Chapter 932: Self-Destruction

Chapter 932: Self-Destruction

"I share your thoughts, but I'm afraid to voice them out of fear of getting

ganged up on."

"To be honest, I have the same thoughts. It just feels odd. This doesn't

seem like a live broadcast stating facts. It's more like a broadcast set

up to explain things for Mr. Walker."

“Let's leave it. They won't answer our questions anyway. Let's go!"

With no one paying attention to these negative responses, a small

portion of people didn't want to say much more. They left a comment,

"Facts are still facts. Lies will eventually be exposed. We'll wait for the

moment when the truth is revealed.”

The live broadcast lasted for twenty minutes and concluded. Ayan had

watched it from beginning to end.

He scrolled through the barrage of comments from the live stream,

observing both the positive and negative remarks. After the broadcast

ended, he closed his laptop. His handsome face bore a hint of cold

indifference. It was hard to discern what he was thinking, but one thing

was certain — he wasn't in a terrible mood.

Ayan sat at his desk without making a sound for quite some time.

Outside, it had already grown dark, and the soundproofing in the study

was excellent. Without the noise from the live stream, only a quiet

stillness remained, occasionally interrupted by faint breathing sounds.

Ayan savored this tranquility. In this serene atmosphere, he could

calmly reflect on his thoughts and feelings.

Time passed without his notice, until the sudden ringtone of his phone

disrupted the silence. He snapped back to reality, his gaze shifting to

the phone on the desk. It was Kian calling.

He picked up the phone and answered, not bothering to hold it since he

was already using speakerphone.

Kian's voice came from the other end, "Mr. Simpson, Quintus and Cora

have fled."

"So, where are they?"

"Quintus lured us away, but we've detained him. Cora, however, has

disappeared.” Kian's voice was subdued, as if ime had stopped in that

moment. The silence after he finished speaking was absolute, devoid of

any noise. Kian could imagine how unpleasant his boss's expression

must have been at that moment.

He took a deep breath and spoke in a hushed tone, "Mr. Simpson, I've

brought Quintus back now. Would you like to personally ask him?"

"Would he talk if I asked?" Ayan sneered, his voice chilling. "How did

they do it?"

"Quintus left the hotel with a woman, dressed in Cora's clothes. They

left the hotel cautiously and took a taxi. I thought he was planning to

run away with Cora, so I followed them. But when we reached the

station, I realized the woman wasn't Cora. By the time I went back to

the hotel, Cora was already gone. I've started investigating the

surveillance footage of their movements, but so far, there's been no

progress. Cora did leave the hotel after our people followed Quintus

away, but I don't know where she went."

Kian gave Ayan a detailed account of the situation on his end. He was

feeling very guilty at this point. Failing to handle such a small matter

properly made him think he might as well pack his bags and return to

his hometown. He felt undeserving of continuing to work with Ayan.

Ayan didn't react to Kian's report, maintaining his cold demeanor as he

spoke, "She obtained fake documentation. She won't be able to pass

through airport or train station security. Arrange for someone to check

the nearby coach stations immediately.”

"Alright, I'll do that. And what about Quintus?"

“Bring him back and take him to the other place. I'm heading over there

now."

Ayan referred to the villa where Sean and Cora had been held captive

before. It was secluded and relatively hidden. Although it was in a

residential area, it wasn't crowded or chaotic, making it convenient for

such matters.

With his instructions given, Ayan stood up from his chair. As he opened

the door and walked out, he addressed Kian, "You'd better hope she's

still in Hance. If she's truly gone to Flento and encounters Preston,

Kian, you and your arranged men might as well quit your jobs!"

Kian said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Simpson."

“I don't need your apologies.”

“I understand, Mr. Simpson. Rest assured, I'll do everything I can to

locate Cora."

Ayan didn't respond to Kian's assurance and simply hung up the call.

His face turned as cold as ice. He walked quickly downstairs, and just

as he entered the living room, Camille came in with Timmy. She saw

Ayan's frosty expression, his brows furrowed tightly, and a profound

chill in his deep eyes.

Their gazes locked onto each other. Camille raised an eyebrow,

concerned. "What's wrong?"

Ayan's expression softened slightly, his voice low and rough. "I need to

go out for a bit. I might be late coming back. You should rest first,

alright?"

"Sure." Camille nodded gently, handing Timmy over to the nanny before

asking, "Where are you going? Is something wrong?"

He reached out and lightly pinched Camille's cheek, his voice gentle as

he replied, "Just a small matter that needs my attention. Kian is busy,

so I'll handle it myself."

Camille nodded in understanding and didn't press for more information.

She simply advised, "Be safe and come back soon."

Ayan nodded, "I will."

With that, he turned and strode out.

As the sound of the car engine faded into the distance, Camille headed

upstairs.

Though it wasn't late, the night had already fallen, and the neon lights

illuminated the streets of Hance City. Ayan drove, his face tense, his

brows knit tightly. He seemed like a string ready to snap at any

moment.

His speed increased gradually. What should have been an hour-long

drive took him only forty minutes.

When the car came to a stop, the bodyguards at the villa opened the

door for him. Ayan got out of the car and entered the villa.

Inside the villa's living room, two bodyguards held Quintus in place, not

allowing him to move. Upon seeing Ayan's entrance, Quintus didn't

appear surprised. Instead, he seemed remarkably composed. "Mr.

Simpson, what does this mean? Are you planning to detain me

illegally?"

Ayan's expression remained cold, his eyes chillingly fixed on Quintus.

He didn't speak immediately but instead walked over to the couch and

sat down.

As Quintus observed Ayan's demeanor, his own expression grew

increasingly solemn. The more composed and silent Ayan appeared,

the more panicked and flustered Quintus became. He couldn't help but

speculate about Ayan's thoughts.

Their gazes collided, and Quintus was undoubtedly the first to look

away.

Ayan's cold and indifferent gaze swept over Quintus, and his voice,

equally detached, slowly resounded, "I heard you were born to your

parents in their later years? They must be over sixty now, right?"

Quintus’ face instantly stiffened upon hearing this. He looked

incredulously at Ayan before him, his voice slightly agitated, "What are

you planning?"

"Planning? I'm not planning anything. What could I even do?" Ayan's

lips curled into a cold smile, his tone filled with a chilling edge. "It's just

that if your parents knew you've turned into this, following someone you

shouldn't, you'd essentially be ruining your own future. Would your

parents be angry and heartbroken?"

Quintus's expression stiffened upon hearing this, his face an odd

mixture of disbelief and distress. He tightly pressed his lips together, his

mind involuntarily conjuring images of his parents and their

expectations. Though they were old, they had put in a lot of effort,

money, and hopes to raise him and send him to college.

What if they knew that he had become someone who idled around like

a loser? How would they feel?

In Quintus's heart, his parents were his anchor, the most important

people to him.

So, he couldn't bear to let his parents down, to make them sad or

worried. His eyes went vacant as he lost himself in thought.

During this pause, Ayan didn't speak. He simply watched Quintus with

a faintly narrowed gaze, his expression indifferent. This continued for

about half a minute before Quintus finally spoke again.

Quintus's voice was low as he said, "What do you want to know?"

Ayan's gaze remained cold and detached as he looked at him. "Tell me,

what do you know?"

Quintus hesitated for a few seconds before slowly responding, "Mr.

Walker didn't tell me much. He only asked me to stay at a hotel with

Cora and put on a little show with the hotel staff."

"So, where is Cora now?" Ayan's eyes were shrouded in a chilling

coldness, and his deep eyes seemed as profound and silent as an

ancient abyss.