What? Kidnap Mom?
Are you kidding me!
There's no way I'm believing anything Lydia Lin says!
She keeps lying to me, over and over again. Does she really think I'm that easy to fool?
Cecilia deleted the message, refusing to pay it any mind.
Just then, a second message came in—this time, it was a photo.
When Cecilia's eyes landed on the photo, her gaze froze instantly...
Mom!
It's a photo of Mom!
Cecilia's breath caught in her throat!
How could Mom end up in Lydia Lin's hands?
No, that's impossible!
Lydia Lin called again. Without thinking, Cecilia answered: "Lydia Lin, what tricks are you playing now?"
"Nothing much. Your mom missed you, so I brought her over. Aren't you always so filial, Cecilia? Your mom's my guest now. Want to see her?" Lydia's malicious voice came through the phone.
Cecilia felt like she was suffocating!
Damn it!
We grew up playing together. My mom was so good to you. Even if you turn your back on me, how could you repay her kindness with cruelty?
When you were a kid and got in trouble, your parents would beat you. You'd run away in the middle of the night, and everyone was worried sick. My mom was the one who found you and carried you home from the ditch with a flashlight!
Lydia Lin, did a dog eat your heart?
Cecilia took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down: "Where is my mom?"
"Of course she's with me, Cecilia. I'll give you a chance. Bring one million in cash and you can see your mom again. Remember—small bills, no consecutive serial numbers. If Charles Yin finds out or you call the police, you can start planning your mom's funeral!" Lydia rattled off an address and hung up.
One million!
Where am I supposed to get a million?
Mom, what should I do?
Wendy noticed Cecilia looked pale and anxiously asked, "Mrs. Yin, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"
Cecilia staggered and grabbed Wendy for support, biting her lip hard. After a while, she finally said, "Wendy, how much money can I access in this house?"
Wendy hesitated, then replied, "Mrs. Yin, that's not really my area. Didn't the CEO give you a credit card? You can spend as much as you want, and if you need cash, you can withdraw it!"
Wendy's words suddenly reminded Cecilia—right, she could get cash from the credit card!
Even though she didn't want to use Charles's money, she'd already transferred everything she had to her mom with the help of Mona Mu. She barely had anything left herself!
Sorry, Charles!
It's an emergency. I'll borrow this money first, and I promise I'll pay you back!
Cecilia gritted her teeth and told Wendy, "Have the driver get the car ready. I need to go out!"
Wendy saw Cecilia looking pale and rushed to call the driver and bodyguard. Cecilia quickly left in the car.
She found a bank and went in with her credit card, ready to withdraw cash.
The moment her account changed, Charles knew about it.
"Tell the bank to give her the full amount she requests." Charles's long fingers brushed over the barrel of his gun, gripping it tightly and aiming at a target outside. "Don't delay anything."
"What about Mrs. Yin..." Assistant A was still a bit hesitant.
"Relax. The people I've put around Cici aren't amateurs." Charles smirked. "Dina gave me a little surprise this time, but it's not enough! If she likes to play games, let's make it fun."
"Yes, sir." Assistant A dutifully reported, "The tracking device in Mrs. Yin's car is activated. Even twenty meters underground, the signal won't cut off."
"Good. It's time for us to head out." Charles stood up tall, and Assistant A quickly handed him a beige trench coat.
After putting away his gun, Charles turned and left.
As soon as Cecilia entered the bank, she was ushered into the VIP room.
Anyone with a diamond-level black card at this bank is a top-tier client. The staff wouldn't dare slack off.
Cecilia got straight to the point—she wanted one million in cash, all in small bills.
The bank didn't hesitate. They didn't even check Cecilia's ID. In just ten minutes, they had the cash ready.
Cecilia couldn't help but be amazed.
No wonder they're so rich!
A million, just like that!
Cecilia stared at the pile of cash, still feeling like she was dreaming.
Was it really that easy to get the money?
The bodyguard carried the case for Cecilia and escorted her to the car.
Cecilia picked up the phone, which had stayed connected: "Lydia Lin, you heard everything. I didn't call the police! Without my order, my bodyguard and assistant won't call the police either! I have the money now. Can I talk to my mom?"
Lydia Lin, who'd been tracking Cecilia's every move, heard she'd gotten the money and seemed relieved. "Fine, I'll let you talk to your mom for a couple minutes."
After the call was transferred, Jane Gu's anxious voice came through: "Cici, where are you? Lydia came home suddenly this morning and said something happened to you in N City. She said she came to take care of you. What's going on? Why did she say she couldn't reach you by phone?"
Tears welled up in Cecilia's eyes, but she forced herself not to choke up. Biting her lip, she answered as calmly as she could: "Yeah, my phone might be broken. So, Mom, just stay there and wait for me to come get you. Don't ask anything, not even Lydia Lin, okay?"
Looks like Lydia Lin hasn't told Mom the truth yet.
Maybe that's better—it'll spare Mom some heartbreak.
If Mom found out the little girl she always loved actually kidnapped her, how devastated would she be?
If Lydia Lin wants money, then give her the money!
As long as Mom is safe, that's all that matters!
Jane hesitated for a moment, but agreed.
The next second, the phone was snatched away and Lydia Lin's voice came through: "I don't trust you, Cecilia. The meeting location has changed. You come alone. No one else!"
Cecilia couldn't help but laugh angrily: "Lydia Lin, your conscience is gone, and now your brain too? I don't even know how to drive. How am I supposed to get there? With a huge case of cash, do you think a pregnant woman can carry it by herself? You want money, I'll give you money. You want a person, I'll give you a person! What more do you want? Don't push it, Lydia Lin!"
"That's right, I'm pushing it! What are you going to do about it? I've always wanted to push it! Cecilia, drop the saint act—it's disgusting! Enough talk! You can bring a driver, but no one else! Or else, don't blame me for what happens!" Lydia Lin barked over the phone.
As if she's ever been polite!
Faced with such an ungrateful wolf, Cecilia felt completely done with Lydia Lin. She never wanted anything to do with her again!
This time, she had to solve the Lydia Lin problem once and for all.
Hopefully, they'll never cross paths again for the rest of their lives!
Cecilia didn't know how she could guarantee they'd never cross paths again.
But right now, the most important thing was saving her mom!
Damn Lydia Lin—now that everything's out in the open, would she make things harder for Mom?
Cecilia grew more anxious. No matter how angry she was, she had to do what Lydia Lin said.
Following Lydia Lin's instructions, Cecilia brought only a driver and headed for the rendezvous spot.
Wendy looked at Cecilia urgently: "But Mrs. Yin, the CEO ordered me to stay with you..."
"Can you drive?" Cecilia shot back.
Wendy fell silent.
"Alright, no one calls the police without my order! Got it? I'll be back soon!" Cecilia answered quickly.
Cecilia got into the car and drove quickly to the location Lydia Lin had specified.
For some reason, at that moment, the first person Cecilia thought of was Charles.
If he were here, how would he handle this?
But... she didn't dare take the risk!
She couldn't tell Charles at all!
She absolutely couldn't let Mom be in any danger!
Even knowing Lydia Lin's demands were bad for her, she couldn't just ignore her mom's safety!
She could ignore her own life or death, but not her mom's safety.
Live or die, today she was going to fight!
The driver drove steadily, taking Cecilia to an abandoned junkyard.
The car stopped smoothly. Cecilia spoke into the phone: "Alright, I'm here with the money! You should show yourself now, right? One million in cash, just like you asked—all small bills, over a hundred pounds. I'm pregnant, I can't carry all that. You come get it! But I want to see my mom first, or I won't fall for your tricks!"
Lydia Lin watched through binoculars and saw Cecilia really only brought one bodyguard. Her grin widened as she said into the phone, "Smart move! I'll have someone bring you over."
At that moment, Jane finally realized what was happening.
Jane stared at Lydia Lin in disbelief: "Lydia, how could you do this to Cici? Weren't you two best friends?"
"Best friends, my ass! Who's her best friend? Have you ever seen someone steal her best friend's husband?" Lydia Lin snapped, her face twisted with anger. Dressed in a black bodysuit, her model figure was flawless.
But paired with that attitude, it was enough to make anyone sick.
Just then, Zach Zhao came out, impatiently saying, "I told you this would work, didn't I? Cecilia definitely has money! See? I was right!"
Jane stared at Zach Zhao in shock, feeling her whole worldview had been shattered!
Cecilia's ex-boyfriend actually betrayed her with her best friend?