CHAPTER 188: CHAPTER 188: IT’S A MISUNDERSTANDING

Ian Kane walked out of the villa, standing tall and unyielding, calm and composed.

The tactical police were perfectly lined up, their gun muzzles all aimed at him, bullets already chambered.

He stood at the doorway, his gaze sweeping past the black muzzles, finally resting on Noah Grant’s face with an icy stare.

He was staring at him, while also striding over, his aura fierce and murderous!

Ian Kane let out a faint snort from his nose, a slight sardonic smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

When Vera Sheridan was almost splashed with acid, he wasn’t there, but now he seized the opportunity to send him back to jail!

And Vera Sheridan wouldn’t miss the chance to lock this ticking time bomb away again, would she?

Ian gulped slightly, suppressing the fiery red boiling in his eyes, and raised his arm to stop the approaching tactical officers, asking deeply, "Gentlemen, in the dead of night, do you have legal documents for such a grand operation?"

To buy Justin Langford some time.

Just as he finished speaking, a captain stepped forward, presenting the documents.

"Ian Kane, we now have reasonable suspicion that you and your accomplice Justin Langford have kidnapped Vera Sheridan, this is the search warrant!" The captain spoke sternly, the silver police badge reflecting a cold light under the porch lamp.

Ian Kane meticulously and deliberately read the search warrant word by word.

Seeing he was deliberately stalling, Noah Grant’s jawline tightened, and he signaled to the captain with a glance.

"Ian Kane, please cooperate with our search now! If you refuse, we will enforce it!" The captain put down the search warrant, his hand on the equipment at his waist.

Only then did Ian Kane slowly raise his eyes, but his gaze passed over the captain, landing back on Noah Grant’s face.

He leisurely took out a pack of cigarettes, putting one between his lips, pausing the tip in his palm.

"With such a grand show, if you anger the guys inside, I can’t guarantee they won’t do something extreme."

"If they’re stupid enough to harm a hair on her head..." Ian paused, lit the cigarette, took a drag, the smoke blurring the madness in his eyes, "...don’t put it on my account."

Noah Grant’s eyes suddenly turned icy cold.

Ian Kane’s threat instantly touched his raw nerves, and the air around him became even heavier.

He took a large step forward, his dark eyes narrowing tightly.

"Ian Kane, are you stalling for that Justin or cementing your own guilt?" his voice cold, carrying an undeniable authority.

"I will certainly make it happen for you two."

Upon hearing this, Ian Kane bit down hard on the cigarette butt.

Noah Grant didn’t glance at him again, turning his head, speaking firmly to the captain behind him:

"Move in! Control all the exits, simultaneously seal off the docks! I want every hair inside intact, and those outside with no chance of escape!"

With those words, he shot one more icy glance at Ian Kane, then led the charge to kick open the villa’s door!

Noah Grant rushed in immediately, tactical police on either side, while Owen Sheridan, who arrived, was about to follow but was stopped by two officers.

"Ian Kane! What have you done to my sister?!" Owen Sheridan’s chest heaved, glaring at Ian Kane.

Ian Kane glanced at him indifferently, then lifted his wrist to check his watch calmly.

Secretly praying Justin had already made it to the speedboat.

He was about to take another drag when the shout from inside the villa startled him, and in an instant, he crushed the cigarette!

Hearing the commotion, Owen Sheridan’s face turned pale instantly.

Inside the villa, at the corner of the first-floor staircase.

Vera Sheridan was still in that black suit, paired with a black strapless top, her long hair tied up, her icy and exquisite face flawless.

But a Valdania army knife, its silver tip resting against her cheek, seemed ready to slice through the "soft tofu" at any moment!

The man holding her hostage was Justin, who had returned!

Justin only realized when he was near the docks that Ian Kane had given him money to settle down, clearly shielding him, letting him run far away, taking the fall for everything!

He couldn’t just leave like this!

At that moment, he turned back and rushed, and as soon as he returned to the villa, he ran into Vera Sheridan coming downstairs, feeling resentful, furious, and took her hostage!

The moment Noah Grant burst through the door, he came to an abrupt halt.

All his composure and murderous intent crumbled the instant he saw the knife pressed against Vera Sheridan’s face!

His pupils contracted sharply, the air pressure around him dropped, and all his focus zeroed in on the knife’s cold glint and Vera Sheridan’s pale face.

He wanted to step forward but didn’t dare provoke Justin, his knuckles cracking loudly as veins bulged on the back of his hand.

Their eyes met.

Vera Sheridan was stunned for a moment, not expecting him to appear suddenly from Bernheim, bringing so many special police officers.

The man, usually mature and steady, now had deep eyes filled with fear and unease, like a trapped beast.

She sighed quietly, fixing her gaze on him, gently shaking her head.

"Noah Grant, you let —"

"Justin!" A male voice interrupted Vera’s words!

Just then, Ian Kane rushed in, shouting angrily, "Put down the knife, don’t act rashly!"

Justin ignored him, his rugged face flushed with fever and excitement, a sinister and desperate smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Kane! Don’t interfere! I took the hostage, the blame is on me!"

His fierce gaze suddenly sliced towards Noah Grant in the hall, then back to Ian Kane’s face.

"I feel it’s unfair for you! Unfair for myself!"

"I bloody risked my back getting burned to pull this woman out from under the acid! I saved her face!" His furious voice echoed through the villa, the knife edge inching closer out of excitement, "But her?!"

"She turned around and wants to ruin us! Wants to put you back in prison! This is called repaying kindness with enmity!"

Justin’s relentless accusations whipped Ian Kane, striking at his heart, unconsciously clenching his hands, eyes turning to Vera.

She wasn’t repaying kindness with enmity; in her eyes, they hadn’t done her any favor, she was just cutting ties thoroughly!

Ian Kane’s eyes turned blood-red instantly.

Vera Sheridan, gripped tightly by Justin, was gasping for air and couldn’t speak, stomping her foot in struggle, noticing Ian Kane’s bleak eyes, she shook her head towards Noah Grant.

Noah Grant was whispering to the captain nearby, "What acid?"

The captain was equally puzzled.

"Kane, I’m definitely going to jail! I’m not afraid! But this crime can’t be suffered in vain! My kindness can’t be fed to the dogs!"

"The face she nearly lost, I saved it; now... I must take it back myself! That’s true fairness!"

As his voice fell, Justin’s wrist exerted a bit of force.

"Justin! I’m not charging you with kidnapping!" Vera finally shouted out, her voice firm and decisive!

Justin froze, his actions momentarily stopped.

Ian Kane was taken aback, his jaw tightened, a trace of disbelief flickering in his eyes.

Was she sincere, or just appeasing Justin for the moment?

Vera calmly looked at Noah Grant, her voice clear and strong, "Noah Grant, you misunderstood. Justin rescued me from a madman wielding acid and brought me here to take shelter. There was no kidnapping like you thought."

Noah Grant’s alarming pressure instantly halted.

His heart wrenched, breath constricted.

The man instinctively scanned her rapidly, confirming her flawless face and body were without a scratch, and only then did his choked breath surge back, followed by an overwhelming wave of palpitation and dread.

Then, Noah Grant suddenly turned around, his side profile sharp as a knife, his voice firm and undisputable: "Captain Chambers, it’s a misunderstanding! Stand down!"

Upon hearing, Captain Chambers immediately ordered, "Everyone, put down your guns!"

Watching the scene, Justin’s expression slightly softened, his mind fainting, his tall body staggering, the military knife falling to the ground.

Vera tried to break free but was pulled back by him.

Due to infection and fever, Justin’s lips were pale and dry, as if covered with a layer of white frost, slowly moving, "Woman... I saved you purely for Kane’s sake!"

"You dare go back on your word, put him in there again... I’ll make sure you die..." Before finishing his sentence, Justin was pulled over by Ian Kane.

Justin’s large body crashed against Ian Kane, about to slip down, but he held him up in time.

Ian Kane’s gaze landed on the subordinates not far away, shouting hoarsely, "Why are you standing there stunned? Call an ambulance!"

Vera turned around, looking at the nearly fainting Justin, her voice calm and steady, "I won’t go back on my word, this time, you indeed saved me..."

As Noah Grant was heading up the stairs, he slowed his steps hearing her words.

Ian Kane also lifted his gaze, looking at her, his Adam’s apple quivering.

Vera quietly stood by the stairs, her slender and upright silhouette exuding a calm aura, "Of course, you also indeed restricted my freedom."