Chapter 483: Chapter 483: Are You Trying to Call the Police?

A black business van drove through the night. The GPS showed they were still six kilometers from Draken Hot Springs Villa.

"We’re low on gas," Zachary Conway said, glancing at Renee Jennings. "Can you check if there’s a gas station nearby?"

"Okay." Renee Jennings did a quick search. "The nearest one is eleven kilometers from here."

"Then let’s go get gas first," Zachary Conway said. "Pull up the directions."

Renee Jennings started the navigation, then paused to think before sending a text to Jenson Marsh: [Mr. Marsh, what’s the situation on your end? It might take us another half an hour to get there.]

About two minutes later, the phone in her palm buzzed.

Renee lowered her gaze to unlock the phone. Her brow furrowed as she read the message, and she said in a grave voice, "Kian Cole, turn around. We’re going to Draken Hot Springs Villa first."

"Got it." Zachary Conway immediately spun the steering wheel.

"Renee, what’s wrong?" Michelle Fuller asked nervously.

Renee explained, "Jenson Marsh has been drugged, and Amanda Lynn was forced to get drunk. Melody Marsh is hiding in her room while Susan Roth and Jasper Yates are trying to break down the door."

"No way!" Michelle Fuller said in disbelief. "That’s horrible!"

"It is," Renee said with a frown. "Kian Cole and I will go ahead. You guys take the car to get gas, then come back and pick us up."

"Okay." Michelle knew she wouldn’t be much help at the hot springs villa, so she obediently accepted the arrangement.

Shadow started barking. "WOOF? WOOF? WHERE’S WOOF GOING?"

Mimi also meowed, "AND MEOW? WHERE’S MEOW GOING?"

Hearing them, Renee raised her voice. "Shadow is coming with me. Mimi is going to get gas."

Shadow: "ARF! ARF!"

Mimi: "I suppose that’s acceptable."

**

Melody Marsh replied to Renee’s message with trembling hands.

She was huddled by the headboard, listening to the frantic pounding on the door as tears streamed down her face.

’Mom, Dad, I’m so scared.’

’Renee, when are you coming to save me...’

The pounding on the door stopped. It was replaced by Susan Roth’s cloyingly sweet voice. "Melody, can you hear me? Open the door. Aunt Helen bought you some delicious snacks."

"Melody, your mom and dad are tired, so let them rest. Let’s us have a nice chat."

"Melody, did you hear me?"

"Melody?"

Susan Roth had long since lost her patience. Seeing Jasper Yates approaching with two other men, a cold sneer formed on her lips. "Smash the door down!" she said viciously. "If it breaks, I’ll pay for it!"

"Smash the door? Why?" Jasper Yates sneered, a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. "We’re civilized people. We don’t do things like that."

Susan Roth frowned. "Old Man Yates, what are you talking about?"

Jasper Yates dangled a key in his hand. "We can just open it. Why go to all that trouble?"

Melody Marsh clutched her phone, her expression a mask of anxiety and unease.

She wasn’t sure if Renee could really help her, and she worried that Renee, all by herself, would be no match for Jasper Yates and his men.

’Maybe I should just call the police.’

’Yes, call the police.’

At that thought, Melody Marsh lowered her eyes to unlock her phone. She had just typed the two digits "9-1" when she suddenly heard a sound. Looking up, her heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand, and terror filled her eyes.

Jasper Yates had used the key to open the door. He stared at Melody with a thuggish expression. "Melody, what’s wrong with you? Your Aunt Helen has been calling for you for ages, and you didn’t open the door?"

Melody’s heart hammered against her ribs, the pounding roaring in her ears.

Her gaze fell on the two shady-looking men behind Jasper Yates. In an instant, fear washed over her like a rising tide, flooding from her feet to her heart.

She gripped her phone tightly, glancing down at the screen, wanting to press the final digit and make the call.

A rough hand suddenly shot out and snatched the phone away from her.

Jasper Yates glanced at the phone screen, a cold sneer twisting his lips. "Melody, are you trying to call the police? Why on earth would you do a thing like that?"

Melody was trembling all over. She pressed her lips together, trying hard to stay calm as she explained, "Uncle Paul, you’ve misunderstood. I wasn’t calling the police. I was going to call for an ambulance. My parents are unconscious, and I’m very worried about them."

"Oh, so that’s what it was." Jasper Yates chuckled. "Don’t you worry, Melody. Your parents are fine. They just drank a bit too much. They’ll be fine after they sleep it off."

"Is that so?" Melody nodded. "Okay, then I’m relieved."

Jasper Yates pocketed the phone and chuckled. "Good, I’m glad you’re relieved. Uncle has a couple of friends who heard you got into a really good university. They really admire you and want to discuss studying with you."

"No, no." Melody waved her hands and shook her head frantically. "I’m not impressive at all. There are many people more impressive than me. I’m just an ordinary person, nothing to admire."

"What’s so ordinary about you?" Jasper Yates stared at her, his eyes crinkling into a smile. "You’re young, beautiful, a good student, and smart. That puts you ahead of a lot of people."

Melody shrank back, suddenly finding his gaze disgusting. It was like a venomous snake flicking its sticky, forked tongue, licking over her skin inch by inch.

Her stomach churned with a mixture of disgust and heart-pounding fear. She clenched her knuckles until they turned white, remaining silent.

"Melody, come on out," Susan Roth called out. "Let’s find another place to chat so we don’t disturb your parents’ rest."

"That’s right, Melody." Jasper Yates reached out and grabbed her wrist, lecherous thoughts filling his mind. "Look, Melody, your skin is so smooth. Your Aunt Helen’s skin isn’t nearly this soft and tender."

Melody instantly shook his hand off, staring at him with contempt. "Don’t touch me."

Jasper Yates didn’t get angry, but Susan Roth, standing at the door, grew annoyed. "Melody, hurry up and come out. Don’t keep your two big brothers waiting."

"I’m not going." Melody’s expression was full of vigilance. "I have nothing to say to them."

"Don’t be like that, Melody," Jasper Yates said with a chuckle. "These two came all this way just to learn from you. Do them a favor, huh?"

"No!" Melody continued to refuse. "Please, Uncle Paul, take them and leave. I want to rest with my parents!"

The smile remained on Jasper Yates’s face. "Heh heh, Melody, Uncle sees you’re still young, so I won’t hold it against you. I’ll ask you nicely one more time: keep these two big brothers company for a chat."

Melody stared at him, her young face set with grim determination. "Uncle, I already told you, I don’t want to talk to them!"

"You little brat." Jasper Yates laughed, his anger turning to amusement. "I see you’d rather do this the hard way."

He made a gesture, and the two men behind him understood immediately, walking toward Melody.

Watching the two men approach, Melody shrank back in terror and yelled, "Get away! Stay away from me!"

"Hey, little sister, your grades are so good. Why don’t you tell us big brothers how you do it?"

"Yeah, we heard you got into a top university. We’re so jealous."

As they spoke, they reached for Melody, hauling her up from her spot by the headboard.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.