Should she face any immediate danger, Lucinda was prepared to Loosen it and make her escape.


    Unperturbed by her trick being exposed, Lucinda calmly loosened the rope and tossed it onto the coffee table.


    “Putting me through all this, what is it you want, Mr.


    Gomez?”


    Everett took his time, puffing on his cigar before responding, “My team apprehended you incidentally.


    Mrs.


    Payne, you are now the wealthiest woman in Cadiered, and Mr.


    Payne controls the military sector.


    Both of you are prominent figures.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    We wouldn’t presume to disrespect a guest visiting us for the first time.


    ”


    Lucinda noted his apparent respect for Nathan but remained skeptical.


    “Your men aimed to kidnap my child, not me.


    Do you really think using a child as leverage against Nathan will be effective?”


    Everett countered, “Mrs.


    Payne, you’ve misunderstood.


    My intention in taking Colby was not to harm him but to safeguard him.


    ”


    Lucinda’s expression hardened.


    “What do you mean by that?”


    Everett borated, “I became a fatherte in life.


    At forty, my wife and I were blessed with a son, who is just a bit older than your child, barely four months.


    He, too, consumes the same brand of form.


    Recently, my son became ill, admitted for weakness and fever, incidentally on the same hospital floor as your child.


    I got wind of the news that the form was contaminated and began investigating who was responsible.


    ”


    After a pause, he continued, “It appears the other party might be operating in the ck market, perhaps more formidable than myself.


    I.


    uncovered their scheme to target babies who are already hospitalized, including yours.


    So, I posed as a kidnapper to throw them off, making them believe it was just an attack from Nathan’s enemies, hoping they would let down their guard.


    Unexpectedly, Mrs.


    Payne, you were so alert and capable, hiding the baby anding to check us out yourself.


    ”


    Lucinda processed this, her eyes sweeping over the vi once more, still dubious.


    “You im your baby is about four months old.


    Babies can’t tolerate the smell of smoke and alcohol, yet here you are, smoking a cigar in front of me.


    I detected the scent of tobo as soon as I entered, suggesting more than one cigar has been smoked.


    ”


    Lucinda scoffed, “If you’re trying to disarm me and earn my trust this way, shouldn’t you pay more attention to such details?”


    Everett was idly tapping his unfinished cigar into the ashtray.


    After listening to Lucinda’s remark, Everett paused, and then decisively stubbed out the barely smoked, expensive brown cigar.


    Seeing his actions, Lucinda gave no response.


    Everett sighed deeply.


    As a prominent figure in the ck market, he expressed his frustrations.


    “To be honest, Mrs.


    Payne, my wife is very strict with me.


    Ever since we had our child, she forbids me from smoking and drinking.


    If she finds out, I’ll face serious consequences when I get home.


    But, as you might know, in our line of work, avoiding smoking and drinking at social events is nearly impossible.


    So, I often sneak around.


    Before I return home tonight, I’ll need to take a shower elsewhere to wash off the smell.


    ”


    He sighed again, his smile awkward.


    Lucinda noticed something in his demeanor.


    Despite hisints, his eyes sparkled with joy.


    It seemed he was pleased to be under his wife’s watchful eye.


    This made Lucinda think of Nathan.


    He, too, was under her watch.


    She had insisted he avoid smoking and drinking, worried about the impact on their babies.


    She wondered briefly if Nathan might also secretly indulge behind her back.


    This thought lingered in her mind for only a moment before Lucinda smiled and dismissed it.


    Nathan wouldn’t dare.