Chapter 435

Evelyn's heart stopped when she saw them. Archibald and Margaret sat bound on the sofa, duct tape covering their mouths. The explosives strapped to their chests gleamed under the dim lighting.

Their eyes widened in terror when they spotted her. Muffled screams came through the tape as they struggled against their restraints, their bodies jerking in desperate warning.

"Grandmother! Grandfather!" Evelyn's face drained of color. She whirled toward Julian, fury burning in her voice. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Julian stretched lazily on the opposite couch, one leg crossed over the other. "Isn't it obvious?" he drawled.

An armed guard stepped forward, collecting their phones and watches with silent efficiency.

Rosalind leaned close to Donovan's ear, her whisper dripping with malice. "Hostage situation. Armed men everywhere. Enough explosives to level the block." She smirked. "Congratulations, Donovan. You'll die sooner than expected. Happy now?"

Donovan remained stone-faced.

"And what perfect company you'll have for the journey," Rosalind added sweetly.

Donovan's fists clenched. Even facing death, she couldn't resist tormenting him. He didn't need her running commentary to understand the gravity of their situation.

Julian's expression darkened when he noticed Donovan. He approached the wheelchair, his voice uncharacteristically serious. "What happened to Donovan?"

They'd been childhood friends. Now Donovan sat broken before him - blind, paralyzed, a shadow of the man he once was.

Evelyn stepped between them, chin raised. "If it's me you want, let them go."

Julian ignored her, repeating, "What happened to him?"

"He was an undercover narcotics agent. They discovered his identity." Evelyn's voice cracked. "They tortured him for days. Left him like this."

Julian absorbed this with surprising solemnity before shrugging. "Occupational hazard. We all take risks, don't we?" He gestured to his own scarred face. "I'm not exactly unscathed myself."

Returning to his casual demeanor, he sprawled on the couch. "Now I'm a fugitive in Aldenria. The Wright fortune is beyond my reach. So—"

His lips curled into a predatory smile. "Father, I hold all your fates in my hands. Perhaps we can negotiate terms for your survival."

"How much?" Evelyn demanded.

"Fifty billion." Julian held up five fingers, his tone disturbingly calm.

Archibald's eyes bulged.

Evelyn scoffed. "You can't be serious. That's an impossible sum."

Julian stretched his arms along the couch back. "For Aldenria's wealthiest family? Hardly. Liquidate assets. Sell shares at discount. Transfer everything to my offshore accounts."

"There's no way to move that much money out of Aldenria so quickly!" Evelyn protested.

Julian's smile turned icy. "Seven days. Fifty billion in my accounts within seven days, or..."

He picked up a remote control, his thumb hovering over the red button.