After I Stopped Loving Him novel Chapter 1189

Those victims had suffered horrific abuse before being brutally murdered.

Jesse's warning to suppress the media was critical. The police could handle it, and their combined wealthy networks would hunt for a rescue opportunity.

If a safe extraction wasn't guaranteed, they would prepare the ransom and follow the kidnappers' instructions to the letter.

Getting Barbara back alive was the only priority.

Raising a hundred million dollars in liquid cash was entirely within the Carter family's means.

"I know. I'll make sure it stays quiet. My dad has probably already locked it down."

After hanging up, Harold immediately issued orders to enforce a total media blackout. He then called his father, Arthur Carter, who had already rushed back to the estate.

Arthur was resolute about involving the authorities, a move Harold supported. Samantha was paralyzed by fear, terrified that calling the cops would trigger Barbara's murder, but she ultimately yielded to her husband's decision.

While coordinating with law enforcement, Arthur also began liquidating assets to gather the hundred million dollars, ensuring they were prepared for any scenario.

"I am going to find whoever did this and tear them apart piece by piece. How dare they touch my sister!"

Harold snarled, his voice vibrating with rage.

Keeping her eyes on the road, Isabella said, "Kidnappers are desperate, reckless criminals. When they need cash, they hunt the rich. Ethan and I were targeted on our way home not that long ago."

The difference was that she and Ethan had fought back with everything they had, buying enough time for the police to arrive.

Because Isabella had fought like a woman with nothing to lose, she ended up crashing the kidnappers' vehicle. The criminals were apprehended, and the ones who escaped were eventually caught.

Harold stared out the window, his expression grim. "We got too comfortable. We stopped making her take the security detail."

"She hates feeling like she's being monitored. But once we get her back, she won't have a choice."

Isabella nodded. "You need to take one with you from now on, too. Desperate criminals don't care who you are. They just see dollar signs, and they strike whoever is left unguarded."

Since surviving her own attack, Isabella never went anywhere without protection.

And ever since she realized York had returned to exact his vengeance against Ethan and herself, she had been on high alert.

Both Harold and Ethan had been tracking York's every move.