"A leopard can''t change its spots," Debra said.


    Juan''s defense of her would only serve to fuel Melody''s anger.


    Juan''s phone rang, slicing through the tension. Debra nced down and saw that it was a call from Joe.


    His urgent voice came through. "Sir, we have a problem."


    "What''s wrong?"


    "Miss Vargas is missing!"


    "Have you contacted her family?"


    "Yes, she hasn''t returned home."


    Debra listened quietly, her mind racing. There was only one route back from the Sapphire Hotel. If Hester had returned, she would have encountered Joe''s car. The fact that she hadn''t meant something serious might have happened. ''Could Shelia have done something to Hester?'' Her brow furrowed lightly as she considered the possibilities.


    But it seemed unlikely that Shelia would act so quickly, just after meeting Hester for the first time.


    Juan ended the call and said, "Go ahead and take a shower. Don''t worry about this."


    Before Debra could respond, a text message arrived on Juan''s phone.


    To save Miss Vargas, prepare a ransom of ten million dors. No police.]


    The kidnapper sent over an address.


    She nced briefly at the screen and asked, "Are you going in person?


    If something happened to Hester, Melody would not rest easy


    Juan''s silence was all the confirmation Debra needed. She understood that he knew he had to go find Hester in person.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    "I''ll go with you," she offered.


    Downstairs, Melody was furious upon learning that Hester had been kidnapped. Hester was the daughter of the Vargas family, who was on good terms with the Nichols family. They had se ral joint projects underway. Moreover, Melody was fond of her. For a while, the entire Nichols family mobilized to search for Hester.


    Juan took a check for ten million dors and headed straight out. Debra took the passenger seat and remained silent until they reached an abandoned car factory on the outskirts of the city.


    The atmosphere was eerily quiet, with faint sounds of a woman struggling echoing from inside the factory. Juan got out of the car, and Debra quickly figured out Hester was being held in a small workshop ahead.


    Suddenly, a figure rushed out from the corner. The masked man held a knife to Debra''s neck. Juan demanded sternly, "I''ve brought the money. Let her go!"


    Debra felt the hand with the knife trembling against her skin. This wasn''t a professional kidnapper like Aaron, who had taken her before.


    "Don''te any closer. Or I''ll kill her!" he warned, his voice sounding


    young.


    He seemed to be a teenager. Debra remained calm as she said, "Keep that knife steady. If you harm me, not only will you not get the money, Chap 241


    but you''ll also lose your life."


    "Shut up!" he snapped, moving the knife slightly away from Debra''s neck.


    "The money is yours. Let her go. We won''t pursue this, and we won''t involve the police," Debra said.


    "Really?" he seemed to be weighing his options.


    "Of course," Debra replied. "You kidnapped Miss Vargas for money, right? Well, the money is here now. Why hold me hostage?"


    +25 BONU