Chapter 84

Soon, it was the day of Emmanuel’s discharge, and Tabitha arrived at the hospital as scheduled.

Emmanuel indeed lived in a very remote location, on Greenview Road in the suburbs.

After they arrived at his residence, an exceptionally beautiful woman opened the door from the inside.

She looked gentle and refined, but there seemed to be a constant hint of worry in her countenance.

A faint smile appeared on her face when she saw Emmanuel’s return. “You’re back, Manny.”

Emmanuel introduced Tabitha to Lorelai. “Mother, this is Tabitha Jarvis.”

Lorelai’s attitude became a bit more enthusiastic. “Ah, hello, Tabby. Quick, come in and have a seat.”

Emmanuel’s home was not really large and was furnished rather simply. Nonetheless, it was remarkably clean, and not a single speck of dust could be seen.

Tabitha noticed dozens of pots of green succulents arranged on the balcony, each one well cared for and thriving. She reflexively praised, “These succulents are really well taken care of.”

Lorelai smiled lightly. “I have a pollen allergy. Manny occasionally buys a pot for me, and over time, they’ve accumulated.”

Tabitha lowered her eyes, thinking, ‘Her pollen allergy is true, and so is her love for growing succulents.

Looks like most of what Emmanuel said is credible.

At noon, Lorelai invited Tabitha to stay for lunch and prepared a simple table of dishes, creating a relatively harmonious atmosphere.

MMM After the meal, Lorelai told Emmanuel to send Tabitha home.

27% 15:08 Yet, Emmanuel used the excuse of having lingering pain in his ribs and said apologetically, “Sorry, I’m still feeling rather unwell. How about your get your family’s driver to take you home?”

“No worries. I’ll just take a taxi back,” Tabitha replied nonchalantly.

Lorelai gave Tabitha a gift, expressing her apologies repeatedly, before personally escorting the latter to the main road outside.

Emmanuel, on the other hand, stood on the balcony of the second floor, watching as Tabitha boarded a taxi, his thoughts unclear.

All of a sudden, Lorelai knocked forcefully on the door from outside.

Emmanuel stood up to get the door. “What is it?”

“Manny, I think I just saw that person… He’s back!” Scared out of her wits, Lorelai asked in despair, “What do we do?”

When she escorted Tabitha out just now, she immediately spotted Jayden standing outside her house after turning around, and he was staring at her with an exceedingly menacing expression. His gaze looked as though he wanted to kill her!

Emmanuel reassured her tenderly, “I’ll handle it. You don’t need to worry.”

He had long assigned someone to keep an eye on Jayden, so he was well aware of the latter’s every move. In fact, Emmanuel knew that Jayden had followed him and Tabitha to the suburbs just now. He simply chose not to expose Jayden and instead decided to wait.

“Tabitha has been on the road for ten minutes now. There’s a toll along the way, so the driver will slow down. The toll is an automatic card–swiping system without manned personnel… If Jayden chooses to make a move here, it won’t be difficult, Emmanuel thought.

MMM 27% 15:09 Seeing Emmanuel looking so calm, Lorelai breathed a slight sigh of relief.

As Emmanuel had anticipated, the taxi Tabitha was in soon reached the toll.

The driver stopped the car and was about to swipe his card when Tabitha suddenly felt something churn in her stomach. She hurriedly said to the driver, “Sorry, I feel nauseous from motion sickness.

Could you please unlock the car door?”

This place was desolate and remote. Only after making sure no other vehicles were passing by did the driver unlock the car door for her to get out. “Hurry up,” he urged.

Tabitha got out of the car and made a beeline to the roadside before. bending over to puke her guts out.

Out of the blue, Tabitha saw a man approaching her from the corner of her eye. He was wearing a fisherman’s hat and a mask, making it hard to see his face clearly. Regardless, judging by his silhouette, she felt a sense of familiarity, as if she had seen him somewhere before.

An ominous feeling rose in her heart. While running toward the taxi, she whipped out her phone in a panic. But she had only taken a few steps when that man reached her. He held a small knife horizontally against her neck and threatened, “Don’t make a sound.”

His eyes were full of hostility, making it evident that he was someone who had experienced the darker side of society and had taken lives before. His voice sounded older and hoarse, like a knife scraping against the glass, sending shivers down one’s spine.

Tabitha’s fingers that were holding the phone tightened, and she hurriedly concealed her hand behind her back. Fortunately, she had already dialed someone on her phone, though she wasn’t sure who it was.

Meanwhile, Malcolm was visiting Walter Cavill at the latter’s house for the N427 15:09 festive season when he received Tabitha’s call. His pupils contracted at little, and he signaled to Walter before striding outside to answer the phone.

He cleared his throat and tried to ask in his gentlest and calmest tone, “Tabitha, what’s the matter?”

Instead of getting Tabitha’s response, an unfamiliar male voice rang out. “Will you walk on your own, or do I have to help you? Don’t make any noise, or else I can’t guarantee not hurting you with the knife.”

That voice sounded anything but kind, with a rough and hoarse quality to 1. it.

‘Is someone kidnapping Tabitha?‘ Malcolm wondered in shock, his pupils constricting abruptly. His heart also instantly tightened.

Anxiously, he asked, “Tabitha, what happened to you?”

Sadly, there was still no response from the other end of the line. A long while later, Tabitha’s voice finally came through. She asked with forced composure, “Who are you exactly?”

“Who I am is none of your concern. Just know that you’ll soon become the sheep in my hands.” Jayden grinned. Suddenly, he noticed that Tabitha had been keeping her hand behind her back. He immediately grabbed it and pulled it forward.

“Who are you calling?” He snatched the phone furiously, smashing it hard on the ground. “I’m warning you, come with me obediently if you know what’s good for you. If I have to tie you up and drag you, you’ll have an even harder time.”