Chapter 286
He’d had his doubts earlier, but deep down, Lyman couldn’t believe Adeline would ever lie to him.
Now, hearing Effie’s words, it felt as if someone had driven a needle straight into his heart-he was so stunned, he couldn’t even speak.
At that moment, Jen strode over, flanked by a group of men in black suits. Their imposing presence radiated menace, as if they’d just stepped out from the shadows of a mob movie.
Jen fixed her gaze on Lyman and said, “Lyman Etheridge, if you walk out of here with her today, you’ll be making an enemy of the Ames family. Is that a risk you’re willing to take?”
Lyman let out a cold laugh, clearly unfazed by her threat. “All this over a worthless nobody? Is he really worth all the trouble you’re going to for revenge?”
He paused, then added, “If you don’t let us leave right now, your useless husband won’t fare any better.”
Jen hesitated for a split second, her jaw clenched, eyes burning with fury. “What did you do to him?”
Lyman replied, “Anyone who tries to come after me should make sure their own back door is locked. I can’t tell if you’re here for revenge, or if you’re just serving him up on a silver platter.”
Right then, Luther’s phone rang out with Hanley’s anguished cries.
Jen’s eyes widened in horror as she saw Hanley’s face twisted in pain on the screen. She screamed, “Hanley!”
Through gritted teeth, Hanley looked at Jen, his voice trembling. “Let… let them go…”
Jen’s fists balled, her gaze now fixed on Lyman.
So that was his game-Lyman had staged all this as a distraction, just to snatch Hanley while Jen’s attention was elsewhere.
Lyman glanced at her coolly. “Keep your pathetic husband in line. From now on, let’s stay out of each other’s business.”
Jen’s eyes narrowed dangerously, her voice glacial. “Not a chance. She shattered my husband’s pride-I’m not letting her off that easily. Unless…”
Her eyes flicked between Effie and Lyman. “Either one of you will do.”
Just imagining what Jen meant made Effie’s skin crawl.
Sure, Hanley had thrown the first punch, but with someone as unreasonable and domineering as Jen, logic was useless.
Effie opened her mouth to speak, but Lyman cut her off sharply. “Absolutely not.”
“You-!” Jen’s face flushed crimson with rage.
“Then neither of you is leaving here today!” she snapped, teeth clenched.
Effie’s heart leapt into her throat. She clung to Lyman’s sleeve, her knuckles white.
Lyman leaned closer to her, his voice gentle and reassuring. “Don’t worry. We’ll be fine.”
Jen’s expression darkened even further. Watching the two of them exchange intimate words right in front of her, as if she didn’t even exist, was infuriating.
With a furious wave of her hand, she ordered her men to act.
But no one moved. Jen froze, then spun around-only to realize that Lyman’s men had already subdued her entire crew.
Lyman turned to Jen, his voice calm and unyielding. “Let’s be honest-you’re no match for me. So which one of us do you think is leaving here today?”
Jen glared at him, as though she could burn a hole through his skull.
Across the room, the police officers wiped nervous sweat from their brows. These people were insane-fighting right under the noses of the police, as if the law didn’t even exist. If an all-out brawl broke out now, their reputation would be in tatters.
The two sides stood locked in a tense standoff. Lyman reminded her, “Remember, your pitiful husband is still in my hands. Think carefully.”
Grinding her teeth, Jen finally stepped aside, though not without a final warning. “You just wait. You’ll regret this.”
Lyman’s lips curled in a faint smile. “I’ll be waiting.”