When She Ended It With Divorce (Chiara and Titus) novel Chapter 276

Chapter 276

Chapter 276

When Titus and Jeffrey arrived, they couldn’t believe the place was actually an old residential building, and it was just a short walk from Apex International Kindergarten.

The police had already combed through the area from top to bottom. This was a textbook example of hiding in plain sight; the most dangerous place really was the safest.

All the officers had been deployed to the port, so no one expected Lena to be holed up in an old building like this.

Downstairs, there was a small plaza where elderly residents often gathered to spend time together. The relaxed atmosphere made it the sort of place no one would give a second thought to.

The car pulled up to the entrance, and as soon as Titus stepped out, his phone rang again. “I told you to come alone. How dare you bring someone with you?” Lena’s voice was cold and sharp.

Jeffrey snatched the phone from Titus. “Put Elaine on the line!”

Lena paused for a few seconds when she heard his voice, then replied, “I have no idea who you’re talking about.”

“Lena, I know you used to work as a cleaner at the psych ward. Let me talk to her now,” Jeffrey demanded.

There was a long silence on the other end. Even though nobody spoke, Jeffrey could sense that someone else had taken over the call.

“Elaine,” Jeffrey said.

“It’s me. Didn’t we just see each other yesterday? What, already missing me?” Elaine replied, her tone playful.

Jeffrey put the phone on speaker, gripping it tightly as he spoke in a low voice. “Elaine, listen to me. Don’t be so stubborn,” he

said.

“Stubborn? Is it me who’s stubborn, or is it he who’s been so heartless to me?” Elaine shot back.

Jeffrey didn’t want to set her off, so he tried to talk her down instead. “Elaine, if you let Ryan go now, I promise Titus won’t go after you for any of this. I can even send you abroad for proper treatment. I know you’re getting better, and that’s great. Just…”

“I’m never going to get better!” Elaine suddenly broke down, screaming.

“I’m a cripple now, do you even understand? I can’t walk anymore! And I’ve got an incurable disease. My life’s over. I don’t know when I’ll die, but before I do, I swear I’ll make them pay. They did this to me. I won’t forgive them, and I won’t let them live in peace!

“If I have to die, then everyone dies with me! Jeffrey, I’m warning you, don’t come in. Since you brought me back and tried to help me, just stay out!” After saying that, Elaine dropped all pretense, letting out a laugh as she spoke.

“Titus, I know you’re standing right next to him, and I know you can hear every word I’m saying. I’m warning you; don’t bring him up here, or I swear you’ll regret it!”

Right after that, Ryan’s cries could be heard over the phone. Jeffrey’s expression grew grim as he glanced at Titus, but the next moment, Titus snatched the phone back. “Alright, I’ll go up’ alone,” Titus said.

“Don’t waste time. You’ve got five minutes. If I don’t see you, get ready to collect your son’s body!” Elaine snapped.

The call ended, and just as Titus was about to head inside, Jeffrey grabbed his arm. “It’s risky to go in there by yourself,” Jeffrey said.

Chapter 276

Titus gave him a frösty glare. “Unless you’ve got a better plan?”

Jeffrey had been left speechless. With no idea what was happening inside, there was nothing else they could do.

Titus grabbed Jeffrey by the collar and snapped, “Figure out a way to get those people downstairs out of here.

Jeffrey froze for a second, but Titus was already heading through the iron gate. With Titus’s words still ringing in his ears. Jeffrey glanced over at the old-timers hanging out in the plaza.

After climbing up to the fifth floor, Titus’s phone buzzed again. “There’s a pair of handcuffs in the bag by the door. Put them on yourself now!” Elaine’s voice was icy over the line.

Without a second thought, Titus cuffed his own hands together, silent and resolute. The next moment, the security door swung open. Lena’s lips curled into a smirk when she saw Titus standing there alone.

Lena raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Who would’ve thought we’d actually meet face to face again?”

Titus stared at her, his expression icy. “Where’s my son?”

Lena shot him a sly grin as she swung the door open, letting Titus step inside. She gave him a thorough pat-down, checking every pocket and seam for any hidden trackers. Only when she was sure he was clean did she finally let her guard down.

Phones were pointless here; once one crossed the threshold, the signal was completely dead. Only their own gear worked. and nothing else. So even if he had a tracker stashed on his phone, it was useless anyway.

Once Titus stepped inside, Lena slammed the door shut. He saw Elaine slumped in a wheelchair, looking nothing like her old self. At a glance, no one would have believed this was the rising star of the dance world.

Her body was stick-thin, her skin waxy yellow, and her hair brittle and shot through with gray. She looked more like someone’s grandma than a woman not even thirty.

But even seeing Elaine in such a miserable state, Titus didn’t bat an eye. “Where’s Ryan?” Titus demanded, his voice as cold

as ever.

Elaine locked her glare on him, her eyes burning with nothing but endless hatred. Not a shred of the affection she once had for him remained.

Her bony hands clamped down on the wheelchair handles as she pushed herself forward a little. “I figured seeing the wreck I’ve become would at least make you feel a little guilty,” Elaine sneered.

Titus didn’t even bother responding. He just scanned the room, then made a beeline for the two doors across the way.

Inside one, there was nothing but a single bed. But when he pushed open the other door, the sight that greeted him hit him like a punch to the gut.

Ryan was lying on the bed, his mouth taped shut and his whole body tied up. As soon as he saw Titus, he started struggling even harder, his eyes wide with fear.

“Ryan!” Titus called out, his voice tight with worry.

Just as Titus was about to step toward Ryan, Lena’s voice rang out from behind him. “Mr. Goodman, I’d think twice before making any sudden moves. You’d better take a good look around first,” Lena warned, her voice cold.

Titus stopped in his tracks, his gaze carefully sweeping the room without betraying any emotion. He noticed several homemade explosive devices hidden throughout the room.

His eyes shifted to Ryan, and sure enough, his stomach looked unusually swollen; he’d been rigged with explosives as well.

Titus’s forehead veins bulged, his whole body locking up. For the first time, his limbs felt like lead, and he was so angry he

15:13 Wed, Jan 14

Chapter 276

could’ve killed someone right then and there..

“Ryan, be good, don’t cry. Daddy’s here to take you home, okay?” Titus said, his voice gentle but strained.

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Ryan couldn’t stop crying. He was scared out of his mind, but he seemed to get what Titus was saying. So he nodded obediently, doing his best to listen.

Seeing Ryan being so sensible and well-behaved, Titus felt his heart twisted with pain; it hurt so much he could barely breathe.

He closed his eyes for a moment, then managed a gentle, comforting smile for Ryan. “Ryan, be good and wait for Daddy. okay? Daddy’s coming to take you home real soon,” Titus said softly.

With that, Titus closed the door behind him and turned to confront the two women waiting for him in the living room. “State your terms,” he said, his voice cold and steady.

Lena was about to say something, but Elaine beat her to it. She glared at Titus and demanded, “Get on your knees now!”

Lena arched her brow, clearly in no hurry to lay out any demands. If anything, she looked even more hyped than Elaine. “On your knees, Mr. Goodman. What’s wrong? Are your precious knees worth more than your son’s life?” Lena sneered.

Titus gave them a cold, hard look, then got down on his knees without hesitation. Still, he kept his composure and asked. “And then what?”

Elaine’s eyes blazed with pure

him.

hatred. Ever since she learned Titus was the one behind her car accident, she’d never forgiven

The man she’d wanted more than anything her whole life had turned out to be heartless; he ruined her himself and shoved her straight into hell.

“Titus, never thought I’d see you like this! Bow to me now, admit you were wrong! Say it!” Elaine taunted, her voice dripping with manic satisfaction.

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15:13 Wed, Jan 14