Chapter 148

Thalia, in a dazed state, followed Asher to the local police station to give their statements. The police's attitude improved noticeably upon learning Asher's identity. Asher learned from the officers that the caller had been identified through technical means: Drake Ashcroft.

An officer explained, "The caller claimed his girlfriend had been kidnapped and taken to Harwich. He also mentioned the kidnappers were likely armed. Upon receiving this report, we immediately initiated a search operation and, once we confirmed the location, rushed to the scene…"

The police shared this information privately with Asher; Thalia was not privy to it. They soon completed their statements, and Thalia emerged from the interview room. An officer told them, "You're free to go now."

Thalia, extremely distraught, cried, "Officer, my sister has been kidnapped! Please, you must save her… the man who took her… he's a complete madman. My sister is only eight years old. In his hands, she… I…" Her words were broken and tearful.

Although Lucy was her stepmother's daughter, they had been close for so long that Thalia genuinely loved her half-sister. Though she rarely expressed it verbally, she had accepted Victoria and Lucy as family. She couldn't bear to imagine what would happen if her sister never returned.

The officer explained, "The suspect crossed the border by helicopter. We're attempting to liaise with Dutch authorities to request assistance in apprehending him. We'll notify you immediately if we receive any information."

Harwich was near the border. The abandoned building Malfoy had chosen was close, allowing the helicopter to quickly cross into Dutch territory. From there, they could return to Russia via the Netherlands, placing them beyond British jurisdiction. The British police could only contact their Dutch counterparts to request Malfoy's arrest. Malfoy and Jerry had escaped by helicopter; all his other associates were arrested.

Faced with Thalia's inconsolable sobbing, Asher remained silent, standing beside her and gently holding her hand in quiet support.

Just then, Asher's phone rang. He saw it was Randolph calling and instinctively looked at Thalia, who was still talking to the officer about Lucy, unaware of the call. Asher said softly, squeezing Thalia's hand, "I need to take this." He walked a short distance away to answer.

As soon as the call connected, Randolph fired off a barrage of questions: "Asher, Lucy's missing too. Where are you? Have you reached Harwich? Have you seen Malfoy? Are both Thalia and Lucy in his custody? What's the situation? Can you rescue them...?"

Asher provided a detailed account of the current situation. When Randolph learned that his younger daughter had been kidnapped and taken to Russia, his hand trembled, and he dropped the phone. The line filled with static. Soon after, Victoria's voice came through, sounding as though she had lost all control of her emotions.

After leaving the police station, Thalia boarded a private jet with Asher, returning to London. Asher explained Malfoy's conditions to Thalia, as well as his original rescue plan. After hearing everything, Thalia's eyes flashed with fury. "So if someone hadn't called the police, you could have rescued Lucy even though Malfoy had kidnapped her, right?"

"Yes," Asher replied, lowering his gaze. "At the police station, I asked who made the call. It was Drake Ashcroft."

"Drake Ashcroft?" Thalia frowned deeply. "I've only been missing for one night. I normally have no contact with him whatsoever—how on earth did he know I'd been kidnapped?"

"That's what puzzles me as well," Asher said. "Initially, it was your friend who reported you missing because she couldn't reach you. Later, I specifically went home to instruct both our families to tell the police you'd been found and to prevent further police involvement. By all logic, Drake shouldn't have known you were missing, let alone kidnapped."

After the three-hour flight, Thalia's emotions had stabilized. What had happened couldn't be changed—Lucy had been taken to Russia by Malfoy. After her initial emotional breakdown, Thalia began to think more clearly.

"And he even knew I'd been taken to Harwich…" Thalia analyzed calmly. "Someone must have told him about my kidnapping, or he has connections to Malfoy's people. Otherwise, he couldn't possibly have known such specific details."

Asher's expression turned grave. "The only people who knew you'd been taken to Harwich were…"

At the Blackwood residence, Randolph sat on the sofa, his expression fraught with anger and worry, waiting for Asher and Thalia to return. Three hours earlier, Victoria had fainted upon learning that Lucy had been taken to Russia by Malfoy. She was now in hospital, while Randolph remained at the Blackwood residence awaiting Asher's return.

The Blackwood family was relieved to hear that Asher was safe. As for Lucy, they were genuinely concerned about her kidnapping, especially Catherine. However, since Lucy wasn't a Blackwood, they couldn't be expected to be as frantic as Randolph and Victoria.

When Asher arrived with Thalia, everyone rose to greet them. Randolph was the first to rush forward, inquiring about the situation. After offering some reassurance to Randolph, Asher narrowed his eyes and scanned the faces of everyone present, his gaze cold and penetrating.

"Which one of you leaked information about Thalia's kidnapping by Malfoy?"

The Blackwood family members exchanged bewildered glances. Lady Blackwood was the first to speak: "What exactly do you mean?"

A chilling aura emanated from Asher as he set his jaw, his expression severe. "Only you knew my plan. Thalia had been taken to Harwich by Malfoy. I repeatedly emphasized before leaving that the police must not be involved. Why did someone still call them?"

"What! Someone called the police?" Grace stared in shock. "Could it have been one of Thalia's friends?"

"No," Asher replied coldly. "Last night, I already contacted Sebastian and James. I asked them to help notify Thalia's other friends, including the one who initially reported her missing. They were all informed and wouldn't have called the police."

Asher's gaze was scrutinizing as he examined each person present.

"Brother, don't you trust us? Do you really think we called the police?" Grace's face showed hurt. "You repeatedly warned us not to involve the police before you left. How could it possibly be any of us?"

Catherine added, "That's right, Asher. Though I was concerned for your safety, I ultimately agreed with your rescue plan. I wouldn't sabotage your efforts to save Thalia by calling the police."

Asher remained unmoved, his expression still cold. "I know perfectly well that none of you called the police directly—it was Drake Ashcroft. But someone among you leaked the information."