Hiding Behind Her Superficiality

Chapter 576

Chapter 576 Encountering an Old Acquaintance

“I’m so sorry. I thought you were smart, but you’re a reckless woman.” Haris initially believed that Elspeth would be at least well-prepared, but she did not even make it past the first line of his trap. I told her about this secret passage, and she came alone and unprepared because she took my word for it. A trace of disappointment flickered in his eyes, but it quickly faded.

“Did you drug this place?” She felt her strength ebbing away from her. Even though she could not raise her hand, her mind remained sober.

“You must have been too nervous to realize the scent of the drug wafting throughout the room.”

“What a sly man you are.” Besides cursing under her breath, Elspeth couldn’t say anything else.

“Do you know why I lured you here?” Haris chuckled nastily. “Your mom is ideal for the drug testing, and so are you.” As soon as he waved his hand, two men emerged from the corner of the room. “You two put that woman back into the room and tie this woman in the inner room.”

After hearing that, a trace of coldness flashed across Elspeth’s eyes. “I won’t let you go.”

“I’ll be waiting for you.” Haris sounded regretful. “I can stay here longer because I’m used to it, but I’m afraid you won’t.”

She knew that being a drug tester was harmful to the body. However, she appeared to have no choice but to devise another escape plan.

…

On the other hand, Elspeth was shocked when she was tied up in the inner room she had never been to before and discovered it was full of drug testers. All of them had mottled skin, sunken appearances,

and thin figures. Some even looked as if they were taking their last breath. The few who seemed reasonably lively saw her bound and thrown in there, felt sorry for her, and closed their eyes.

Nonetheless, her hands and legs were tied up and pushed toward a corner. However, there was another woman in the corner who appeared to be her age, but her temperament appeared to be calmer than Elspeth’s. Elspeth could tell the woman had been tortured because her body was abnormally skinny. The only thing that set her apart from the others was that she wasn’t bound, and she didn’t appear to be plotting her escape; instead, she lay on the ground in a submissive manner.

“You look better than the rest physically. Have you recently been sent here?” Elspeth believed that the woman was her best chance or could at least gain a brief understanding of the situation by conversing with the woman.

“If you feel that everything here is new and interesting to you, you won’t feel so curious anymore after you’ve experienced certain things.” That woman obviously didn’t bother to entertain her. Then, she turned over and faced her back against Elspeth.

“Why don’t you escape when you’re not tied up?”

“You don’t have to know that.” The woman sounded even more unfriendly.

Elspeth made an effort to initiate conversation but was unsuccessful. Nevertheless, she remained optimistic, knowing the woman would eventually converse with her.

Then, around dinnertime, someone came by and handed the meal boxes through the small window at the door. Unfortunately, those who had been here for a long time had lost their strength. They were all on the ground in exhaustion and the woman was the only one who stood up and went to get the meal box. So, Elspeth tagged along and took a box for herself. Even though they were drug testers, their food was pretty scrumptious.

Watching that woman eating with gusto, Elspeth approached her and sat beside her. “Is it good?”

The woman stuffed food into her mouth and ignored her.

Looking at the eggplants in the woman’s meal box, Elspeth inquired, “I like eggplants. Can you share half of them with me?” Every meal box had different food, so she stared at the eggplants as if longing to eat them.

The woman shot her a look of disdain before placing all of her eggplants into Elspeth’s box.

“Thanks.” Elspeth grinned. “I knew the daughter of the Rover Family is hot and cold.”

At the mention of the Rovers, the woman trembled. “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

“Winter Rover. I remember you.”

It had been a long time since someone had called the woman’s name. She even nearly forgot what her name was. When she heard her name at a place like that, Winter suddenly felt tears welling up in her eyes. Nevertheless, she had always been a cold person. Even if she was moved by something, her eyes would redden at most.

“Why are you being locked in here?”

Winter Rover was one of her acquainted classmates when Elspeth was studying abroad back then. One of her memories of Winter was that her name accurately reflected her personality. Winter, like the winter season, was cold and indifferent.

On the other hand, Elspeth knew that Winter’s outward demeanor was nothing more than a mask and that underneath it all, she was a warm-hearted person.

Elspeth was chastised severely by her foreign professor for criticizing their motherland in class while studying abroad. While everyone in the room watched her like a joke, the girl named Winter silently pinched her hand. “I think you’re right.”

At that moment, she noticed Winter’s name on the book’s cover, which was how she recalled her.

Still, Elspeth was shocked that they would run into each other again after all these years in that place.

“I’ve always wanted to study traditional medicine, so after completing my studies abroad, I returned to learn from a famous teacher, and that’s how I met Old Mr. McGrath.”

Elspeth could predict what had happened next after hearing that. Haris admired Winter’s talent and took her on as an apprentice, then used her as a drug tester under the guise of an apprentice.

“Still, why doesn’t he tie you up?”

Winter chuckled. “My family is considered influential, so he doesn’t dare to hurt me. I’ve been here for two years and have only tested a handful of drugs.”

Suddenly, Elspeth recalled when Haris offered to take her in as an apprentice and suddenly found it appalling. She was afraid she would have ended up here if she had been determined to learn from him back then. Then, she asked, “Have you ever tried to escape?”

Winter shook her head without a word but rolled up her sleeves to reveal the bruises and wounds on her arm. It seemed that she had suffered a lot of torture.

Elspeth felt sorry for her. Since her hands were tied, she hinted at Winter to pull something out of her pocket. “These are some ointments that I bring along everywhere I go. It’ll heal your wounds.”

Winter offered her a grateful smile. “Thank you.”

“Don’t worry about it, but I have a few more questions for you.”

Winter kept the ointment and answered, “Go on. I’ll do my best to answer your questions.

Chapter 577 Remaining Calm

“Can you tell me more about this place?”

Elspeth looked around. She kept getting the feeling that there was something fishy about this fairly small room.

“This room is filled with cameras pointing at every angle. Old Mr. McGrath had the security cameras installed to keep track of everyone and make sure no one escapes.”

“What else?”

“There’s a signal jammer installed in this room as well. Nothing can be sent out.”

Elspeth frowned. “That’s why he didn’t even search me.”

“Why would he need to? All he has to do is toss you into this room and drug you. You’ll be nothing more than a sitting duck.”

Winter found Elspeth pitiful. “How did they manage to kidnap you and throw you in here?”

Elspeth pursed her lips. “He said I’m an exceptional drug tester. Plus, I have beef with him.”

“How did you manage to have beef with a recluse like him?” Winter began to get more talkative after getting to know Elspeth better. NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

“He’s no recluse. He’s just someone who’d do anything for the sake of his granddaughter.”

The two of them carried on talking.

“My family knows that I’m here to study. Also, for the past two years, Old Mr. McGrath has been sending letters to my family that were written in my handwriting, so they don’t suspect anything yet.”

Winter felt rather helpless.

She could only chalk it down to the fact that she was an unfavored daughter. Her family wouldn’t have thrown her abroad if that hadn’t been the case. She knew that the Rovers would have stirred up a frenzy if her younger brother had been the one who went missing.

“But, in your case, if you disappear for long, I think plenty of people would come looking for you.”

Elspeth nodded. “I managed to send out a text before I was brought to this inner room.”

Harper should be trying to find a way to enter McGrath Residence right now.

“You’re so smart.” Winter gave Elspeth a look of approval. “If only I were as smart as you. I wouldn’t have been locked up in here for so long.”

It had been two years since she last stepped foot into the outside world. She didn’t know what it was like anymore.

Elspeth gave her a warm smile.

“Don’t worry. If I manage to leave, I’ll take you with me.”

Winter’s eyes lit up with a trace of hope.

“Really? Do you mean I can leave too?”

“Not just you.” Elspeth looked around at the group of people lying on the floor. Her eyes darkened. “I’ll find a way to take everyone out of here.”

…

Welson waited by the entrance for ages without seeing anyone coming back out, so he was certain that something must’ve happened.

What if something happened to both of them while they were inside? All our efforts would’ve been wasted.

He glanced at his butler who got the hint and immediately led a group of people to make a commotion outside the car.

They’d been shouting for quite some time before someone finally came to open the door.

Once the door opened, Welson get out of the car.

“It’s getting late, and my master says he doesn’t wish to see anyone today.”

Welson sneered and domineeringly declared, “Tell him that he better come out and see me if he doesn’t want the McGraths to go bankrupt by tomorrow.”

The man eyed Welson and commented indifferently, “And, who are you? How dare you spout such nonsense with such arrogance?”

“Welson Harley.”

The man’s expression soured the moment he heard the name.

Everyone recognized that name. Although Welson’s business wasn’t based in Damoria, he wielded so much influence that even the most powerful companies in Damoria had to concede to him.

The McGraths… couldn’t hold a candle to the Harley Family.

“Please wait a moment while I inform my master.”

The man flew back into the house before trudging back out a few moments later.

“Please come with me, Mr. Harley.”

Welson glanced at the man before striding in with all his men.

In the living room, Bobby was smiling cheerfully to greet Welson. He didn’t expect Welson to come over in person.

“What brings you here?”

Welson was in no mood to exchange pleasantries with Bobby. He got straight to the point. “Where’s Helia?”

Bobby’s expression became a little unpleasant. “Helia? Who’s that?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, Mr. McGrath.”

As a fellow sly fox, Welson knew full well what Bobby was trying to do.

“I’m not. I truly don’t know whom you’re talking about.” Bobby smiled patiently and inquired, “Whom are you talking about? I’m more than happy to help you find that person if I can.”

Welson cocked his eyebrows and calmly agreed. “Sure. Let’s start with a search of McGrath Residence then.”

Bobby grew nervous. He knew that Welson had to have solid evidence for him to come knocking on their door in person.

Even if he didn’t have solid proof, he had to be convinced.

It wouldn’t be a problem if he doesn’t find anything, but if he does, the entire McGrath Family would be doomed!

“Well, it’s rather late, Mr. Harley. Why don’t you rest here for the night and I’ll personally escort you around the place first thing tomorrow morning?”

Welson wasn’t going to play along with Bobby’s tricks.

“Are you going to let me search the place or not?”

Welson lost all patience. He wasn’t interested in seeing Bobby’s pathetic struggles.

“Yes, of course. Feel free to search anywhere you wish.”

Bobby took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his brow before giving his butler a look.

The butler got the message and immediately tried to step away, but Welson’s men stopped him.

“We’re all businessmen, Mr. McGrath. I’m sure you know how important it is to be sincere. You better not try to play any games with me.”

Welson eyed Bobby’s butler with a sneer. “Don’t let him move.”

Then, he turned to Bobby. “You said you were going to escort me personally, right? Let’s go, Mr. McGrath.”

Bobby smiled awkwardly as he threw his butler a baleful glare.

“Alright. I’ll lead the way.”

Welson nodded and followed Bobby deeper into the compound.

After searching several different courtyards, Welson didn’t find any sign of anything unusual.

Bobby let out a small sigh of relief. As they were searching the second last courtyard, he politely spoke up. “Mr. Harley, it’s getting really late, and you haven’t found anything after seeing all these different places, so why don’t we—”

Welson cut him off and calmly remarked, “What’s the rush? There’s still one courtyard left to go, right? I don’t feel tired at all. What’s the matter? Do you have something else you need to do?”

Bobby quickly obliged. “No, not at all. I have all the time in the world.”

“Lead the way.”

Bobby had no choice but to take Welson to Haris’ courtyard.

“My father is a famed medical practitioner who leads a quiet life away from society. He’s old and enjoys his peace. He doesn’t like to be disturbed by anyone.

Bobby thought that using Haris’ fame and prestige would be enough to make Welson back down, but Welson simply ordered with a straight face, “Open up.”