping?”
Charles’s body tensed. He nodded, then shook his head nervously.”
“Dad, you’ve never been mean to me before. Haven’t you forgotten how much you and Mom love me?“}
Mom wiped away tears and slapped him sharply.
“Before? Before, it was because your brother was still alive. Now your brother is in danger–what’s the point of you?”
Dad’s fury exploded. He kicked Charles in the chest. If the police hadn’t intervened, he might have beaten his adopted son to death.
Finally terrified, Charles scrambled behind the officers, sobbing.
The police studied the strange family quietly and questioned Charles about the kidnapping.
After his explanation, the police realized he had turned a lie into reality.
“Officer, I really didn’t find those men in black. If you don’t believe me, I can ask my friends to prove it!“}
He hurriedly called friends for an alibi, but the police told him he was still a suspect.”
“Do you remember where you were held? What details do you recall?”
Charles thought hard, while his father snapped angrily,
“Think fast! If you lie, I’ll destroy you!”
Fearful, Charles struggled to answer. Margaret broke down in tears.
“William! Where are you? Mom misses you so much!“M
“Please don’t get hurt. It’s not that your parents don’t love you–they just trusted a fortune teller,” Dad muttered, guilt washing over him $
At that moment, Emily suddenly pointed an accusing finger at Margaret.
“It’s you, that cruel woman! You’re the one who destroyed your own son!*%
The police looked confused. Emily burst into tears.
“She said she’d take me shopping, but on the way, she tried to convince me to leave William and marry her other son!“%
11:38 AM
It’s you, that cruel woman! You’re the one who destroyed your own son!“%
The police looked confused Emily burst into tears.%
“She said she’d take me shopping, but on the way, she tried to convince me to leave William and marry her other son!“%
“She boasted about coming from a wealthy family and wanted me to marry Charles to live a life without worries.“%
“When I refused, she lied that William was waiting for me at the KTV that night. As soon as I walked in, Charles threw me on the sofa ar tried to force himself on me!”
“If William hadn’t arrived just then, I.” She glared fiercely at the family, voice shaking with rage.%
“If it weren’t for her, William wouldn’t have been kidnapped!”
“William has had a tough life. He grew up faster than his peers, studied hard, and worked two jobs in college–waiting tables by day ar delivering takeout by night–just so he wouldn’t be a burden.”
“He earned excellent grades and planned to study abroad with scholarships and part–time jobs, hoping to give you a better life.” “But you his parents are rich, yet you pretend to be poor. Aren’t you tired of the lies?”
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