Too Late, Mr. Billionaire: You can’t afford me now

Chapter 977:

Surprisingly, Ferris didn’t flinch. In fact, he looked almost impressed.

“Most young men these days either have brains but no courage or guts with no skill to back it up. But you… you seem to have the whole package. That’s rare.”

“Ferris!” Eric snapped, his voice sharp with barely contained rage. “I’ll ask you one more time. Where are they?”

Ferris blinked as if waking from a daydream, and then tilted his head with mock curiosity. “Oh? Them, is it? Which one are you asking about—Hadley or Linda?” He gave a lazy smile. “They’re not together, you know.”

Eric froze. The implication hit like a thunderclap. His grip, already tight, shifted from Ferris’ collar to his throat, his fingers clenching with force. His eyes darkened—sharp, cold, and filled with a fury that made Ferris’ smirk falter for the first time.

“Ferris, what have you done to them?”

“Oh, come on!” Ferris frowned slightly. “Why so serious? Relax. I haven’t laid a finger on them. I’m thinking of you, actually. They’re both important to you, aren’t they? Imagine if they were locked up together—claws out, emotions flaring. That would’ve been… messy.”

“Where the hell are they?” Eric demanded, his voice cutting through the room like steel. “Are you going to tell me or not?”

Ferris let the act drop.

“I’ll tell you,” he said evenly. “Linda’s at the Scott family’s warehouse at Blisey Dock. Hadley is up at Fralo Mountain—”

Before the last syllable had left his mouth, Eric released him and turned sharply on his heel, already heading for the door.

Ferris watched him go, the corner of his mouth twitching with dark amusement. Behind him, Cordell stepped forward, his expression clouded with uncertainty.

“Mr. Scott,” he said quietly, “did you perhaps make a mistake?”

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Because as far as Cordell knew, the information was accurate—technically. The locations were real. But in truth… Hadley was being held at Blisey Dock, and Linda at Fralo Mountain.

“That was intentional,” Ferris replied smoothly, lifting his chin. His gaze, sharp despite the years, glittered with something cruel and calculating.

“How else do you test a man’s heart?” Ferris said. “Whichever one he runs to first… that’s the one he truly loves. And once I know that… I’ll know exactly how to break him.”

A low, mirthless chuckle rumbled from his throat.

“He’s expected to join the Scott family,” Ferris said calmly, folding his hands behind his back. “There’s no need to keep any obstacles around that would only drag him down.”

“Mr. Scott…” Cordell hesitated, a rare flicker of unease crossing his expression. “The results aren’t in yet. What if… what if he isn’t—”

He stopped himself, the rest of the sentence caught in his throat. But the implication hung heavy in the air. What if Eric wasn’t Ferris’ son?

Ferris looked at his man steadily, eyes narrowed beneath heavy lids. Of course, he understood.

“If he isn’t?” he repeated, voice low and measured. “Then his days are numbered.” The words were final—cold, absolute.

After all these years, Ferris would never allow a bastard—an outsider—to walk free carrying even a shadow of his name.

Just then, the door creaked open.

A subordinate entered, hurrying to Cordell’s side and whispering a few urgent words.

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