Renewal Of Love
Chapter 540 Leaving

Another five long days passed by without any further developments. Kim was now a wanted man and the entire city was on the alert, yet he still managed to master deception and no trace of him was found. Brandon's phone number was now completely useless to the investigation. The information about its location hadn't changed as it still indicated that the phone was at Kevin's company.

Unfortunately, Kevin could not rack his brain any further for a possible reason for what was happening.

Besides, Kim no longer seemed to pose a threat to anyone. He had not harassed or threatened anyone. It was if he had no opportunity to do so from wherever he was currently. The general opinion was that it was safe to go about their lives without throwing any caution to the wind.

But just when everyone had become relaxed and somewhat complacent, that was when something disastrous occurred, like a bolt out of the blue.

On that day, the sun had not yet rose and everyone was fast asleep in their warm beds. Suddenly, the shrill ring of Anne's phone woke everyone up, unceremoniously.

Anne was in the middle of a nightmare when she was so rudely awakened. In this dream, Colin stood before her, drenched in blood. He grabbed her around the neck, throttling her, and he was asking furiously why she had caused him such harm.

Just then, her sleep broke.

The caller ID identified that it was Rose. She anxiously rubbed her brow, filled with concern. She thought perhaps Rose was calling regarding something or the other to do with the business. But when the call connected, Rose sounded distraught beyond measure.

"Anne! Someone has attacked Mark and kidnapped him!" Anne could hear from Rose's voice that she was crying. "What should we do? We have to do something! Surely Kim is behind this! What if he tortures my Mark? What if he kills him?!"

The panic in Rose's voice echoed in Anne's ears, tormenting her. Her heart rate escalated dangerously.

Rose and Mark had taken the necessary precautions. In fact, they had enlisted the services of no less than five bodyguards to constantly accompany them. And yet... Kim still managed to abduct Mark. There was no need to think any further. It could only be Kim. No one else would target them.

"Rose, don't panic - we will replace him," Kevin comforted.

Anne closed her eyes, trying to deal with her inner anguish. Kim's warning rang in her ears over and over. A sad smile of utter disbelief played slightly on her lips.

No matter what security precautions were taken, Kim always managed to pierce through them with ease.

He was a man of his word. She didn't capitulate to his request that she should leave her family and go with him to a place that no one would replace them, so he was meting out his vengeance on Mark. 'Kim, you really want me dead, isn't it?' she thought.

"Kevin, we really have no choice." Looking at Kevin helplessly, Anne continued, "We have taken as many precautions as humanly possible, and we have still failed dismally. Mark has been abducted. Kim was brutal enough continuously torture Colin, even cutting his finger off. To what brutish treatment would he submit Mark?

Would he cut off Mark's entire arm?

Colin's bloody form, fresh in her memory from her tormenting nightmare flashed before her eyes once more. Her eyes became bloodshot. Inside herself she couldn't help but berate herself. 'I have already caused such harm to Colin, implicating him in this messy affair. I cannot do the same to Mark, I won't. Rose can't live without him.'

"So you want to leave me and our children?" Kevin's voice was heavy with impotency.

He had truly believed that Kim would not have another chance to cause any further trouble. He really didn't think he would manage to kidnap yet another person, especially Mark.

In this moment, Anne could not take it anymore and broke down, which in turn caused the same response in Kevin.

Why? Why did Kim keep pestering her? Why couldn't he leave them be?

With her eyes opened wide in distress, she thought, 'Should I leave Kevin? Must I leave my children?'

Was she... Ready? Capable?

"Anne - calm down. We will replace a way. We will replace a way!" He put his arms lovingly around her shoulders.

But time was of the essence, and it was running out very quickly. It was easy to take a life. It could happen in the blink of an eye.

Did they really have time?

Where on earth was Mark now? Would they even manage to locate him before his life was taken? Would what happened to Colin repeat itself on Mark? Would Rose be able to handle such a consequence?

"Ha ha..." Anne pushed Kevin's hand away, rolled her eyes towards the ceiling and laughed derisively.

It was the dead of night but everything was about to be disturbed. Her cold voice cut through the night, it had a chilling and eery effect.

Without saying another word, she walked decisively towards the wardrobe and numbly, mechanically started sorting some dresses out for packing to leave.

Kevin put a nervous hand to his forehead, rubbing it gently to ease his strain. He wanted to rush to her and fling the clothes out of her hands.

But he knew better than to do this.

After putting on some clothes, she walked to her dresser and packed the remainder of her things.

Then, she continued to her room, and packed all her belongings neatly into her suitcase.

Anne and Kevin both knew that Kim had his men watching their home. They would be keeping an eye on every member of the family. They would definitely alert Kim of her departure as soon as she left. Anne's leaving could save Mark.

So Anne was going to leave. She wanted to do everything in her power to save Mark the agony of whatever he was being put through.

After packing up, Anne took her suitcase and made her way to the exit. Kevin reached out a hand to stop her, but in the end, he didn't say anything.

'Anne, go ahead. You don't need to look back. Because I will be behind you. Even if you go to the ends of the earth, I will follow you there.

It doesn't matter if you leave the city. Wherever you go, I will follow you. We have promised each other that we would never let go, that we would spend our lives walking hand in hand.'

The servants had already awakened, one after the other, due to the commotion. When they saw her, they greeted her with bewilderment. She was like a soulless puppet, walking forward lifelessly. The servants began to gossip among themselves. They wondered if Anne and Kevin had had a terrible argument.

It was early in the morning, and fresh dew was covering the blades of grass. Anne walked forward, one determined step at a time.

The early birds were chirping happy tunes which was such a pleasant melody to be greeted by, first thing in the morning. But her downtrodden heart turned their songs into a sad, melancholic ballad. 'Kim, did you see that? Now, I've left the Fu Family's residence and I am wandering, with nowhere to call my own. Are you satisfied? You've forced me to submit to what you want!

So, now won't you return Mark to his family?'

Walking aimlessly, Anne realized there were quite a few cars, including taxis, on the road. Slightly confused, she made her way to the hospital. Selma had arranged for a bed to be placed in Eddy's ward. She was fast asleep. Anne walked passed Selma and made a beeline for Eddy.

She reached out a slender, beautiful hand to touch his soft, porcelain white cheek. Eddy woke up abruptly to the unexpected sight of his mother. "Mom, why are you visiting so early?" Eddy whispered, so as not to wake up the sleeping Selma.

With a poker face, Anne heaved a sigh and said, "I have some urgent issues to attend to regarding the company. I'll have to go away on a business trip and I am not sure when I will be able to return. So I thought I should come see you before I left."

Anne didn't worry too much about her other two kids. They had the servants, as well as Kevin, to take care of them at home. It was Eddy that she was very anxious about.

Eddy had undergone a grueling operation. He was still in a bad state. She didn't want Eddy to worry about her when he was in a bad way.

Eddy didn't pick up anything unusual or out of character with his mother. He nodded his head, and punched a fist in the air to show his excitement. "Don't worry, Mom! I will be out of the hospital and fully recovered by the time you are back!"

Anne nodded. She felt exceptionally lucky that Kim had targeted Mark, and not her dearest Eddy, Otherwise, how would she have been able to take it?

A fearful chill made its way up her spine. She didn't dare stay longer lest she cause more danger for those around her. She rushed a few last words and hurriedly left the hospital.

Finding herself out on the street once again, she realized that the city was so familiar. It was a place where her heart found its rest. But now, she was to leave this place. She was filled with dread.

Then, she looked up at the sky and sighed heavily. She bought a ticket at the station and went to S City.

S City was far away from A City. It would take two entire days and nights for her to make the train trip.

She could have booked a flight. But the plane was too fast. She would leave her home so quickly, in the blink of an eye.

She didn't want to leave her family, her husband and her children. She wanted to stay in A City for as long as possible.

Sitting on the seat of the train, she slowly closed her eyes. Out of nowhere, a person took the seat next to her.

Initially, Anne was too depressed to care to open eyes and see who had come to sit with her. But the man's words shocked her, "Ms. Anne, you have not disappointed my boss. You are reliable." Looking at the man before her, Anne scowled. The man was none other than Brandon.

"Ms. Anne, why are you looking at me in such a manner? Don't worry. Mark will be home this afternoon. He is safe. Before I could do anything to him, my boss instructed me to release him. Alas, that is a real pity!" Brandon shook his head regretfully.

Anne's eyes hatefully narrowed as she recalled the video in which Brandon so inhumanely cut off Colin's finger.

He looked like quite the youngster, perhaps even shy of twenty years of age. Yet, his ruthlessness and disregard for human life was atrocious.

How could such a person be saved?

"Why did you choose this path?" Hearing her words, he was shocked. He had anticipated that she would not engage him at all. He raised his eyebrows in shock.

"Back then, I was just an orphan wandering around and begging. I didn't start a new life until I met my boss. He is the only person I believe in. He is the reason for my life. I will do whatever he asks of me!" With a smile on his face, Brandon continued, "Ms. Anne, you're too stubborn. You only know the merits of Kevin and never try to know our boss. If you really got to know him, you would definitely fall in love with

him."

"Fall in love with him?" Anne sneered, "I'd rather die than fall in love with a devil."

The smile on Brandon's face disappeared. He said icily, "My boss is not a devil. He saved my life. Although he has a vicious side, he was forced to show this side!"

"Who forced him? The society ruled by law or those common people?" Anne asked coldly.

Brandon opened his mouth, but found that he didn't know how to refute her insinuations. He turned his head angrily and ignored her. Anne glared out of the window. The train had started to kick into gear and the scenery had begun to look as if it were moving backward. Her heart sank slowly. She was really leaving! She was actually really leaving!

Besides, she was accompanied by Brandon. Did it mean that she wouldn't have the chance to contact Kevin in the future? Then she sighed heavily. It didn't matter. As long as Mark could return to Rose safely, everything she did would be worth it.

At the same time, Kevin was standing outside and watching the train go away. He closed his eyes in pain. 'Anne, just leave here for the time being. When you come back, you will be totally free. You will no longer be threatened.' Clenching his fists, Kevin turned around coldly. 'Kim, the battle between us has just begun!'

Without the woman that the two of them both cared about, this place would become a real battlefield.

The real fight began.