Chapter 4

The footage on the display screen froze at this moment.

Dad's secretary arrived carrying a large black device, wiping sweat from his forehead as he said urgently, "Mr. Chapman! We found it! The signal source is coming from Misty Mountain!"

Dad's chest heaved violently with anger, and he clenched his fists tightly.

"Stream the footage to me in real time! I'm going to Misty Mountain right now to find Zachary! Just wait until I find him—I'll beat him to death!"

Just as he was about to get into the car, the crowd behind him suddenly began clamoring.

Dad turned his head to look, and his expression turned cold once more. While crying, I followed his gaze toward the large screen.

Phoebe was twisting and struggling. The ropes rubbed her wrists and ankles raw and bloody.

"Zack! Please let me go! I won't tell Dad!"

In front of the trafficker, I tightened the ropes on Phoebe's hands a little more.

"Phoebe, just give up!" I snapped.

The trafficker watched my actions and nodded with satisfaction. "Good! From now on, you'll stay by my side! Your sister is your first job with me! Work hard from now on, and I'll make sure you live the good life!"

I obediently nodded and kept my grip tight on the ropes binding Phoebe.

Phoebe's wails from the screen made the atmosphere at the school unbearably tense.

Dad closed his eyes in agony, his nails digging deep into his palm. I could even see blood dripping from his hand.

"Fifi actually suffered so much! It's all my fault for having such a heartless monster for a son!"

Phoebe hugged Dad's waist, seemingly more pained as she said, "Dad, I'm okay! I don't blame Zack!"

Meanwhile, everyone else was angrily cursing me.

I cried until I felt completely drained, so much so that my throat felt as if it were being cut by tiny knives.

Just then, another woman quietly posed a question. "Wait, the trafficker was determined to sell Phoebe, so how come she's now safely by Mr. Chapman's side? Zachary, on the other hand, never came back. Besides, the trafficker didn't originally intend to kidnap him, right?"

Dad frowned, as if he were considering the woman's words.

Soon, the scene changed again.

In order to deliver Phoebe to the buyer, the trafficker switched vehicles several times. During the final swap, Phoebe and I were stuffed into a cargo compartment.

While the trafficker was sound asleep, I carried the injured Phoebe out of the vehicle. I took her all the way to a cornfield, leaned close to her ear, and whispered a few words to her.

Before leaving, I secretly slipped a note into Phoebe's hand.

The adults watching the footage were stunned.

"Why would Zachary let Phoebe go? Wasn't he afraid the trafficker would find out and beat him to death?"

"Why did he suddenly change his mind? And what was that note about?"

When Dad heard the discussion, he turned to look at the sobbing Phoebe.

"Fifi, where is the note Zachary gave you? What did he say to you?"

Phoebe guiltily lowered her head. "Dad, I never saw any note…"

Just as Dad was about to continue questioning Phoebe, his phone rang. As he answered the call, his secretary's anxious voice came through.

"Mr. Chapman! We've located a mound of earth where the signal source is coming from!"

Dad immediately took Phoebe's hand and got into the car. He ordered, "Hurry up and dig! See if Zachary is hiding there!"

Dad and Phoebe rushed to where the secretary was. As the bodyguards dug up the mound, Dad waited nearby, looking down at his phone screen.

The scene on the display screen was being broadcast in real time.

At that moment, Phoebe panicked and tried to snatch Dad's phone, shouting, "Dad! Don't look!"

But it was too late, and Dad's eyes widened suddenly. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Immediately after, his secretary's urgent voice sounded. "Mr. Chapman, the signal source is coming from these bones. Initial speculation suggests these might… They might be Mr. Zack's bones!"