The Substitute Bride: Idiot Or Not?

"How forgetful of you, Mr. Fairchild!"

A series of strange mechanical laughter then drifted out from the phone. "Your residential area is so elite that even calling for an elevator requires a fingerprint. Can't you figure out how my man took the elevator up?"

Xavier's expression promptly darkened.

Winnie's thoughts quickly aligned with his-the finger belonged to Yulissa.

Yulissa's fingerprint was registered with the management, so she had no issues taking the building's elevator.

Therefore, it was evident that the person earlier used her severed finger to call for the elevator and successfully reached the thirty-second floor. Subsequently, he placed the cardboard box containing the severed finger at Xavier's doorstep.

As though to verify Xavier's conjecture, the other party instantly sent a video over.

In the video, a woman was bound to a chair. Her right hand was missing a finger, and blood was dripping incessantly.

Although she was disheveled, one could still tell that the woman was Yulissa.

As a bucket of icy water hit her full in the face, Yulissa immediately jolted awake.

Upon seeing that someone was filming her from the front, she wailed at the camera at once.

"Save me, Xavier! Hurry up and save me! It wasn't my intention to fight with you yesterday, nor did I intend to go to the bar to drink. I'm sorry! Please save me. They've chopped off my finger, and they'll kill me i you don't comply with their demands. I'm not afraid of death, Xavier. But I'm afraid that they'll violate me. I'm your woman, so I don't want to be sullied by them. They're the scum of the earth and have no humanity to speak of. Save me, Xavier!"

Tears streamed down her face. Fear, terror, and anguish were all etched across her features.

At that precise moment, however, the video cut off.

The kidnapper's voice rang out once more.

"It looks like you gave your woman the boot last night, Mr. Fairchild. I initially didn't want to kidnap her, but she ran right into me while blind drunk alone. Thus, I had no choice but to take her away." Xavier's brows furrowed, but he remained as calm as ever. "Just cut straight to the chase. How much do you want exactly?"

"You're indeed a straightforward person, Mr. Fairchild! No matter what, she's your woman, so it's not too much to ask you for twenty million, right?"

Xavier didn't bother yakking with him. "Name the time and place."

"Sit tight first, Mr. Fairchild. I'll decide the time and place. After that, I'll notify you. But Mr. Fairchild, I hope you can play by my rules. Otherwise, you'll only be able to collect your woman's body."

"Go on. I'm listening." Xavier was unhurried, his speech brief and concise. It was as though he was merely discussing a not-so-important business.

"I want gold bars. Change the twenty million into gold bars. Most importantly, you're not to lodge a police report. If you do so, your woman will die a ghastly death."

"Okay. But it takes time to change the money into gold bars."

"In that case, I'll give you two hours. Drive over alone."

At that, Xavier paused for a moment. "My leg is broken, so I can't drive alone. In fact, it's in a cast right now. If you spent any time investigating me before planning this kidnapping, you should know that I'm speaking the truth."

Following that, the kidnapper discussed it with the others and relented right away.

"Fine, you can bring a driver along. But it must be a female driver. Now, the countdown to two hours begins. I hope you can get the gold bars ready as soon as possible. I'm looking forward to our meeting." After saying that, the kidnapper hung up without a second's delay.

Only then did the house return to its usual silence.

Winnie felt as though she had just watched a police show.

However, she found the male lead-Xavier-rather strange.

He doesn't seem anxious or apprehensive. Instead, he was frightfully calm throughout the entire process. It was as though he was merely going through the motions.

Her curiosity was inexorably piqued.

She grew intrigued about Xavier and Yulissa's relationship.

He should love and care about her greatly, yet not only has he never touched her ever since she returned, but he's even all unconcerned despite her having been kidnapped. Eyeing him, she inwardly tutted. He's really unfathomable, his thoughts entirely indiscernible!

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Xavier initially wanted to make a call, but the gaze of the woman before him was too intrusive. Hence, he stilled and pinned his eyes on her.

In response, Winnie curled her lips in disdain.

"Your girlfriend has been kidnapped and her finger severed, but you seemingly appear awfully indifferent, Mr. Fairchild. Do all your women end up in such tragic straits?"

The fact that she used the word "women" had Xavier casting a chilly glance at her. "What do you mean by 'women'?"

"I heard that your ex-wife has gone missing, and her whereabouts are unknown to this day. Who knows whether she's still alive now?"Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

"Shut up! Who gave you the guts to talk about her?"

No sooner had Winnie's words rang out than her entire person was pinned against the couch with an arm at her neck.

She never expected Xavier to spring to his feet without any regard for his injured leg and press his arm against her throat just because of a simple remark.

Unbidden, mirth flooded her. "Are you angry, Mr. Fairchild? Did I say anything wrong?"

"Yes, you said something wrong. She isn't my ex-wife. She's still my wife!" Xavier gritted his teeth.

He wasn't at all anxious though Yulissa had been kidnapped. But at the mere mention of something to do with Winnie, he grew emotional in a flash. Alas, Winnie was very much displeased by his words.

He was the one who proposed a divorce, and he agreed to dissolve our marriage before the elders. So, why is he claiming that I'm still his wife now?

Fury blazed within her. "Oh, really? Didn't you feel that she was unworthy of you because she's slow-witted? Why are you putting on a show in front of me now?"

"Shut up!" I'm already regretting it to the core, yet she's now using these words to stab me in the heart!

Xavier pressed down against her neck. "I'm short of a female driver. You'll do."

"Hah! I'm not obliged to cooperate with you to meet the kidnappers, Mr. Fairchild," Winnie sneered.

Giving a bark of laughter impassively, Xavier sat back in the wheelchair.

He stared at "Paulina" before him, his eyes brimming with confidence that everything was in the palm of his hands.

"Don't assume that I'm ignorant to the fact that you approached me to search for something in particular. But it's clear as day that you haven't found it so far."

"Oh? Then, do you know what I'm searching for?" Winnie wasn't the least bit surprised that he surmised her motive.

At that, Xavier's lips turned up a fraction. "No matter what it is, I'm the only person who knows where it is. Is that not so?"