Chapter 4

I was shaking with pure rage.

"Now you care about the company’s stock price?"

"Why didn't you think about that before you did something this brainless?!"

Julian yelled back, "What did I even do?"

"Let me tell you the truth. That video I sent you was a deepfake. I used an AI generator. There is no injured person inside."

"You idiot, take the ambulance and get the hell out of here!"

Hearing this, the lead paramedic’s expression turned stern. "What’s going on here? Emergency resources are extremely tight. We don't tolerate prank calls!"

If the video was a deepfake, how did he get Mary’s face? Julian was lying to get rid of them.

The nearest hospital was a forty-minute drive from here. If the ambulance left, I was terrified Mary wouldn't survive.

My heart hammered against my ribs.

I turned to the paramedics. "She is inside, I swear to you!"

Then, I glared at Julian. "This is a matter of life and death! Let them in, or I will call the police right now!"

Julian laughed mockingly. "And tell the police what? That I sent you a prank video?"

"Liam, I admit I was just trying to mess with you."

"Every time you act all lovey-dovey with Amelia in front of me, it makes me sick."

"But this is a private matter between us. I’ve already admitted the video was fake. Stop wasting medical resources and get lost."

Julian’s words made the paramedics look at me with suspicion.

I was stunned. He was painting me as some jealous husband throwing a tantrum!

Before I could explain, the paramedic asked Julian, "Are you sure there is no patient inside?"

"If someone dies because you blocked us, you will be held criminally liable."

"I swear there is no one inside!" Julian said confidently.

Believing him, the paramedics turned to walk back to their truck.

I ran and blocked them. "I can prove she’s in there!"

I stepped up to Julian and whispered, "Mary has a reddish birthmark on the right side of her neck. Think carefully—does the woman you took have that birthmark?"

Julian’s smirk vanished. His eyebrows furrowed. He clearly realized the woman he captured had that exact mark.

He immediately pulled out his phone and texted Amelia.

[Liam said your mom has a red birthmark on her neck. Is that true?]

Thinking about the ten missed calls, I said quietly, "Amelia is busy. She won't reply to you."

But to my surprise, Amelia’s text popped up a second later.

[I don't think so? Why?]

Julian let out a huge sigh of relief and smirked at me.

"Nice try, Liam."

"The more you lie, the more it proves that the old bag inside is your mother."

"I wasn't going to let her die, but you really pissed me off today."

"Now, I’ve changed my mind."