Chapter 276
Cormac’s eyes blazed with fury as he stared at Ambrose, his anger bubbling over. “I’m asking you. How did you find this place and get in?” His hands clenched into fists, and he wished nothing more than to punch Ambrose in the face.
Ambrose, unfazed, calmly extinguished his cigarette, stood up slowly, and brushed off his clothes. “Mr. Nash, no need to get so worked up. We’re old friends, after all.”
“Bullshit,” Cormac spat, his voice dripping with disgust. “You’re trespassing!”
Ambrose smirked. “Even if I am, so what? With the way your place is so bare, even the police wouldn’t believe I’m a thief.”
“Ambrose, what do you want?!” Cormac demanded, his patience running thin. He just wanted to live a peaceful, normal life. Was that so much to ask?
“I told you last time. I’ve made it clear to Alaric too. I’ve cut ties with him. I won’t help you with anything!” Cormac snapped, his voice sharp with finality.
Ambrose didn’t seem affected by his words. He leaned casually against the wall, his voice calm. “Mr. Nash, don’t be so absolute. I know you’d rather starve than accept a penny from Alaric. I truly admire your dignity. But if you won’t think of yourself, won’t you think of that little girl named Aurora?”
At the mention of Aurora’s name, Cormac’s heart skipped a beat. His eyes widened, his mind racing. “What?” he stammered.
Before Ambrose could say another word, Cormac grabbed him by the collar, his fury turning into sheer panic. “What have you done to Aurora?!”
Ambrose remained unnervingly calm, as if the situation were of no consequence to him. “Isn’t Aurora out sketching now? I just sent a few people to look after her. She won’t be harmed.”
Hearing those words, Cormac’s blood ran cold. He immediately grabbed his phone and dialed Aurora’s art teacher, his fingers trembling with fear. But just as he was about to press the call button, Ambrose’s voice stopped him.
“No need to call her teacher. Her teacher won’t dare answer your call now,” Ambrose said, his voice dripping with a sinister edge.
Cormac’s mind spun as he pressed the call button anyway, the phone ringing endlessly on the other end. He glanced at Ambrose, his stomach churning with dread.
The call went to voicemail.
“Ambrose, you bastard!” Cormac roared. “Aurora is just a child! You’re targeting a child?! Are you even human?!”
Ambrose tilted his head slightly, unfazed by Cormac’s fury. “Mr. Nash, you’re being too harsh. I’m just having someone take good care of her. Whether she gets hurt depends on whether you cooperate.”
“Shameless!” Cormac yelled, his rage boiling over. He pushed Ambrose hard against the window. They were on the fifth floor, and for a split second, Cormac felt an urge to push the man out, to end this nightmare once and for all.
But Ambrose’s voice, smooth and cold, stopped him.
“Mr. Nash, don’t be so agitated,” Ambrose said, his eyes narrowing. “It’s easy to kill me now, but after you do, your troubles will multiply. I know you’re not afraid of trouble, but you should think it over.”
“Ambrose!” Cormac shouted, his voice shaking with fury. He didn’t want to hear another word from the man.
Ambrose, sensing Cormac’s boiling anger, raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, Mr. Nash, calm down first. We’ll talk when you’re calm.”
Reluctantly, Cormac let go of Ambrose’s collar, his hands shaking with rage. He called Aurora’s teacher again, but once again, there was no answer. His heart sank, his fear growing with every unanswered ring.
“Mr. Nash, no need to try again. No one will answer your call,” Ambrose said, his tone nonchalant. “Don’t think about calling the police or recording anything. You have a hostage in our hands.”
The weight of Ambrose’s words hit Cormac like a punch to the gut. He realized, with a sickening clarity, that he was completely powerless. It was just him and Aurora, and now, with her in Ambrose’s control, he had no options left.
“What do you want me to do?” Cormac said through gritted teeth, the defeat in his voice barely masked by his anger.
“Very simple,” Ambrose replied, a cruel smile playing at his lips. “Alaric and Todd are competing to acquire a jewelry company. The condition for the acquisition is a jewelry design competition.”
Cormac’s eyes narrowed. “I heard Alaric’s design draft for the competition is already set. I want you to go to Alaric. He’ll surely give you a good position at Nexus Innovations. You steal that design draft. As long as Alaric doesn’t submit the design draft on the due date, he’ll lose his qualification for the acquisition. It’s that simple.”
“Despicable!” Cormac spat, his fists clenching. “You don’t even have the courage for fair competition. Even if you succeed in the acquisition, what’s the point?”
Ambrose shrugged, a nonchalant gesture. “Mr. Nash, you’re right. Good people like you look down on our methods,” he sighed. “I really don’t want to bother you again. That jewelry company will belong to Todd, not me. But that bastard Todd is forcing me to help him succeed in the acquisition. I have no other way but to bother you again.”
He continued, his voice dripping with manipulation. “Think about it. The only person Alaric completely trusts, who can freely enter his office, is you. Mr. Nash. So, I have no other choice. Once you steal the design draft and Alaric loses his qualification, we’ll immediately return Aurora, unharmed.”
Cormac’s hands tightened into fists as his teeth ground together. He hated himself for being so powerless, for not being able to protect Aurora, for being backed into a corner where there were no good choices.
“Mr. Nash, think it over,” Ambrose said smoothly, his tone almost mocking. “I’ll wait for your call tomorrow morning.” He left his business card on the table, his smirk widening.
At the door, Ambrose stopped, turning back with a final parting shot. “I know this is difficult for you, Mr. Nash. But Alaric brought this on himself. The Nash family’s downfall is all because of Alaric, isn’t it? Anyone else would feel guilty doing this, but not you, because Alaric owes you.”
With that, Ambrose stepped out, closing the door behind him. Cormac stood there, frozen, fists clenched in frustration. He slammed his hand against the wall, the pain in his knuckles barely registering in the storm of emotions swirling within him.
“Damn it! These despicable, shameless bastards, these inhuman beasts!” he cursed under his breath, his mind racing with what to do.
That night, Cormac tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He wanted nothing to do with Alaric, but if he didn’t do what Ambrose demanded, Aurora would be in danger. He knew of Todd—ruthless, cold, and willing to harm anyone, even a child.
Aurora had already endured so much in her young life. She was a sweet, obedient girl who deserved none of this. Cormac couldn’t let anything happen to her.
The next morning, after a long meeting, Alaric returned to his office. As he settled into his chair, his phone rang. It was the receptionist.
“Mr. Knight, someone is here to see you.”
“I’m busy. I’m not seeing anyone,” Alaric replied, already turning back to his work.
“It’s Mr. Nash,” the receptionist said.
Cormac?
Why would Cormac come here to see him?
“Let him in,” Alaric said quickly, his voice betraying a mix of excitement and nervousness.