CHAPTER 172: CHAPTER 172: TIME BOMB

"Really?" Desmond Fairchild narrowed his eyes, a deadly intent growing fiercer in his deep pupils, "If you harm her even slightly, I’ll make your entire family accompany her in death!"

It seemed that the person inside had already predicted Desmond Fairchild’s reaction, so they weren’t surprised: "Indeed, deserving of being President Fairchild of Cloudsea Group. Now your woman is in my hands, what qualifications do you have to bargain with me? Even if you want to kill my whole family, by that time Miss Sinclair would have already preceded me, wouldn’t she?"

Desmond gritted his teeth. It seemed the person aimed not to target Seraphina Sinclair; they wanted his life.

If that’s the case...

He pondered for two seconds and said, "Since you want my life, take it, just let her go."

"Didn’t see President Fairchild was a romantic. Since you want to save him so much, let’s see if you have the skill." The mechanical voice came again, "Your wife and mistress are in the room. Whether they can survive depends on your choice."

Even Desmond couldn’t understand what they were up to. Without allowing him to think deeply, the previously locked door suddenly clicked open from inside.

He furrowed his brows, reached out to push, and tentatively walked inside.

The mechanical laughter echoed in his ears again. He followed the sound, only to find a mobile phone lying on the ground.

The room lights hadn’t been turned on, and it was dusk, so the lighting was poor. He looked around but found no one, nor any trace of Seraphina.

The air was still tinged with a hint of tobacco, indicating that the conversation wasn’t just via the phone.

"Seraphina." Desmond’s heart filled with worry as he quickly searched the rooms for Seraphina’s shadow.

The mysterious man’s words earlier left him puzzled; now, only by finding Seraphina quickly could he understand what he meant.

"Desmond," suddenly, a familiar female voice came from behind as Desmond was anxiously searching. He turned abruptly, his gaze locked onto the old wardrobe.

To confirm it wasn’t his imagination, he quickly strode over and yanked open the wardrobe door. Two delicate faces appeared before him.

"Seraphina! Anna?" Desmond saw Seraphina, and joy overflowed instantly. But seeing her unconscious, a chill flickered in his eyes.

As for Anna’s presence, he seemed not to care.

Anna didn’t notice his expression, weakly leaning against the wardrobe, whispered to Desmond, "Desmond, time is running out."

"What do you mean?" Desmond’s face slightly changed.

Bound hand and foot, Anna slowly moved, signaling to Desmond with her chin to look behind her: "That person has tied time bombs behind both me and Miss Sinclair, telling me only one of the bombs is real. From the moment you enter, there’s fifteen minutes in total. If you can’t identify which is the real bomb and successfully defuse it within those fifteen minutes, then the three of us will die here today."

Anna spoke with a hint of sobbing, and the terror in her eyes was genuine.

If Desmond initially doubted Anna’s appearance, now, his mind was entirely drawn to the so-called bomb.

There indeed was a bomb tied behind Seraphina, and the perpetrator arrogantly left a note.

The note’s contents were infuriating: Desmond Fairchild, forget to remind you, the bomb can be remotely controlled and can only be defused by your own hands. If you call for outside help, I will detonate the bomb immediately. How is it? Isn’t it thrilling?"

This was provocation, more so, a threat.

But who was Desmond Fairchild? He was President Fairchild of Cloudsea Group, someone who feared nothing less than threats.

Such sordid amusement that toyed with minds, he paid it no heed.

"Desmond." Anna bit her lip tightly, watching the countdown begin, naturally afraid.

The ticking sound from the timer echoed sharply in the quiet, empty space, like a death knell swallowing Anna’s heart inch by inch.

At this moment, the phone outside rang again with the mechanical voice of the mysterious man: "Instead of failing to defuse the bombs and dying together, you can completely leave alone. Or take one with you so even if you can’t defuse, only one will die."

"Hahaha, but whether the one you take is the real bomb or the fake one, that’s hard to say, hahahahahaha."

Damn it!

Listening to the voice, Desmond felt murderous. He strode out and kicked the phone fiercely.

Listening to the cracking sound of the phone, he snickered coldly several times: "Just two bombs, and you want to threaten me? Ridiculous."

In his Bluetooth earpiece, Austin White listened to the commotion here, looking grim: "Hurry up and defuse it. If anything happens to her, I will kill you!"

"If anything happens to her, you don’t need to take action, I’ll do it myself." Desmond replied indifferently.

For some reason, Austin believed him. Even with Seraphina kidnapped, he didn’t doubt Desmond alone couldn’t do it, instead feeling assured that as long as Desmond got involved, he’d surely rescue Seraphina.

Though he didn’t know why he believed in Desmond so much, he just had an intuition telling him Desmond wasn’t as simple as he seemed.

Due to the lingering effect of the anesthetic, Seraphina was still unconscious, feeling nothing during the bumps and touches, like a lifeless porcelain doll allowing Desmond to search her waist without any reaction.

Anna sat in the wardrobe, her pretty eyes staring straight at Desmond.

Who knew he held Seraphina and earnestly studied the bomb at her waist, not even granting Anna a sidelong glance.

A bitter smile spread at her lips, yet her heart felt a sense of relief.

It seemed Desmond genuinely had no romantic feelings for her, now lacking even sibling affection.

She hated Seraphina, even feeling if Seraphina was simply blown to pieces, it would be better. Between her and Desmond, without Seraphina, it certainly wouldn’t be like this.

She would be the wife of Cloudsea Group’s president, using all her life skills to help Desmond manage Cloudsea Group even better.

Unfortunately, all this turned to ash.

And the person who caused this result was Seraphina.

She should hate him, but watching Desmond’s eyes full of Seraphina’s figure, she indeed felt jealousy, yet lacked the tearing heartache.

"Desmond," Anna tentatively called Desmond, thinking if only he looked at her, she’d tell him the truth.

Unfortunately, not only did Desmond ignore her, he didn’t even respond.