Chapter 52

It was already noon.

Latisha quickly got out of bed, changed her clothes, and headed for the hospital.

While waiting to register, she opened WhatsApp to ask Nikita for a loan, only to see a notification from Clifford.

He had sent her money-fifty thousand dollars.

She hesitated. Her own account balance was two dollars, not even enough for the registration fee. Gritting her teeth, she accepted the transfer.

Clifford heard the notification and glanced at his phone. Latisha had accepted the money. A small, unconscious smile touched his lips.

Ziven knocked and entered, holding a file. "Mr. Lambert, we have the surveillance footage from last night. We've found the two men."

Clifford took the file and flipped through the photos inside, his expression darkening with each image. The underpass didn't have cameras, so the pictures were from a distance and blurry, but they were clear enough.

Ziven silently grumbled to himself. Clifford had ignored his calls last night, making him think he genuinely didn't care what happened to Latisha. But having worked for him for so long, Ziven knew better. He might seem indifferent, even cruel to her at times, but if anyone else dared to lay a finger on her, his possessive nature would

erupt.

Clifford tossed the photos back on the desk. “Where are they?"

"Locked up. How should we handle them? Turn them over to the police, or...?"

Clifford rose from his chair. "Let's go see them."

Ziven immediately led the way.

They drove to a secluded villa on a mountainside. The location was so remote that the drive up the winding road took over ten minutes. It was the only house for miles.

The villa's backyard was home to a number of dangerous animals. Even before they entered, they could hear the sounds the barking of dogs the howling of wolves. Inside, there were glass enclosures containing snakes and even a crocodile.

It wasn't Ziven's first time here, but the place always gave him the creeps. It was

less a villa and more a private, terrifying zoo.

In a clearing between the cages lay two men. They were already paralyzed with fear by the snarling, pacing animals.

As the two men shivered, the howling suddenly subsided. The large dogs, as if sensing something, sat back on their haunches tails wagging, tongues loffing in what looked like excitement.

The thugs swallowed hard and followed the dogs' gaze to see a tall,

imposing figure walking toward

them. The man wore a suit under a

them

tailored brown overcoat that

accentuated his long legs,

Clifford stopped in front of them, his face expressionless as he looked them over, his gaze like he was looking at trash.

"M-Mister, I don't think we've done anything to you, have we?" one of them stammered, his voice trembling under the weight of the man's presence.

Clifford crouched down. "Do you know who I am?” he asked quietly.

They both shook their heads. "N-no, we don't. Why did you bring us here?"

A humorless smile touched Clifford's lips. He held out his hand, and Ziven, ever perceptive, placed a dagger in his palm.

"Why did I bring you here?" Clifford's smile was almost friendly. "Let me help you remember."

That smile sent a chill down their spines. For the first time in their uneducated lives, they truly understood the meaning of a wolf in sheep's clothing.