Chapter 227
“Dad, you’re playing favorites again,” Joseph said, exasperated.
Harrison let out a snort and swiftly snatched the bowl of ravioli from Joseph’s hands.
“Dad! What are you doing? I haven’t even had a bite yet!” Joseph protested, his tone a mix of disbelief and frustration.
Harrison raised an eyebrow and teased, “Doesn’t your girlfriend send you meals every day? Go eat hers and leave Camila’s ravioli for me.”
Joseph was momentarily stunned before retorting, “This is the first time Camila’s ever brought me food. No way I’m giving it up.” He snatched his bowl back, clutching it protectively as he dove in with his spoon, eating as if his life depended on it.
Not to be outdone, Harrison took a bite. His eyes widened in surprise. “Whoa, these are way better than what we usually get. Who made these?”
Joseph turned to Camila, curiosity written all over his face. “Camila, did you make these?”
Camila shook her head with a smile. “No, I didn’t. Hazel made them. Oh, by the way, Hazel is the new cook we hired.”
“Doesn’t matter who made them. If Camila brought them, they’re automatically the best,” Joseph declared with absolute confidence.
“Exactly. Anything Camila brings is unbeatable,” Harrison chimed in, nodding in agreement.
They continued eating, showering Camila with compliments until her cheeks turned a bright shade of red.
At that moment, a knock sounded at the office door. Joseph frowned deeply; he hated interruptions during their family moments. “Who is it?” he asked, his tone sharp.
The door creaked open, revealing a young woman in her mid–twenties with a round face. She stood at the entrance, clutching a thermal food container.
Camila froze, staring at the visitor.
It wasn’t because she recognized the woman- -it was Harrison’s earlier comment about Joseph having a girlfriend who brought him meals every day.
To be honest, the girl at the door wasn’t unattractive, but she wasn’t particularly striking either. She was short, slightly chubby, and dressed plainly. Camila didn’t mean to look down on her, but she couldn’t imagine Joseph being interested in someone like this.
Camila stared at the girl in disbelief, her thoughts momentarily scattered.
The woman at the door noticed Camila. When her eyes landed on Camila’s stunningly beautiful face, her heart sank. She wondered, Who is this woman? Why is she here? She seems close to Joseph and Harrison. Could she be another one of Joseph’s admirers?‘
The thought made her bite her lip in frustration, but she forced herself to suppress her discomfort. Turning to Joseph, she said, “Mr. Stuard, this is a homemade lunch prepared by Evelyn-”
Before she could finish, Joseph cut her off impatiently. “Take it back. I’m not eating it.”
The woman’s gaze flicked to the thermal container on Joseph’s desk, her eyes narrowing. Everyone in Stuard Group knew that Evelyn was pursuing Joseph. And Evelyn was the hottest star. The rumored romance between her and Joseph was canon in the eyes of the public.
Yet here was Camila. She thought Camila was trying to seduce Joseph despite knowing about his relationship with Evelyn. She looked down on Camila, thinking Camila might want to take shortcuts and latch onto a rich man.
After a moment of hesitation, the woman reluctantly turned and left.
In the lounge. Evelyn was touching up her makeup. When she saw her assistant return, she raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Back so soon? Her gaze fell on the thermal container in the assistant’s hands. “Did Joseph finish the meal already?”
Lindy. Evelyn’s assistant, frowned deeply, her face full of displeasure. ‘Evelyn, Mr. Stuard didn’t eat it.”
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Chapter 227
Evelyn looked even more puzzled. “Why not? Was he too busy with work? If he doesn’t have time to eat, just leave the container in his office. He’ll eat it when he’s free. Why did you bring it back?”
Lindy’s expression turned sour. “Evelyn, when I got there, Mr. Stuard was already eating. And there was a woman in his office–a very beautiful woman.”
“What?” Evelyn shot up from her seat. “Who is she? Was she a staff member from Stuard Group?”
“No. She wasn’t wearing a uniform, and she seemed very familiar with Mr. Stuard and his father,” Lindy replied. After a pause, she added, “Evelyn, do you think she could be Mr. Stuard’s fiancée? Marriages between wealthy families are quite common.”
Evelyn’s face twisted with anger. Ever since she had stirred up rumors of a romance with Joseph, her career had skyrocketed. She genuinely liked him–not just because he was wealthy and incredibly handsome, but also because he was a man of principle.
The heirs of Northeville’s four major families were all excellent in their own ways. Initially, she had set her sights on Giovani. Marrying into the Campbell family would not only make her a wealthy wife but also free her from the typical mother–in–law drama.
Unfortunately, Giovani was notoriously cold and ruthless. His methods were as brutal as they were efficient.
There was even a story about someone who tried to seduce him by drugging him. He had gone to the hospital while under the drug’s effects, and once the drug wore off, the person who had drugged him was eliminated.
As for the other two heirs, they were rumored to be infatuated with the mysterious genius heiress of the Stuard family.
Evelyn considered herself exceptional. At just twenty–five, she had already won the Best Actress award. But she was also realistic. No matter how successful her career was, she was still just a celebrity.
The heiress of the Stuard family, on the other hand, was not only born into wealth but was also a renowned scientist. She couldn’t possibly compete with her. After narrowing down her options, Joseph was the only one she could realistically pursue.
If she could marry Joseph, she wouldn’t just become a wealthy wife; she’d also gain a genius sister–in–law. With her connections, she might even access higher social circles in the future.
Right now, she was at a critical point in her career. She had even planned to use Joseph’s influence to secure the endorsement for the holographic headset. And now, he even refused to eat the lunch she had personally prepared.
Evelyn clenched her fists tightly.
“Evelyn, what should we do?” Lindy asked nervously.
Evelyn sneered coldly, “What do we do? Easy. Let’s destroy her. She dares to mess with me? She’s done for.”
Camila didn’t linger after Harrison and Joseph finished their meal. She picked up the insulated container and left the company. But before she could even get on her scooter, someone clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her into a car.
Inside the car, a man pressed a knife to her neck. “If you don’t want to die, sit still and behave.”
Camila didn’t resist. She sat calmly, her expression unflinching,
The kidnappers exchanged glances, puzzled by her composure. “You’re not scared?” one of them asked.
‘Shouldn’t you guys be the ones freaking out?” she shot back, her tone sharp and unyielding.
The man sneered, “Hmph! We had the guts to grab you, so what’s there to be afraid of?”
“If I’m not mistaken, someone must have hired you to do this. Wow, whoever sent you must really have it out for you to set you up like this Her lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.
“What’s that supposed to mean? the man asked, his tone wary
Camila raised an eyebrow. It seems you don’t even know who I am, do you?”
“Who you are doesn’t matter to us. We’re just here to do a job and get paid. As long as you cooperate, we won’t kill you. But you’ll need to make us happy
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“Are you sure about that?” Camila glanced at the man beside her. “I’m the heiress of the Stuard family. If you let me go now and tell me who hired you, I won’t hold you accountable. Otherwise, the consequences for you will be dire.”
The driver slammed on the brakes, his face filled with disbelief as he turned to look at her. “You’re the heiress of the Stuard family, that genius scientist?”
Camila nodded. “That’s right.”
The kidnappers froze, their eyes darting over her as if trying to confirm the nightmare they’d just walked into. Their hands shook uncontrollably. Kidnapping an ordinary person was one thing–they might get away with it. But kidnapping a scientist was a whole different story.
Not long ago, this very scientist had been kidnapped in Sancho. Everyone involved had ended up in prison. Even though she was unharmed, the mastermind had been sentenced to death. The two men began trembling in fear. “Y–you’re lying! We don’t believe you!”
“If you don’t believe me, you can take out my phone and call my parents or my brother to demand ransom. Go ahead, try it.”
The kidnapper sitting next to her quickly grabbed her phone. After unlocking it, he decisively dialed Joseph’s number.
The phone rang only once before it was answered. Joseph’s voice came through immediately.
Camila, missing me already? I told you to stay at the company a bit longer, but you wouldn’t listen. If you miss me, just come back. I’ll keep you company.
The more the kidnappers listened, the more terrified they became. They swallowed hard. They were in this for the money, but they weren’t stupid. No matter how bold they were, kidnapping a scientist was a serious crime.
One of them covered the phone’s microphone and whispered to Camila, “We’ll let you go, but you can’t report us to the police.”
Camila nodded. “Alright.”
The kidnapper uncovered the microphone, and Camila chuckled softly. “Joseph, focus on your work. I accidentally called you. I’m hanging up now.” With that, she ended the call.
The kidnappers breathed a sigh of relief, but their hearts were filled with resentment toward the one who had hired them. They looked a: Camila again, hesitation written all over their faces. “If we let you go, you really won’t report us?”
Camila remained calm. “Here’s a suggestion: turn yourselves in and tell the police who hired you. It’s your chance to make amends.”
The two men exchanged glances, clearly reluctant. Even if they turned themselves in, they’d still face jail time.
Camila saw their hesitation and added, “I’m giving you an opportunity. If you don’t take it, you’ll regret it.”
“You? Make us regret it? Don’t make me laugh.”
“I’m just a weak woman, so of course, I can’t. But who said I’m alone?” As soon as she finished speaking, a deafening screech cut through the air as a black Rolls–Royce came to an abrupt halt in front of their car.
The driver’s door of the Rolls–Royce opened, and out stepped a tall, imposing man. Camila recognized him immediately. He was Sean, Giovani’s personal driver and a retired special forces soldier.
Sean opened the car door, and Giovani stepped out. His gaze was icy as he looked at the kidnappers, as if they were already dead. “Where do you think you’re taking my fiancée?”
The kidnappers recognized Giovani instantly and nearly wet themselves in fear.
Giovani’s fiancée was none other than the heiress of the Stuard family and the genius scientist. This was common knowledge in Laystoland, and the two men were well aware of it.
They had doubted Camila’s claims before, but now, seeing Giovani in person, they were certain–they had kidnapped someone they should never have touched.
Camula spoke lightly. I told you, you should’ve turned yourselves in.”
The two men knew they were finished. Without resisting, they handed Camila over.
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As soon as Camila stepped out of the car, Giovani pulled her into a tight embrace. “Don’t be afraid.”
Camila buried her face in his chest, her voice soft but steady. “As long as you’re here, nothing scares me.”
After her previous kidnapping in Sancho, Giovani had custom–made a watch with a built–in tracking system for her. That was how he had been able to find her so quickly.
Giovani narrowed his eyes at the kidnappers. “Who sent you to kidnap my fiancée?”
At this point, the two men saw no reason to hide anything and confessed everything.
“Evelyn? Who’s that?” Camila asked, looking completely baffled.
Giovani frowned slightly, equally puzzled. “Who is Evelyn?”
The two kidnappers stared at them in disbelief. Evelyn was a top–tier celebrity with eighty million followers–a household name. Yet, these two didn’t seem to know her.
If anyone else had said this, the kidnappers might have thought they were pretending. But Giovani was a powerful CEO, and Camila was a genius scientist. It wasn’t entirely surprising that they genuinely didn’t know who Evelyn was.
She’s a top celebrity,” one of the kidnappers explained, “Apparently, she’s dating the CEO of Stuard Group. She hired us to kidnap Ms. Stuard because she thinks Ms. Stuard is trying to steal her boyfriend. She wanted us to ruin her and take compromising photos.”
Camila was at a loss for words.
Giovani’s expression darkened, saying nothing.
Camila took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm brewing inside her. Just an hour ago, she had been thrilled to learn Joseph had a girlfriend. Now, that same girlfriend had orchestrated her kidnapping out of jealousy, treating her as a rival.
Evelyn didn’t even bother to figure out the truth before taking such drastic measures. Even if it was a misunderstanding, Camila wasn’t about to let it slide. Picking up her phone, she dialed Joseph. This time, he answered immediately.
“Camila, I knew you couldn’t stay away from me for long. Where are you? I’ll send someone to pick you up right now,” Joseph said, his tone light and affectionate.
Camila said in a soft, aggrieved tone, “Joseph, I’ve been kidnapped.”
“What?” Joseph exclaimed, his voice filled with alarm. “I’m warning you–whoever you are, don’t you dare harm my sister! If she loses even a single strand of hair, the Stuard family will make sure you pay for it!”
Listening to Joseph’s frantic words, Camila felt a warm sense of comfort. “Joseph, I’m fine now. Giovani saved me.”
Joseph let out a sigh of relief. “Camila, where are you? I’ll come get you right away
Giovani cut in decisively, “No need. I’ll bring Camila over. There’s something we need to talk about.”
Half an hour later, Camila and Giovani stepped into the CEO’s office at Stuard Group. Not only were Joseph and Harrison present, but Evelyn was there as well.
The contract for the holographic headset endorsement had already been finalized with Evelyn, and they were about to sign. However,
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