Lucas' gaze instantly shifted to Richard.

"You wanted to set me up on purpose?

"

"What do you mean?

" Richard widened his eyes, clearly disapproving of Lucas' accusation. What does it mean that he should be accused like that? What has he done?

"You did all this, didn't you?

" Lucas growled with his hands on his hips.

"Didn't you hear that Ellena and her mother went out with two men?

" Richard seemed to be pouting his lips, obviously he was denying the accusations which he didn't commit at all.

"Yes, and I know who's behind all this!

" Lucas said, lifting the corner of his lips into a bitter grin.

"You accuse me?

" Richard asked again widening his eyes with a face that seemed to be leaning forward, approaching Lucas's face.

"Don't act stupid! I won't let you fool me again, Richard!

" Lucas pouted.

Of course he didn't believe what Richard said. No matter how hard the man tried to deny the accusations from him, he still couldn't believe it. What he was sure of, if Richard had dared to make a fool of him, there was a chance he would also do the same thing a second time.

"But I really didn't do that!

" Richard was still trying to make sure he didn't.

"I can't believe it! Tell me where are you taking Ellena and her mother!

" Lucas said completely ignoring Richard's words. He really didn't want to be caught up in that man's game again.

"You're tired of living, huh?

" Now it was Adley's turn to come forward, approaching Richard. Of course he favored his best friend, moreover Richard had dared to play with Lucas. He wasn't sure if he could trust the man anymore.

"You again. Why are you accusing me too, huh?

" Richard snapped even more furious when no one believed him.

"You've made me lose my temper, Richard!

" Adley said as he grabbed Richard by the collar, tugging on him with so much force.

"I can no longer be patient with you. How long are you going to keep fooling us, huh?

" added Adley increasingly furious.

"I swear I didn't do any of that! Why don't you guys believe me? Am I that bad in your eyes?

" shrieked Richard, still trying to convince him.

"Let me go!

" shouted Richard as he grabbed Adley's hand so hard he tried to push it away. As a result, Adley's hand just slipped away, he even managed to take a step back, because of the stomping of Richard's hand.

"You should know, I never thought of doing that! I couldn't have hurt Patricia, like you and your family did to her!

" Richard said, pointing straight at Lucas' face.

"What do you mean? What do you know about me and Ellena, huh?

" Lucas asked sarcastically.

"You think I don't know your rotten mind?

"

"You keep accusing me or if you need to kill me, so that you are satisfied!

" sarcasm Richard didn't want to lose.

"What do you think I can do when I'm constantly under your watchful eye? Have you forgotten that I was with you all this time, even I couldn't do anything. Now how can you accuse me of sending someone else to take me?

" Ellena. Are you guys well? Where's your brain, huh?

"

Richard attacked, fearlessly even though there was no one to defend. Meanwhile, several people who were there seemed to witness the debate, including the middle-aged woman who provided information about the departure of Ellena and Briana from the house.

There's nothing wrong with Lucas and Adley. It was only natural that they would accuse Richard of having sent someone else to take Ellena, because from the very beginning Richard didn't show any good intentions to tell her whereabouts, as if he would be happy if Lucas and Ellena had parted ways.

"How dare you say that to me!

" One raw bombshell almost flew across Richard's face. However, Adley swiftly held Lucas' hand until it was only visible in the air.

"Don't do that,

" Adley whispered as he shook his head, giving Lucas a hard code.

With a feeling of anger, Lucas was forced to give up and lowered his hand again. He then looked away and sighed in frustration.

Lucas didn't know who to trust anymore. Richard or his prejudice? Could it be that Richard really didn't do that?

"If you guys really want to find Patricia. We can talk this through, don't keep accusing me!

" Richard said again.

"What do you mean? You think I was just kidding?

" Lucas replied not thinking about Richard's words.

"Okay, I'll tell you something important,

" Richard said lowering his voice. Looks like she's starting to give up or maybe because she feels sorry for Lucas?

Lucas and Adley furrowed their brows as if in surprise. What would Richard say? Why did the man look so serious and sincere this time, as if he didn't want anything to be hidden from them anymore?

"What do you know about my wife?

" Lucas asked who also lowered his tone, but his gaze was still cynical.

"Can you guys not make a fuss here?

"

Suddenly a baritone voice echoed through their midst, when Richard had not managed to answer Lucas' question. They reflexively turned to the source of the sound.

"Shut up!

" Lucas shouted immediately giving a threat by throwing a sharp glare.

Of course, the middle-aged man who was believed to be a local resident immediately jumped and covered his mouth. Don't you dare say anything else.

"Come on, let's talk in the car,

" Richard suggested.

"It's not good to disturb the peace of the residents here for too long,

" he added later and Lucas and Adley immediately responded positively, although they were a little forced.

They immediately left that place, in search of a safe place. Now they were beside their car.

"Tell me what you know about Ellena!

" Lucas insisted, eagerly waiting to hear an explanation from Richard, hoping that this time the man had good intentions.

"I'll tell you, but that doesn't mean our business is over. However, I still don't accept your treatment,

" Richard said before telling Lucas.

"Shit! Do whatever you want and I will never stand still!

" Lucas insisted that he didn't want that. How could he, who is actually very powerful, suddenly want to just give in.

Richard smiled bitterly.

"You really are stubborn, Lucas. We should never have worked together,

" Richard quipped later.

"Yeah, I shouldn't be in business with a sneaky guy like you either, Richard!

" Lucas answered firmly to which Richard immediately responded with an annoyed chuckle.

"Okay, looks like we've gone too far for small talk, I hope after this we won't be involved in any business anymore,

" ⁸ Richard, who seemed to no longer want to be involved in any business involving Lucas. Seriously, today's events made him very sick.

"Don't talk too much, just say what you want to tell me. No need to beat around the bush!

" Lucas said annoyed.

Richard didn't respond anymore, he just looked at Adley who had not said anything else.

"Do you remember what happened when we met and Patricia suddenly disappeared?

" Richard's question immediately made Adley nod his head.

"Yes,

" Adley whispered.

"Turns out that time Patricia was kidnapped and threatened not to see you, Adley. She's even forbidden to see you, Lucas. That's why I hid Ellena's whereabouts.

"What?

" Lucas and Adley were obviously very surprised.

"Yes, Ellena was indeed kidnapped that time, but she was returned after following their orders not to

"Damn it! Who would dare to do that to my wife!

" growled Lucas.

***

Elsewhere, right in a villa located far from the settlement, Ellena and her mother seemed to be locked in a room.

In front of the room, there were two men dressed in plain black T-shirts. One of them had a bald head and the other had unkempt dreadlocks. They seemed to be playing chess as if they were filling their boredom.

Meanwhile, Ellena and her mother were seen sitting on the floor, a room measuring 16 meters. Their hands seemed to be tied behind their backs. Even with their legs that look stretched out in a state tied. They seemed to be sitting opposite each other.

They wanted to scream, but it seemed like it would be useless. Along the way, Ellena saw clearly where the two men were taking her. Just a villa away from the crowds. It's useless screaming, no one will be able to hear. It's just a waste of sound.

After the incident approximately two hours ago, Ellena, who was initially unconscious due to the influence of the drug, suddenly became conscious when the two men who brought her came to see her mother.

Not much can be done when the two men force Ellena and her mother to leave the house. Even some people who saw the incident couldn't move when the two men gave stern threats.

In the end, Ellena and Briana were taken away without anyone being able to stop them. I don't know who is behind all of this. Ellena still couldn't convince her heart. Veronica? It seemed impossible that Lucas's mother could do such a bad thing.

"Master, please free us. What did we do wrong that you have to lock us up like this?

"