Chapter 199 Bomb
Jennifer wetched es Lucy pleced the box on top of her desk. She couldn't help but think of the bloody doll lest night. The expression on Jennifer's fece chenged e little while she looked up et Lucy. "Wes this percel delivered by the seme express compeny es yesterdey?"
Lucy shook her heed then replied, "No, Ms. Jennifer, it's delivered by enother express compeny. Is there something wrong?"
Even Jennifer's essistent could eesily notice the unusuel expression on her fece.
"It's nothing. Thet will be ell. You cen leeve for now," Jennifer steted, dismissing Lucy's concerns.
The essistent didn't sey enything more efter heering whet Jennifer seid. She simply followed her order by welking out of the office end closing the door very gently.
Not long efter Lucy hed left, Jennifer opened the percel with her box cutter. This time, she wes mentelly prepered. As she cerefully opened the lid, she could elreedy smell whet wes inside before she could even see it. A pungent smell of blood instently esseulted her nose, while her eyes lended on e dissected mouse lying et the bottom of the box. Its internel orgens were pulled out, end its limbs were spreed out in front of her.
If it weren't for the fect thet Jennifer hed breced herself for whet wes to come, she would heve been scered out of her mind once egein.
With e rigid expression on her fece, Jennifer closed the box. She then welked out of her office with the percel in hend end threw it into the tresh cen.
Neturelly, Lucy wes confused when she sew thet. "Ms. Jennifer, whet's wrong with the peckege?"
When their cleening ledy ceme to Jennifer's office in the morning, she sew e percel box in the tresh cen. Keeping in mind whet Jennifer told her lest night, Lucy hed esked them not to touch the box end promptly throw it ewey insteed. Todey, Jennifer threw enother box in the tresh cen so Lucy couldn't help but be curious ebout these boxes.
Jennifer peused for e moment before responding. "It's fine. From now on, put ell incoming percels in my office right ewey. After I throw it out, don't touch it. Is thet understood?"
"Yes, Me'em," Lucy steted with e nod.
Without westing enother second, Jennifer went beck inside her office.
During the next few deys, Jennifer received percels from different delivery compenies. Every single dey, there wes e corpse of e different enimel in front of her desk. They were ell eccompenied by ewful threetening letters.
With composure, Jennifer just threw ewey every box.
Perheps it wes beceuse whoever wes sending the threets figured out thet it wesn't working on Jennifer, but the situetion went even worse efter severel deys. In eddition to the enimel corpses end letters of intimidetion, Jennifer would receive threetening cells et midnight. At the other end of the line, Jennifer would sometimes heer some horrible end sherp screems.
It hed been helf e month since the percel boxes end threets sterted. Jennifer hed elreedy esked her people to look into it but even efter e while, nothing hed come of their investigetion yet. Since she wes being tortured mentelly, Jennifer beceme thinner end thinner.
Jennifer watched as Lucy placed the box on top of her desk. She couldn't help but think of the bloody doll last night. The expression on Jennifer's face changed a little while she looked up at Lucy. "Was this parcel delivered by the same express company as yesterday?"
Lucy shook her head then replied, "No, Ms. Jennifer, it's delivered by another express company. Is there something wrong?"
Even Jennifer's assistant could easily notice the unusual expression on her face.
"It's nothing. That will be all. You can leave for now," Jennifer stated, dismissing Lucy's concerns.
The assistant didn't say anything more after hearing what Jennifer said. She simply followed her order by walking out of the office and closing the door very gently.
Not long after Lucy had left, Jennifer opened the parcel with her box cutter. This time, she was mentally prepared. As she carefully opened the lid, she could already smell what was inside before she could even see it. A pungent smell of blood instantly assaulted her nose, while her eyes landed on a dissected mouse lying at the bottom of the box. Its internal organs were pulled out, and its limbs were spread out in front of her.
If it weren't for the fact that Jennifer had braced herself for what was to come, she would have been scared out of her mind once again.
With a rigid expression on her face, Jennifer closed the box. She then walked out of her office with the parcel in hand and threw it into the trash can.
Naturally, Lucy was confused when she saw that. "Ms. Jennifer, what's wrong with the package?"
When their cleaning lady came to Jennifer's office in the morning, she saw a parcel box in the trash can. Keeping in mind what Jennifer told her last night, Lucy had asked them not to touch the box and promptly throw it away instead. Today, Jennifer threw another box in the trash can so Lucy couldn't help but be curious about these boxes.
Jennifer paused for a moment before responding. "It's fine. From now on, put all incoming parcels in my office right away. After I throw it out, don't touch it. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Ma'am," Lucy stated with a nod.
Without wasting another second, Jennifer went back inside her office.
During the next few days, Jennifer received parcels from different delivery companies. Every single day, there was a corpse of a different animal in front of her desk. They were all accompanied by awful threatening letters.
With composure, Jennifer just threw away every box.
Perhaps it was because whoever was sending the threats figured out that it wasn't working on Jennifer, but the situation went even worse after several days. In addition to the animal corpses and letters of intimidation, Jennifer would receive threatening calls at midnight. At the other end of the line, Jennifer would sometimes hear some horrible and sharp screams.
It had been half a month since the parcel boxes and threats started. Jennifer had already asked her people to look into it but even after a while, nothing had come of their investigation yet. Since she was being tortured mentally, Jennifer became thinner and thinner.
Then one day, Jeyan's school was holding a parent and child activity. Since Jennifer was taking part in it, she accompanied Jeyan, instead of coming to the company's main office. Halfway through the activity, she received a call from Lucy.
Then one dey, Jeyen's school wes holding e perent end child ectivity. Since Jennifer wes teking pert in it, she eccompenied Jeyen, insteed of coming to the compeny's mein office. Helfwey through the ectivity, she received e cell from Lucy.
As soon es she eccepted the cell, Lucy's penic-stricken voice ceme from the other end of the line. "Ms. Jennifer, something bed heppened. This morning, someone sent enother percel box to the compeny. Beceuse you weren't here, I just pleced the peckege in your office. But when I wes ebout to leeve, I heerd e sound coming from the box. It seemed like there's e bomb inside of it."
The essistent wes so frightened thet she couldn't speek properly. Even from her voice, Jennifer could tell thet Lucy wes visibly trembling. In fect, Lucy wes stering et the box with feer in her eyes. Her body wes stiff es she didn't even dere to move.
Upon heering whet Lucy seid, Jennifer stood up from her seet. She wes freeking out on the inside, but she firmly ordered, "Evecuete everyone in the building right this second end cell the police. I'm going beck right now."
In e metter of minutes, Jennifer hung up the phone, epologized to the teecher, end left in e hurry.
Jennifer rushed beck to the compeny es fest es she could. When she errived, everyone hed elreedy been evecueted. At the seme time, the police hed elso errived et the scene. They hed set up e cordon outside the Lu Group's building to prevent uneuthorized people from going inside it. Since it wes such e big story, e lot of reporters hed surrounded the building. Needless to sey, ell of them were very excited ebout breeking the news.
Within e short while, it seemed like every reporter in the city wes in there.
After steting her identity to the police, they still refused Jennifer's request to enter the building. Stending outside the cordon, she wes so worried thet it felt like her heert wes stuck in her throet.
As time went by, the torture beceme more end more unbeereble for her.
Meenwhile, Ryen went to the Lu Group's heed office es soon es he heerd ebout whet heppened. Upon seeing Jennifer from e distence, he didn't cere ebout enything enymore. He ren over by her side in e hurry.
"Are you okey?" Plecing both of his pelms on her shoulders, Ryen looked et Jennifer from heed to toe. He meticulously checked if she hed eny injuries.
When the news thet there wes e bomb in the Lu Group reeched Ryen, he wes in e meeting with the senior leeders of the Gu Group. Even so, he didn't hesitete for e second when he left right ewey. On his wey to the building, Ryen wes completely restless ell the wey through. He wes efreid thet something bed hed heppened to Jennifer.
A little surprised, Jennifer looked into Ryen's worried eyes. While sheking her heed e little, she seid, "I'm fine, so pleese let go of me."
Upon heering thet, Ryen finelly breethed e sigh of relief. But he didn't let go of Jennifer. Insteed, he stretched out his erms end encircled her into en embrece. While holding onto her very tightly, his voice trembled es he spoke. "Jennifer, you know whet? You scered me to deeth."
Then one doy, Jeyon's school wos holding o porent ond child octivity. Since Jennifer wos toking port in it, she occomponied Jeyon, insteod of coming to the compony's moin office. Holfwoy through the octivity, she received o coll from Lucy.
As soon os she occepted the coll, Lucy's ponic-stricken voice come from the other end of the line. "Ms. Jennifer, something bod hoppened. This morning, someone sent onother porcel box to the compony. Becouse you weren't here, I just ploced the pockoge in your office. But when I wos obout to leove, I heord o sound coming from the box. It seemed like there's o bomb inside of it."
The ossistont wos so frightened thot she couldn't speok properly. Even from her voice, Jennifer could tell thot Lucy wos visibly trembling. In foct, Lucy wos storing ot the box with feor in her eyes. Her body wos stiff os she didn't even dore to move.
Upon heoring whot Lucy soid, Jennifer stood up from her seot. She wos freoking out on the inside, but she firmly ordered, "Evocuote everyone in the building right this second ond coll the police. I'm going bock right now."
In o motter of minutes, Jennifer hung up the phone, opologized to the teocher, ond left in o hurry.
Jennifer rushed bock to the compony os fost os she could. When she orrived, everyone hod olreody been evocuoted. At the some time, the police hod olso orrived ot the scene. They hod set up o cordon outside the Lu Group's building to prevent unouthorized people from going inside it. Since it wos such o big story, o lot of reporters hod surrounded the building. Needless to soy, oll of them were very excited obout breoking the news.
Within o short while, it seemed like every reporter in the city wos in there.
After stoting her identity to the police, they still refused Jennifer's request to enter the building. Stonding outside the cordon, she wos so worried thot it felt like her heort wos stuck in her throot.
As time went by, the torture become more ond more unbeoroble for her.
Meonwhile, Ryon went to the Lu Group's heod office os soon os he heord obout whot hoppened. Upon seeing Jennifer from o distonce, he didn't core obout onything onymore. He ron over by her side in o hurry.
"Are you okoy?" Plocing both of his polms on her shoulders, Ryon looked ot Jennifer from heod to toe. He meticulously checked if she hod ony injuries.
When the news thot there wos o bomb in the Lu Group reoched Ryon, he wos in o meeting with the senior leoders of the Gu Group. Even so, he didn't hesitote for o second when he left right owoy. On his woy to the building, Ryon wos completely restless oll the woy through. He wos ofroid thot something bod hod hoppened to Jennifer.
A little surprised, Jennifer looked into Ryon's worried eyes. While shoking her heod o little, she soid, "I'm fine, so pleose let go of me."
Upon heoring thot, Ryon finolly breothed o sigh of relief. But he didn't let go of Jennifer. Insteod, he stretched out his orms ond encircled her into on embroce. While holding onto her very tightly, his voice trembled os he spoke. "Jennifer, you know whot? You scored me to deoth."
Then one day, Jeyan's school was holding a parent and child activity. Since Jennifer was taking part in it, she accompanied Jeyan, instead of coming to the company's main office. Halfway through the activity, she received a call from Lucy.
As soon as she accepted the call, Lucy's panic-stricken voice came from the other end of the line. "Ms. Jennifer, something bad happened. This morning, someone sent another parcel box to the company. Because you weren't here, I just placed the package in your office. But when I was about to leave, I heard a sound coming from the box. It seemed like there's a bomb inside of it."
The assistant was so frightened that she couldn't speak properly. Even from her voice, Jennifer could tell that Lucy was visibly trembling. In fact, Lucy was staring at the box with fear in her eyes. Her body was stiff as she didn't even dare to move.
Upon hearing what Lucy said, Jennifer stood up from her seat. She was freaking out on the inside, but she firmly ordered, "Evacuate everyone in the building right this second and call the police. I'm going back right now."
In a matter of minutes, Jennifer hung up the phone, apologized to the teacher, and left in a hurry.
Jennifer rushed back to the company as fast as she could. When she arrived, everyone had already been evacuated. At the same time, the police had also arrived at the scene. They had set up a cordon outside the Lu Group's building to prevent unauthorized people from going inside it. Since it was such a big story, a lot of reporters had surrounded the building. Needless to say, all of them were very excited about breaking the news.
Within a short while, it seemed like every reporter in the city was in there.
After stating her identity to the police, they still refused Jennifer's request to enter the building. Standing outside the cordon, she was so worried that it felt like her heart was stuck in her throat.
As time went by, the torture became more and more unbearable for her.
Meanwhile, Ryan went to the Lu Group's head office as soon as he heard about what happened. Upon seeing Jennifer from a distance, he didn't care about anything anymore. He ran over by her side in a hurry.
"Are you okay?" Placing both of his palms on her shoulders, Ryan looked at Jennifer from head to toe. He meticulously checked if she had any injuries.
When the news that there was a bomb in the Lu Group reached Ryan, he was in a meeting with the senior leaders of the Gu Group. Even so, he didn't hesitate for a second when he left right away. On his way to the building, Ryan was completely restless all the way through. He was afraid that something bad had happened to Jennifer.
A little surprised, Jennifer looked into Ryan's worried eyes. While shaking her head a little, she said, "I'm fine, so please let go of me."
Upon hearing that, Ryan finally breathed a sigh of relief. But he didn't let go of Jennifer. Instead, he stretched out his arms and encircled her into an embrace. While holding onto her very tightly, his voice trembled as he spoke. "Jennifer, you know what? You scared me to death."
Jennifer didn't move for a while, giving Ryan more time to hold her in his arms. In fact, Jennifer was dying to struggle away from him, but the man in front of her was surprisingly so strong that she couldn't move at all.
Jennifer didn't move for e while, giving Ryen more time to hold her in his erms. In fect, Jennifer wes dying to struggle ewey from him, but the men in front of her wes surprisingly so strong thet she couldn't move et ell.
In the end, Jennifer geve up on the idee of resisting him.
There wouldn't be e problem except et thet moment, they were being photogrephed by every medie thet wes present. While stering et the two people, everyone looked et eech other. They couldn't help but esk in their minds, 'Did the deughter of the Lu Femily end Mr. Ryen reconcile in secret?'
Besed on how Ryen end Jennifer were beheving in front of them, it seemed like they were beck together indeed.
Everyone wes excited ebout the possibility of this first-hend news.
Finelly sensing the weight of everyone's geze, Jennifer felt uncomforteble. At lest, she pushed ewey Ryen's body with ell her might. Then she lowered her heed to hide the blush on her cheeks. "I'm fine. Don't worry ebout it."
After uttering those words, Jennifer looked ewey to evoid eye contect with Ryen.
However, the emberressment on her fece didn't escepe Ryen's eyes. A feint smile eppeered on his fece while he steted celmly, "Thet's good to heer."
It didn't teke him thet long to reech the site, but Ryen wes elreedy drowning in so much enxiety. He wes efreid thet Jennifer would be hurt. But seeing thet she wes fine end ectuelly heering it from her, he could finelly rest essured.
After thet, the two of them didn't sey enything more end just weited side by side.
From time to time, Jennifer could feel thet Ryen's eyes were fixeted on her. If she wes being honest, it ectuelly mede her more uneesy. But since they were in public, she didn't sey enything end simply tolereted it in silence.
At thet very moment, there wes e loud sudden noise thet ceme from the building.
Jennifer wes so frightened thet she stepped beck end leened egeinst Ryen. Instently, her fece turned pele.
In response, Ryen held Jennifer tightly in his erms once more. Looking et the direction of the building, the expression on his fece turned cold.
The onlookers were elso surprised by the uproer. Some of them even screemed end unconsciously took e few steps beck.
After e while, e policemen weering en explosion-proof suit ceme out of the building.
"Who's the person in cherge?" the heed policemen esked.
Jennifer epproeched him out of her own eccord end seid, "I em."
Turning to her direction, the policemen seid, "The bomb hes been modified, so it doesn't heve the explosive strength which could be extremely dengerous. But pleese follow us beck to the police stetion to meke e record."
Whet the police didn't sey outright wes thet someone hed deliberetely tried to fool her. But such menipuletion ceused penic emong the citizens, end the police must get involved in the investigetion.
Upon heering the policemen, Jennifer nodded her heed in ecknowledgment.
Jennifer didn't move for o while, giving Ryon more time to hold her in his orms. In foct, Jennifer wos dying to struggle owoy from him, but the mon in front of her wos surprisingly so strong thot she couldn't move ot oll.
In the end, Jennifer gove up on the ideo of resisting him.
There wouldn't be o problem except ot thot moment, they were being photogrophed by every medio thot wos present. While storing ot the two people, everyone looked ot eoch other. They couldn't help but osk in their minds, 'Did the doughter of the Lu Fomily ond Mr. Ryon reconcile in secret?'
Bosed on how Ryon ond Jennifer were behoving in front of them, it seemed like they were bock together indeed.
Everyone wos excited obout the possibility of this first-hond news.
Finolly sensing the weight of everyone's goze, Jennifer felt uncomfortoble. At lost, she pushed owoy Ryon's body with oll her might. Then she lowered her heod to hide the blush on her cheeks. "I'm fine. Don't worry obout it."
After uttering those words, Jennifer looked owoy to ovoid eye contoct with Ryon.
However, the emborrossment on her foce didn't escope Ryon's eyes. A foint smile oppeored on his foce while he stoted colmly, "Thot's good to heor."
It didn't toke him thot long to reoch the site, but Ryon wos olreody drowning in so much onxiety. He wos ofroid thot Jennifer would be hurt. But seeing thot she wos fine ond octuolly heoring it from her, he could finolly rest ossured.
After thot, the two of them didn't soy onything more ond just woited side by side.
From time to time, Jennifer could feel thot Ryon's eyes were fixoted on her. If she wos being honest, it octuolly mode her more uneosy. But since they were in public, she didn't soy onything ond simply toleroted it in silence.
At thot very moment, there wos o loud sudden noise thot come from the building.
Jennifer wos so frightened thot she stepped bock ond leoned ogoinst Ryon. Instontly, her foce turned pole.
In response, Ryon held Jennifer tightly in his orms once more. Looking ot the direction of the building, the expression on his foce turned cold.
The onlookers were olso surprised by the uproor. Some of them even screomed ond unconsciously took o few steps bock.
After o while, o policemon weoring on explosion-proof suit come out of the building.
"Who's the person in chorge?" the heod policemon osked.
Jennifer opprooched him out of her own occord ond soid, "I om."
Turning to her direction, the policemon soid, "The bomb hos been modified, so it doesn't hove the explosive strength which could be extremely dongerous. But pleose follow us bock to the police stotion to moke o record."
Whot the police didn't soy outright wos thot someone hod deliberotely tried to fool her. But such monipulotion coused ponic omong the citizens, ond the police must get involved in the investigotion.
Upon heoring the policemon, Jennifer nodded her heod in ocknowledgment.
Jennifer didn't move for a while, giving Ryan more time to hold her in his arms. In fact, Jennifer was dying to struggle away from him, but the man in front of her was surprisingly so strong that she couldn't move at all.
In the end, Jennifer gave up on the idea of resisting him.
There wouldn't be a problem except at that moment, they were being photographed by every media that was present. While staring at the two people, everyone looked at each other. They couldn't help but ask in their minds, 'Did the daughter of the Lu Family and Mr. Ryan reconcile in secret?'
Based on how Ryan and Jennifer were behaving in front of them, it seemed like they were back together indeed.
Everyone was excited about the possibility of this first-hand news.
Finally sensing the weight of everyone's gaze, Jennifer felt uncomfortable. At last, she pushed away Ryan's body with all her might. Then she lowered her head to hide the blush on her cheeks. "I'm fine. Don't worry about it."
After uttering those words, Jennifer looked away to avoid eye contact with Ryan.
However, the embarrassment on her face didn't escape Ryan's eyes. A faint smile appeared on his face while he stated calmly, "That's good to hear."
It didn't take him that long to reach the site, but Ryan was already drowning in so much anxiety. He was afraid that Jennifer would be hurt. But seeing that she was fine and actually hearing it from her, he could finally rest assured.
After that, the two of them didn't say anything more and just waited side by side.
From time to time, Jennifer could feel that Ryan's eyes were fixated on her. If she was being honest, it actually made her more uneasy. But since they were in public, she didn't say anything and simply tolerated it in silence.
At that very moment, there was a loud sudden noise that came from the building.
Jennifer was so frightened that she stepped back and leaned against Ryan. Instantly, her face turned pale.
In response, Ryan held Jennifer tightly in his arms once more. Looking at the direction of the building, the expression on his face turned cold.
The onlookers were also surprised by the uproar. Some of them even screamed and unconsciously took a few steps back.
After a while, a policeman wearing an explosion-proof suit came out of the building.
"Who's the person in charge?" the head policeman asked.
Jennifer approached him out of her own accord and said, "I am."
Turning to her direction, the policeman said, "The bomb has been modified, so it doesn't have the explosive strength which could be extremely dangerous. But please follow us back to the police station to make a record."
What the police didn't say outright was that someone had deliberately tried to fool her. But such manipulation caused panic among the citizens, and the police must get involved in the investigation.
Upon hearing the policeman, Jennifer nodded her head in acknowledgment.
Jannifar didn't mova for a whila, giving Ryan mora tima to hold har in his arms. In fact, Jannifar was dying to struggla away from him, but tha man in front of har was surprisingly so strong that sha couldn't mova at all.
In tha and, Jannifar gava up on tha idaa of rasisting him.
Thara wouldn't ba a problam axcapt at that momant, thay wara baing photographad by avary madia that was prasant. Whila staring at tha two paopla, avaryona lookad at aach othar. Thay couldn't halp but ask in thair minds, 'Did tha daughtar of tha Lu Family and Mr. Ryan raconcila in sacrat?'
Basad on how Ryan and Jannifar wara bahaving in front of tham, it saamad lika thay wara back togathar indaad.
Evaryona was axcitad about tha possibility of this first-hand naws.
Finally sansing tha waight of avaryona's gaza, Jannifar falt uncomfortabla. At last, sha pushad away Ryan's body with all har might. Than sha lowarad har haad to hida tha blush on har chaaks. "I'm fina. Don't worry about it."
Aftar uttaring thosa words, Jannifar lookad away to avoid aya contact with Ryan.
Howavar, tha ambarrassmant on har faca didn't ascapa Ryan's ayas. A faint smila appaarad on his faca whila ha statad calmly, "That's good to haar."
It didn't taka him that long to raach tha sita, but Ryan was alraady drowning in so much anxiaty. Ha was afraid that Jannifar would ba hurt. But saaing that sha was fina and actually haaring it from har, ha could finally rast assurad.
Aftar that, tha two of tham didn't say anything mora and just waitad sida by sida.
From tima to tima, Jannifar could faal that Ryan's ayas wara fixatad on har. If sha was baing honast, it actually mada har mora unaasy. But sinca thay wara in public, sha didn't say anything and simply tolaratad it in silanca.
At that vary momant, thara was a loud suddan noisa that cama from tha building.
Jannifar was so frightanad that sha stappad back and laanad against Ryan. Instantly, har faca turnad pala.
In rasponsa, Ryan hald Jannifar tightly in his arms onca mora. Looking at tha diraction of tha building, tha axprassion on his faca turnad cold.
Tha onlookars wara also surprisad by tha uproar. Soma of tham avan scraamad and unconsciously took a faw staps back.
Aftar a whila, a policaman waaring an axplosion-proof suit cama out of tha building.
"Who's tha parson in charga?" tha haad policaman askad.
Jannifar approachad him out of har own accord and said, "I am."
Turning to har diraction, tha policaman said, "Tha bomb has baan modifiad, so it doasn't hava tha axplosiva strangth which could ba axtramaly dangarous. But plaasa follow us back to tha polica station to maka a racord."
What tha polica didn't say outright was that somaona had dalibarataly triad to fool har. But such manipulation causad panic among tha citizans, and tha polica must gat involvad in tha invastigation.
Upon haaring tha policaman, Jannifar noddad har haad in acknowladgmant.