Catherine waited for Sean at home all afternoon.

Catherine held the phone and thought about it. Then she decided to call him.

​​

"Hello?"

"How's it going?"

"I'll tell you when I come back."

"When will you come home?"

"Ten minutes away."

Catherine was hugely relieved and said, "I'll wait for you at home."

Sean smiled and answered, "Okay."

Sean liked it when Catherine referred to his mansion as her home. That meant she felt a sense of belonging.

"Catherine, Samuel's class ends at five. I'll go home to pack up a few things and return with him."

"Okay, I'll ask Geoffrey to drive you."

Susan asked Catherine if there was anything she should be aware of about the dinner. Catherine told her to prepare the meal as usual.

Catherine tried to check on Sophia. But she decided against it at the door of the guest room.

Catherine needed to be alone. Maybe thinking nothing would help it.

After ten minutes, Sean came back. Andrew was with him.

Seeing neither of them was hurt, Sean's hair was not messy, and there were no stains on his shirt, Catherine realized they won the fight.

"Sean!"

Andrew nodded at Catherine and left.

Catherine handed Sean a glass of ice cola and said, "Have something. You must be thirsty."

Sean looked at her and was amused by the way she held back the urge to ask questions. She was dying to know but had to wait for him to start.

Catherine couldn't hold back the urge any longer. After Sean drank all the cola, she asked, "Is everything okay?"

"Not really."

"What's the problem?"

"Eric works for Harlan Welsh. His family is into the gambling business and has a wide social network. They are the top gang in London. Harlan's father is the boss of gangs in London, and even the police couldn't do anything about him."

Catherine said, "So Harlan is like number two in the gang society."

"That's not wrong."

"Then the situation is tough."

"Yes, you can say that."

Catherine looked struggled. She was wondering that not even the Blair family could match the Welsh family.

"I've talked to Harlan. He made a compromise. He could give up interest. But we have to pay him 20 million, and he wants Sophia."

"No way!"

Catherine frowned, "Can we talk to him again?"

"That's the best he can do."

"Even if you are out of options?"

What Catherine said hurt Sean's ego. He didn't want to let her down, nor to make her feel he was useless.

"I'm trying to work something out."

"Sorry. I'm not questioning your ability. It's just I'm worried...

"I know."

Catherine rubbed her temple and said, "How about we tell him we don't want Tom. We can give him 20 million. But we can't trade Sophia for Tom."

Maybe Harlan would be willing to give up Sophia.

"He said no."

"Why?"

"Tom showed him the picture of Sophia. Harlan is interested in her."

"What the fuck!"

Catherine snapped, "I'll kill Tom!"

It must be that Tom had borrowed money to gamble and lost all. At last, he didn't have any chips and had to bet on his daughter.

Guys like Harlan would only be interested in gorgeous girls. When Tom showed him the picture, Sophia aroused his interest.

Catherine wanted so much to beat Harlan up.

Fuck!

"How old is Harlan?"

"27."

"What does he look like? Does he have any bad habits?"

"Not as handsome as me. As for bad hobbies, maybe yes, maybe no."

"So what? I don't care if he's good-looking. I'm not sending Sophia to him and pushing her to danger. He's the boss of a gang member. That's a terrible setup."

Catherine thought Harlan must be lustful. He was interested in the picture of Sophia. It must be because he was tired of mature girls and wanted to try something different.

Nice thinking!

"Don't worry. It's not the worst."

"I try not to. But I couldn't."

Sean patted Catherine's head and said, "You have to trust me."

"Of course I do."

"Then don't worry. I'm here."

"How many days do we have?"

"Two days."

"What did he say?"

Sean smiled and got proud of how smart Catherine was.

"If we Sophia doesn't show up at his casino in two days, he'll cut the flesh of Tom piece after piece."

Whatever. I don't care. As long as Sophia is okay, I don't care about Tom.'

Sean thought that Catherine was being silly to say that. Harlan was a cruel man and would spare no effort to achieve his goal. Tom's family must be complicated. He would send Tom piece by piece to Linda and Sophia.

Unless Sophia didn't leave the mansion in her life, Harlan would get her. Then they would lose the chance to negotiate.

Harlan couldn't do anything since Sophia was protected by him. But he couldn't protect her forever.

The girls Harlan was interested in never got away with it.

Catherine didn't realize her conversation with Sean was heard by Linda. Sean looked at the staircase harshly.

Linda hurried to run back to her room and locked the door. She got down on the ground and gasped.

What should she do? She only had two days. How could she raise 20 million?

From what Sean said, Harlan was a heartless man. He would not leave Tom alone. He would torture him until he died.

Harlan would cut the flesh off Tom one piece after another!

No. Tom couldn't die. Linda thought. She had to do something to save Tom's life.

She could ask Catherine about money. Even if Catherine didn't want to lend her any money, she would do something for the sake of Sophia.

The money could be raised. But Harlan also asked for Sophia. She couldn't bear the thought of giving up her own child. After all, Sophia has suffered a lot growing up.

There have never been so many people at dinner.

But the atmosphere was full of tension. The guests weren't here to visit but to seek refuge. They would not do anything willfully nor laugh.

Linda couldn't eat anything.

Sophia barely ate either. She was staring at the plate.

Catherine put something on her plate and said, "Sophia, you have to eat."

"Thanks."

Sean looked displeased.

Catherine immediately put a piece of steak on his plate and said, "You spent the entire afternoon out. Have some steak."

Sean's look then got better.